按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
across to it； through the open doors of both rooms； and asked what this
chamber was for。
〃This；〃 returned the presence； 〃is the Board Room。 Where the
gentlemen meet when they come here。〃
Let me see。 I had counted from the street six upper windows besides
these on the ground…story。 Making a perplexed calculation in my mind； I
rejoined； 〃Then the six Poor Travellers sleep upstairs？〃
My new friend shook her head。 〃They sleep；〃 she answered； 〃in two
little outer galleries at the back； where their beds has always been； ever
since the Charity was founded。 It being so very ill… conwenient to me as
things is at present； the gentlemen are going to take off a bit of the back…
yard； and make a slip of a room for 'em there； to sit in before they go to
bed。〃
〃And then the six Poor Travellers；〃 said I； 〃will be entirely out of the
house？〃
〃Entirely out of the house；〃 assented the presence； comfortably
smoothing her hands。 〃Which is considered much better for all parties；
4
… Page 5…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
and much more conwenient。〃
I had been a little startled； in the Cathedral； by the emphasis with
which the effigy of Master Richard Watts was bursting out of his tomb；
but I began to think； now； that it might be expected to come across the
High Street some stormy night； and make a disturbance here。
Howbeit； I kept my thoughts to myself； and accompanied the presence
to the little galleries at the back。 I found them on a tiny scale； like the
galleries in old inn…yards； and they were very clean。
While I was looking at them； the matron gave me to understand that
the prescribed number of Poor Travellers were forthcoming every night
from year's end to year's end； and that the beds were always occupied。
My questions upon this； and her replies； brought us back to the Board
Room so essential to the dignity of 〃the gentlemen；〃 where she showed me
the printed accounts of the Charity hanging up by the window。 From
them I gathered that the greater part of the property bequeathed by the
Worshipful Master Richard Watts for the maintenance of this foundation
was； at the period of his death； mere marsh…land； but that； in course of
time； it had been reclaimed and built upon； and was very considerably
increased in value。 I found； too； that about a thirtieth part of the annual
revenue was now expended on the purposes commemorated in the
inscription over the door； the rest being handsomely laid out in Chancery；
law expenses； collectorship； receivership； poundage； and other appendages
of management； highly complimentary to the importance of the six Poor
Travellers。 In short； I made the not entirely new discovery that it may be
said of an establishment like this； in dear old England； as of the fat oyster
in the American story； that it takes a good many men to swallow it whole。
〃And pray； ma'am；〃 said I； sensible that the blankness of my face
began to brighten as the thought occurred to me； 〃could one see these
Travellers？〃
〃Well！〃 she returned dubiously； 〃no！〃
〃Not to…night； for instance！〃 said I。
〃Well！〃 she returned more positively； 〃no。 Nobody ever asked to see
them； and nobody ever did see them。〃
As I am not easily balked in a design when I am set upon it； I urged to
5
… Page 6…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
the good lady that this was Christmas…eve； that Christmas comes but once
a year；which is unhappily too true； for when it begins to stay with us the
whole year round we shall make this earth a very different place； that I
was possessed by the desire to treat the Travellers to a supper and a
temperate glass of hot Wassail； that the voice of Fame had been heard in
that land； declaring my ability to make hot Wassail； that if I were
permitted to hold the feast； I should be found conformable to reason；
sobriety； and good hours； in a word； that I could be merry and wise myself；
and had been even known at a pinch to keep others so； although I was
decorated with no badge or medal； and was not a Brother； Orator； Apostle；
Saint； or Prophet of any denomination whatever。 In the end I prevailed；
to my great joy。 It was settled that at nine o'clock that night a Turkey and
a piece of Roast Beef should smoke upon the board； and that I； faint and
unworthy minister for once of Master Richard Watts； should preside as the
Christmas…supper host of the six Poor Travellers。
I went back to my inn to give the necessary directions for the Turkey
and Roast Beef； and； during the remainder of the day； could settle to
nothing for thinking of the Poor Travellers。 When the wind blew hard
against the windows；it was a cold day； with dark gusts of sleet
alternating with periods of wild brightness； as if the year were dying
fitfully；I pictured them advancing towards their resting…place along
various cold roads； and felt delighted to think how little they foresaw the
supper that awaited them。 I painted their portraits in my mind； and
indulged in little heightening touches。 I made them footsore； I made
them weary； I made them carry packs and bundles； I made them stop by
finger…posts and milestones； leaning on their bent sticks； and looking
wistfully at what was written there； I made them lose their way； and filled
their five wits with apprehensions of lying out all night； and being frozen
to death。 I took up my hat； and went out； climbed to the top of the Old
Castle； and looked over the windy hills that slope down to the Medway；
almost believing that I could descry some of my Travellers in the distance。
After it fell dark； and the Cathedral bell was heard in the invisible steeple
quite a bower of frosty rime when I had last seen itstriking five； six；
seven； I became so full of my Travellers that I could eat no dinner； and felt
6
… Page 7…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS