第1章

byCharlesDickens

CHAPTERI——INTHEOLDCITYOFROCHESTER

Strictlyspeaking，therewereonlysixPoorTravellers；but，beingaTravellermyself，thoughanidleone，andbeingwithalaspoorasI

hopetobe，Ibroughtthenumberuptoseven。Thiswordofexplanationisdueatonce，forwhatsaystheinscriptionoverthequaintolddoor？

RICHARDWATTS，Esq。

byhisWill，dated22Aug。1579，foundedthisCharityforSixpoorTravellers，whonotbeingROGUES，orPROCTORS，MayreceivegratisforoneNight，Lodging，Entertainment，andFourpenceeach。

ItwasintheancientlittlecityofRochesterinKent，ofallthegooddaysintheyearuponaChristmas—eve，thatIstoodreadingthisinscriptionoverthequaintolddoorinquestion。IhadbeenwanderingabouttheneighbouringCathedral，andhadseenthetombofRichardWatts，withtheeffigyofworthyMasterRichardstartingoutofitlikeaship’sfigure—head；andIhadfeltthatIcoulddonoless，asIgavetheVergerhisfee，thaninquirethewaytoWatts’sCharity。Thewaybeingveryshortandveryplain，Ihadcomeprosperouslytotheinscriptionandthequaintolddoor。

"Now，"saidItomyself，asIlookedattheknocker，"IknowIamnotaProctor；IwonderwhetherIamaRogue！"

Uponthewhole，thoughConsciencereproducedtwoorthreeprettyfaceswhichmighthavehadsmallerattractionforamoralGoliaththantheyhadhadforme，whoambutaTomThumbinthatway，IcametotheconclusionthatIwasnotaRogue。So，beginningtoregardtheestablishmentasinsomesortmyproperty，bequeathedtomeanddiversco—legatees，shareandsharealike，bytheWorshipfulMasterRichardWatts，Isteppedbackwardintotheroadtosurveymyinheritance。

Ifoundittobeacleanwhitehouse，ofastaidandvenerableair，withthequaintolddooralreadythreetimesmentioned（anarcheddoor），choicelittlelonglowlattice—windows，andaroofofthreegables。ThesilentHighStreetofRochesterisfullofgables，witholdbeamsandtimberscarvedintostrangefaces。Itisoddlygarnishedwithaqueeroldclockthatprojectsoverthepavementoutofagravered—brickbuilding，asifTimecarriedonbusinessthere，andhungouthissign。Soothtosay，hedidanactivestrokeofworkinRochester，intheolddaysoftheRomans，andtheSaxons，andtheNormans；anddowntothetimesofKingJohn，whentheruggedcastle——Iwillnotundertaketosayhowmanyhundredsofyearsoldthen——wasabandonedtothecenturiesofweatherwhichhavesodefacedthedarkaperturesinitswalls，thattheruinlooksasiftherooksanddawshadpeckeditseyesout。

Iwasverywellpleased，bothwithmypropertyanditssituation。

WhileIwasyetsurveyingitwithgrowingcontent，Iespied，atoneoftheupperlatticeswhichstoodopen，adecentbody，ofawholesomematronlyappearance，whoseeyesIcaughtinquiringlyaddressedtomine。Theysaidsoplainly，"Doyouwishtoseethehouse？"thatIansweredaloud，"Yes，ifyouplease。"Andwithinaminutetheolddooropened，andIbentmyhead，andwentdowntwostepsintotheentry。

"This，"saidthematronlypresence，usheringmeintoalowroomontheright，"iswheretheTravellerssitbythefire，andcookwhatbitsofsupperstheybuywiththeirfourpences。"

"O！ThentheyhavenoEntertainment？"saidI。Fortheinscriptionovertheouterdoorwasstillrunninginmyhead，andIwasmentallyrepeating，inakindoftune，"Lodging，entertainment，andfourpenceeach。"

"Theyhaveafireprovidedfor’em，"returnedthematron——amightycivilperson，not，asIcouldmakeout，overpaid；"andthesecookingutensils。Andthiswhat’spaintedonaboardistherulesfortheirbehaviour。Theyhavetheirfourpenceswhentheygettheirticketsfromthestewardovertheway，——forIdon’tadmit’emmyself，theymustgettheirticketsfirst，——andsometimesonebuysarasherofbacon，andanotheraherring，andanotherapoundofpotatoes，orwhatnot。Sometimestwoorthreeof’emwillclubtheirfourpencestogether，andmakeasupperthatway。Butnotmuchofanythingistobegotforfourpence，atpresent，whenprovisionsissodear。"

"Trueindeed，"Iremarked。Ihadbeenlookingabouttheroom，admiringitssnugfiresideattheupperend，itsglimpseofthestreetthroughthelowmullionedwindow，anditsbeamsoverhead。

"Itisverycomfortable，"saidI。

"Ill—conwenient，"observedthematronlypresence。

Ilikedtohearhersayso；foritshowedacommendableanxietytoexecuteinnoniggardlyspirittheintentionsofMasterRichardWatts。ButtheroomwasreallysowelladaptedtoitspurposethatIprotested，quiteenthusiastically，againstherdisparagement。

"Nay，ma’am，"saidI，"Iamsureitiswarminwinterandcoolinsummer。Ithasalookofhomelywelcomeandsoothingrest。Ithasaremarkablycoseyfireside，theveryblinkofwhich，gleamingoutintothestreetuponawinternight，isenoughtowarmallRochester’sheart。AndastotheconvenienceofthesixPoorTravellers——"

"Idon’tmeanthem，"returnedthepresence。"Ispeakofitsbeinganill—conweniencetomyselfandmydaughter，havingnootherroomtositinofanight。"

Thiswastrueenough，buttherewasanotherquaintroomofcorrespondingdimensionsontheoppositesideoftheentry:soI

steppedacrosstoit，throughtheopendoorsofbothrooms，andaskedwhatthischamberwasfor。

"This，"returnedthepresence，"istheBoardRoom。Wherethegentlemenmeetwhentheycomehere。"

Letmesee。Ihadcountedfromthestreetsixupperwindowsbesidestheseontheground—story。Makingaperplexedcalculationinmymind，Irejoined，"ThenthesixPoorTravellerssleepupstairs？"

Mynewfriendshookherhead。"Theysleep，"sheanswered，"intwolittleoutergalleriesattheback，wheretheirbedshasalwaysbeen，eversincetheCharitywasfounded。Itbeingsoveryill—

conwenienttomeasthingsisatpresent，thegentlemenaregoingtotakeoffabitoftheback—yard，andmakeaslipofaroomfor’emthere，tositinbeforetheygotobed。"

"AndthenthesixPoorTravellers，"saidI，"willbeentirelyoutofthehouse？"

"Entirelyoutofthehouse，"assentedthepresence，comfortablysmoothingherhands。"Whichisconsideredmuchbetterforallparties，andmuchmoreconwenient。"

Ihadbeenalittlestartled，intheCathedral，bytheemphasiswithwhichtheeffigyofMasterRichardWattswasburstingoutofhistomb；butIbegantothink，now，thatitmightbeexpectedtocomeacrosstheHighStreetsomestormynight，andmakeadisturbancehere。

Howbeit，Ikeptmythoughtstomyself，andaccompaniedthepresencetothelittlegalleriesattheback。Ifoundthemonatinyscale，likethegalleriesinoldinn—yards；andtheywereveryclean。

WhileIwaslookingatthem，thematrongavemetounderstandthattheprescribednumberofPoorTravellerswereforthcomingeverynightfromyear’sendtoyear’send；andthatthebedswerealwaysoccupied。Myquestionsuponthis，andherreplies，broughtusbacktotheBoardRoomsoessentialtothedignityof"thegentlemen，"

wheresheshowedmetheprintedaccountsoftheCharityhangingupbythewindow。FromthemIgatheredthatthegreaterpartofthepropertybequeathedbytheWorshipfulMasterRichardWattsforthemaintenanceofthisfoundationwas，attheperiodofhisdeath，meremarsh—land；butthat，incourseoftime，ithadbeenreclaimedandbuiltupon，andwasveryconsiderablyincreasedinvalue。Ifound，too，thataboutathirtiethpartoftheannualrevenuewasnowexpendedonthepurposescommemoratedintheinscriptionoverthedoor；therestbeinghandsomelylaidoutinChancery，lawexpenses，collectorship，receivership，poundage，andotherappendagesofmanagement，highlycomplimentarytotheimportanceofthesixPoorTravellers。Inshort，Imadethenotentirelynewdiscoverythatitmaybesaidofanestablishmentlikethis，indearoldEngland，asofthefatoysterintheAmericanstory，thatittakesagoodmanymentoswallowitwhole。

"Andpray，ma’am，"saidI，sensiblethattheblanknessofmyfacebegantobrightenasthethoughtoccurredtome，"couldoneseetheseTravellers？"

"Well！"shereturneddubiously，"no！"

"Notto—night，forinstance！"saidI。

"Well！"shereturnedmorepositively，"no。Nobodyeveraskedtoseethem，andnobodyeverdidseethem。"

AsIamnoteasilybalkedinadesignwhenIamsetuponit，IurgedtothegoodladythatthiswasChristmas—eve；thatChristmascomesbutonceayear，——whichisunhappilytootrue，forwhenitbeginstostaywithusthewholeyearroundweshallmakethisearthaverydifferentplace；thatIwaspossessedbythedesiretotreattheTravellerstoasupperandatemperateglassofhotWassail；thatthevoiceofFamehadbeenheardinthatland，declaringmyabilitytomakehotWassail；thatifIwerepermittedtoholdthefeast，I

shouldbefoundconformabletoreason，sobriety，andgoodhours；inaword，thatIcouldbemerryandwisemyself，andhadbeenevenknownatapinchtokeepothersso，althoughIwasdecoratedwithnobadgeormedal，andwasnotaBrother，Orator，Apostle，Saint，orProphetofanydenominationwhatever。IntheendIprevailed，tomygreatjoy。Itwassettledthatatnineo’clockthatnightaTurkeyandapieceofRoastBeefshouldsmokeupontheboard；andthatI，faintandunworthyministerforonceofMasterRichardWatts，shouldpresideastheChristmas—supperhostofthesixPoorTravellers。

IwentbacktomyinntogivethenecessarydirectionsfortheTurkeyandRoastBeef，and，duringtheremainderoftheday，couldsettletonothingforthinkingofthePoorTravellers。Whenthewindblewhardagainstthewindows，——itwasacoldday，withdarkgustsofsleetalternatingwithperiodsofwildbrightness，asiftheyearweredyingfitfully，——Ipicturedthemadvancingtowardstheirresting—placealongvariouscoldroads，andfeltdelightedtothinkhowlittletheyforesawthesupperthatawaitedthem。I

paintedtheirportraitsinmymind，andindulgedinlittleheighteningtouches。Imadethemfootsore；Imadethemweary；I

madethemcarrypacksandbundles；Imadethemstopbyfinger—postsandmilestones，leaningontheirbentsticks，andlookingwistfullyatwhatwaswrittenthere；Imadethemlosetheirway；andfilledtheirfivewitswithapprehensionsoflyingoutallnight，andbeingfrozentodeath。Itookupmyhat，andwentout，climbedtothetopoftheOldCastle，andlookedoverthewindyhillsthatslopedowntotheMedway，almostbelievingthatIcoulddescrysomeofmyTravellersinthedistance。Afteritfelldark，andtheCathedralbellwasheardintheinvisiblesteeple——quiteaboweroffrostyrimewhenIhadlastseenit——strikingfive，six，seven，IbecamesofullofmyTravellersthatIcouldeatnodinner，andfeltconstrainedtowatchthemstillintheredcoalsofmyfire。Theywereallarrivedbythistime，Ithought，hadgottheirtickets，andweregonein。——TheremypleasurewasdashedbythereflectionthatprobablysomeTravellershadcometoolateandwereshutout。

AftertheCathedralbellhadstruckeight，IcouldsmelladelicioussavourofTurkeyandRoastBeefrisingtothewindowofmyadjoiningbedroom，whichlookeddownintotheinn—yardjustwherethelightsofthekitchenreddenedamassivefragmentoftheCastleWall。ItwashightimetomaketheWassailnow；thereforeIhadupthematerials（which，togetherwiththeirproportionsandcombinations，Imustdeclinetoimpart，astheonlysecretofmyownIwaseverknowntokeep），andmadeagloriousjorum。Notinabowl；forabowlanywherebutonashelfisalowsuperstition，fraughtwithcoolingandslopping；butinabrownearthenwarepitcher，tenderlysuffocated，whenfull，withacoarsecloth。Itbeingnowuponthestrokeofnine，IsetoutforWatts’sCharity，carryingmybrownbeautyinmyarms。IwouldtrustBen，thewaiter，withuntoldgold；

buttherearestringsinthehumanheartwhichmustneverbesoundedbyanother，anddrinksthatImakemyselfarethosestringsinmine。

TheTravellerswereallassembled，theclothwaslaid，andBenhadbroughtagreatbilletofwood，andhadlaiditartfullyonthetopofthefire，sothatatouchortwoofthepokeraftersuppershouldmakearoaringblaze。Havingdepositedmybrownbeautyinarednookofthehearth，insidethefender，whereshesoonbegantosinglikeanetherealcricket，diffusingatthesametimeodoursasofripevineyards，spiceforests，andorangegroves，——Isay，havingstationedmybeautyinaplaceofsecurityandimprovement，I

introducedmyselftomyguestsbyshakinghandsallround，andgivingthemaheartywelcome。

Ifoundthepartytobethuscomposed。Firstly，myself。Secondly，averydecentmanindeed，withhisrightarminasling，whohadacertaincleanagreeablesmellofwoodabouthim，fromwhichIjudgedhimtohavesomethingtodowithshipbuilding。Thirdly，alittlesailor—boy，amerechild，withaprofusionofrichdarkbrownhair，anddeepwomanly—lookingeyes。Fourthly，ashabby—genteelpersonageinathreadbareblacksuit，andapparentlyinverybadcircumstances，withadrysuspiciouslook；theabsentbuttonsonhiswaistcoatekedoutwithredtape；andabundleofextraordinarilytatteredpapersstickingoutofaninnerbreast—pocket。Fifthly，aforeignerbybirth，butanEnglishmaninspeech，whocarriedhispipeinthebandofhishat，andlostnotimeintellingme，inaneasy，simple，engagingway，thathewasawatchmakerfromGeneva，andtravelledallabouttheContinent，mostlyonfoot，workingasajourneyman，andseeingnewcountries，——possibly（Ithought）alsosmugglingawatchorso，nowandthen。Sixthly，alittlewidow，whohadbeenveryprettyandwasstillveryyoung，butwhosebeautyhadbeenwreckedinsomegreatmisfortune，andwhosemannerwasremarkablytimid，scared，andsolitary。Seventhlyandlastly，aTravellerofakindfamiliartomyboyhood，butnowalmostobsolete，——aBook—Pedler，whohadaquantityofPamphletsandNumberswithhim，andwhopresentlyboastedthathecouldrepeatmoreversesinaneveningthanhecouldsellinatwelvemonth。

AlltheseIhavementionedintheorderinwhichtheysatattable。

Ipresided，andthematronlypresencefacedme。Wewerenotlongintakingourplaces，forthesupperhadarrivedwithme，inthefollowingprocession:

Myselfwiththepitcher。

BenwithBeer。

InattentiveBoywithhotplates。InattentiveBoywithhotplates。

THETURKEY。

Femalecarryingsaucestobeheatedonthespot。

THEBEEF。

ManwithTrayonhishead，containingVegetablesandSundries。

VolunteerHostlerfromHotel，grinning，Andrenderingnoassistance。

AswepassedalongtheHighStreet，comet—like，weleftalongtailoffragrancebehinduswhichcausedthepublictostop，sniffinginwonder。Wehadpreviouslyleftatthecorneroftheinn—yardawall—eyedyoungmanconnectedwiththeFlydepartment，andwellaccustomedtothesoundofarailwaywhistlewhichBenalwayscarriesinhispocket，whoseinstructionswere，sosoonasheshouldhearthewhistleblown，todashintothekitchen，seizethehotplum—puddingandmince—pies，andspeedwiththemtoWatts’sCharity，wheretheywouldbereceived（hewasfurtherinstructed）bythesauce—female，whowouldbeprovidedwithbrandyinabluestateofcombustion。

Allthesearrangementswereexecutedinthemostexactandpunctualmanner。Ineversawafinerturkey，finerbeef，orgreaterprodigalityofsauceandgravy；——andmyTravellersdidwonderfuljusticetoeverythingsetbeforethem。Itmademyheartrejoicetoobservehowtheirwindandfrosthardenedfacessoftenedintheclatterofplatesandknivesandforks，andmellowedinthefireandsupperheat。Whiletheirhatsandcapsandwrappers，hangingup，afewsmallbundlesonthegroundinacorner，andinanothercornerthreeorfouroldwalking—sticks，worndownattheendtomerefringe，linkedthissmuginteriorwiththebleakoutsideinagoldenchain。

Whensupperwasdone，andmybrownbeautyhadbeenelevatedonthetable，therewasageneralrequisitiontometo"takethecorner；"

whichsuggestedtomecomfortablyenoughhowmuchmyfriendsheremadeofafire，——forwhenhadIeverthoughtsohighlyofthecorner，sincethedayswhenIconnecteditwithJackHorner？

However，asIdeclined，Ben，whosetouchonallconvivialinstrumentsisperfect，drewthetableapart，andinstructingmyTravellerstoopenrightandleftoneithersideofme，andformroundthefire，closedupthecentrewithmyselfandmychair，andpreservedtheorderwehadkeptattable。Hehadalready，inatranquilmanner，boxedtheearsoftheinattentiveboysuntiltheyhadbeenbyimperceptibledegreesboxedoutoftheroom；andhenowrapidlyskirmishedthesauce—femaleintotheHighStreet，disappeared，andsoftlyclosedthedoor。

Thiswasthetimeforbringingthepokertobearonthebilletofwood。Itappeditthreetimes，likeanenchantedtalisman，andabrillianthostofmerry—makersburstoutofit，andsportedoffbythechimney，——rushingupthemiddleinafierycountrydance，andnevercomingdownagain。Meanwhile，bytheirsparklinglight，whichthrewourlampintotheshade，Ifilledtheglasses，andgavemyTravellers，CHRISTMAS！——CHRISTMAS—EVE，myfriends，whentheshepherds，whowerePoorTravellers，too，intheirway，heardtheAngelssing，"Onearth，peace。Good—willtowardsmen！"

Idon’tknowwhowasthefirstamongustothinkthatweoughttotakehandsaswesat，indeferencetothetoast，orwhetheranyoneofusanticipatedtheothers，butatanyratewealldidit。WethendranktothememoryofthegoodMasterRichardWatts。AndI

wishhisGhostmayneverhavehadworseusageunderthatroofthanithadfromus。

ItwasthewitchingtimeforStory—telling。"Ourwholelife，Travellers，"saidI，"isastorymoreorlessintelligible，——

generallyless；butweshallreaditbyaclearerlightwhenitisended。I，forone，amsodividedthisnightbetweenfactandfiction，thatIscarceknowwhichiswhich。ShallIbeguilethetimebytellingyouastoryaswesithere？"

Theyallanswered，yes。Ihadlittletotellthem，butIwasboundbymyownproposal。Therefore，afterlookingforawhileatthespiralcolumnofsmokewreathingupfrommybrownbeauty，throughwhichIcouldhavealmostswornIsawtheeffigyofMasterRichardWattslessstartledthanusual，Ifiredaway。

CHAPTERII——THESTORYOFRICHARDDOUBLEDICK

Intheyearonethousandsevenhundredandninety—nine，arelativeofminecamelimpingdown，onfoot，tothistownofChatham。Icallitthistown，becauseifanybodypresentknowstoanicetywhereRochesterendsandChathambegins，itismorethanIdo。Hewasapoortraveller，withnotafarthinginhispocket。Hesatbythefireinthisveryroom，andhesleptonenightinabedthatwillbeoccupiedtonightbysomeonehere。

MyrelativecamedowntoChathamtoenlistinacavalryregiment，ifacavalryregimentwouldhavehim；ifnot，totakeKingGeorge’sshillingfromanycorporalorsergeantwhowouldputabunchofribbonsinhishat。Hisobjectwastogetshot；buthethoughthemightaswellridetodeathasbeatthetroubleofwalking。

Myrelative’sChristiannamewasRichard，buthewasbetterknownasDick。Hedroppedhisownsurnameontheroaddown，andtookupthatofDoubledick。HewaspassedasRichardDoubledick；age，twenty—

two；height，fivefootten；nativeplace，Exmouth，whichhehadneverbeennearinhislife。TherewasnocavalryinChathamwhenhelimpedoverthebridgeherewithhalfashoetohisdustyfeet，soheenlistedintoaregimentoftheline，andwasgladtogetdrunkandforgetallaboutit。

Youaretoknowthatthisrelativeofminehadgonewrong，andrunwild。Hisheartwasintherightplace，butitwassealedup。Hehadbeenbetrothedtoagoodandbeautifulgirl，whomhehadlovedbetterthanshe——orperhapsevenhe——believed；butinanevilhourhehadgivenhercausetosaytohimsolemnly，"Richard，Iwillnevermarryanotherman。Iwilllivesingleforyoursake，butMaryMarshall’slips"——hernamewasMaryMarshall——"neveraddressanotherwordtoyouonearth。Go，Richard！Heavenforgiveyou！"Thisfinishedhim。ThisbroughthimdowntoChatham。ThismadehimPrivateRichardDoubledick，withadeterminationtobeshot。

TherewasnotamoredissipatedandrecklesssoldierinChathambarracks，intheyearonethousandsevenhundredandninety—nine，thanPrivateRichardDoubledick。Heassociatedwiththedregsofeveryregiment；hewasasseldomsoberashecouldbe，andwasconstantlyunderpunishment。ItbecamecleartothewholebarracksthatPrivateRichardDoubledickwouldverysoonbeflogged。

NowtheCaptainofRichardDoubledick’scompanywasayounggentlemannotabovefiveyearshissenior，whoseeyeshadanexpressioninthemwhichaffectedPrivateRichardDoubledickinaveryremarkableway。Theywerebright，handsome，darkeyes，——whatarecalledlaughingeyesgenerally，and，whenserious，rathersteadythansevere，——buttheyweretheonlyeyesnowleftinhisnarrowedworldthatPrivateRichardDoubledickcouldnotstand。Unabashedbyevilreportandpunishment，defiantofeverythingelseandeverybodyelse，hehadbuttoknowthatthoseeyeslookedathimforamoment，andhefeltashamed。HecouldnotsomuchassaluteCaptainTauntoninthestreetlikeanyotherofficer。Hewasreproachedandconfused，——troubledbythemerepossibilityofthecaptain’slookingathim。Inhisworstmoments，hewouldratherturnback，andgoanydistanceoutofhisway，thanencounterthosetwohandsome，dark，brighteyes。

Oneday，whenPrivateRichardDoubledickcameoutoftheBlackhole，wherehehadbeenpassingthelasteight—and—fortyhours，andinwhichretreathespentagooddealofhistime，hewasorderedtobetakehimselftoCaptainTaunton’squarters。InthestaleandsqualidstateofamanjustoutoftheBlackhole，hehadlessfancythaneverforbeingseenbythecaptain；buthewasnotsomadyetastodisobeyorders，andconsequentlywentuptotheterraceoverlookingtheparade—ground，wheretheofficers’quarterswere；

twistingandbreakinginhishands，ashewentalong，abitofthestrawthathadformedthedecorativefurnitureoftheBlackhole。

"Comein！"criedtheCaptain，whenhehadknockedwithhisknucklesatthedoor。PrivateRichardDoubledickpulledoffhiscap，tookastrideforward，andfeltveryconsciousthathestoodinthelightofthedark，brighteyes。

Therewasasilentpause。PrivateRichardDoubledickhadputthestrawinhismouth，andwasgraduallydoublingitupintohiswindpipeandchokinghimself。

"Doubledick，"saidtheCaptain，"doyouknowwhereyouaregoingto？"

"TotheDevil，sir？"falteredDoubledick。

"Yes，"returnedtheCaptain。"Andveryfast。"

PrivateRichardDoubledickturnedthestrawoftheBlackholeinhismonth，andmadeamiserablesaluteofacquiescence。

"Doubledick，"saidtheCaptain，"sinceIenteredhisMajesty’sservice，aboyofseventeen，Ihavebeenpainedtoseemanymenofpromisegoingthatroad；butIhaveneverbeensopainedtoseeamanmaketheshamefuljourneyasIhavebeen，eversinceyoujoinedtheregiment，toseeyou。"

PrivateRichardDoubledickbegantofindafilmstealingovertheflooratwhichhelooked；alsotofindthelegsoftheCaptain’sbreakfast—tableturningcrooked，asifhesawthemthroughwater。

"Iamonlyacommonsoldier，sir，"saidhe。"Itsignifiesverylittlewhatsuchapoorbrutecomesto。"

"Youareaman，"returnedtheCaptain，withgraveindignation，"ofeducationandsuperioradvantages；andifyousaythat，meaningwhatyousay，youhavesunklowerthanIhadbelieved。Howlowthatmustbe，Ileaveyoutoconsider，knowingwhatIknowofyourdisgrace，andseeingwhatIsee。"

"Ihopetogetshotsoon，sir，"saidPrivateRichardDoubledick；

"andthentheregimentandtheworldtogetherwillberidofme。"

Thelegsofthetablewerebecomingverycrooked。Doubledick，lookinguptosteadyhisvision，mettheeyesthathadsostronganinfluenceoverhim。Heputhishandbeforehisowneyes，andthebreastofhisdisgrace—jacketswelledasifitwouldflyasunder。

"Iwouldrather，"saidtheyoungCaptain，"seethisinyou，Doubledick，thanIwouldseefivethousandguineascountedoutuponthistableforagifttomygoodmother。Haveyouamother？"

"Iamthankfultosaysheisdead，sir。"

"Ifyourpraises，"returnedtheCaptain，"weresoundedfrommouthtomouththroughthewholeregiment，throughthewholearmy，throughthewholecountry，youwouldwishshehadlivedtosay，withprideandjoy，’Heismyson！’"

"Spareme，sir，"saidDoubledick。"Shewouldneverhaveheardanygoodofme。Shewouldneverhavehadanyprideandjoyinowningherselfmymother。Loveandcompassionshemighthavehad，andwouldhavealwayshad，Iknowbutnot——Spareme，sir！Iamabrokenwretch，quiteatyourmercy！"Andheturnedhisfacetothewall，andstretchedouthisimploringhand。

"Myfriend——"begantheCaptain。

"Godblessyou，sir！"sobbedPrivateRichardDoubledick。

"Youareatthecrisisofyourfate。Holdyourcourseunchangedalittlelonger，andyouknowwhatmusthappen。Iknowevenbetterthanyoucanimagine，that，afterthathashappened，youarelost。

Nomanwhocouldshedthosetearscouldbearthosemarks。"

"Ifullybelieveit，sir，"inalow，shiveringvoicesaidPrivateRichardDoubledick。

"Butamaninanystationcandohisduty，"saidtheyoungCaptain，"and，indoingit，canearnhisownrespect，evenifhiscaseshouldbesoveryunfortunateandsoveryrarethathecanearnnootherman’s。Acommonsoldier，poorbrutethoughyoucalledhimjustnow，hasthisadvantageinthestormytimeswelivein，thathealwaysdoeshisdutybeforeahostofsympathisingwitnesses。Doyoudoubtthathemaysodoitastobeextolledthroughawholeregiment，throughawholearmy，throughawholecountry？Turnwhileyoumayyetretrievethepast，andtry。"

"Iwill！Iaskforonlyonewitness，sir，"criedRichard，withaburstingheart。

"Iunderstandyou。Iwillbeawatchfulandafaithfulone。"

IhaveheardfromPrivateRichardDoubledick’sownlips，thathedroppeddownuponhisknee，kissedthatofficer’shand，arose，andwentoutofthelightofthedark，brighteyes，analteredman。

Inthatyear，onethousandsevenhundredandninety—nine，theFrenchwereinEgypt，inItaly，inGermany，wherenot？NapoleonBonapartehadlikewisebeguntostiragainstusinIndia，andmostmencouldreadthesignsofthegreattroublesthatwerecomingon。Intheverynextyear，whenweformedanalliancewithAustriaagainsthim，CaptainTaunton’sregimentwasonserviceinIndia。Andtherewasnotafinernon—commissionedofficerinit，——no，norinthewholeline——thanCorporalRichardDoubledick。

Ineighteenhundredandone，theIndianarmywereonthecoastofEgypt。Nextyearwastheyearoftheproclamationoftheshortpeace，andtheywererecalled。Ithadthenbecomewellknowntothousandsofmen，thatwhereverCaptainTaunton，withthedark，brighteyes，led，there，closetohim，everathisside，firmasarock，trueasthesun，andbraveasMars，wouldbecertaintobefound，whilelifebeatintheirhearts，thatfamoussoldier，SergeantRichardDoubledick。

Eighteenhundredandfive，besidesbeingthegreatyearofTrafalgar，wasayearofhardfightinginIndia。ThatyearsawsuchwondersdonebyaSergeant—Major，whocuthiswaysingle—handedthroughasolidmassofmen，recoveredthecoloursofhisregiment，whichhadbeenseizedfromthehandofapoorboyshotthroughtheheart，andrescuedhiswoundedCaptain，whowasdown，andinaveryjungleofhorses’hoofsandsabres，——sawsuchwondersdone，Isay，bythisbraveSergeant—Major，thathewasspeciallymadethebearerofthecolourshehadwon；andEnsignRichardDoubledickhadrisenfromtheranks。

Sorelycutupineverybattle，butalwaysreinforcedbythebravestofmen，——forthefameoffollowingtheoldcolours，shotthroughandthrough，whichEnsignRichardDoubledickhadsaved，inspiredallbreasts，——thisregimentfoughtitswaythroughthePeninsularwar，uptotheinvestmentofBadajosineighteenhundredandtwelve。

AgainandagainithadbeencheeredthroughtheBritishranksuntilthetearshadsprungintomen’seyesatthemerehearingofthemightyBritishvoice，soexultantintheirvalour；andtherewasnotadrummer—boybutknewthelegend，thatwhereverthetwofriends，MajorTaunton，withthedark，brighteyes，andEnsignRichardDoubledick，whowasdevotedtohim，wereseentogo，theretheboldestspiritsintheEnglisharmybecamewildtofollow。

Oneday，atBadajos，——notinthegreatstorming，butinrepellingahotsallyofthebesiegeduponourmenatworkinthetrenches，whohadgivenway，——thetwoofficersfoundthemselveshurryingforward，facetoface，againstapartyofFrenchinfantry，whomadeastand。