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when I connected it with Jack Horner？ However； as I declined； Ben；
whose touch on all convivial instruments is perfect； drew the table apart；
and instructing my Travellers to open right and left on either side of me；
and form round the fire； closed up the centre with myself and my chair；
and preserved the order we had kept at table。 He had already； in a
tranquil manner； boxed the ears of the inattentive boys until they had been
by imperceptible degrees boxed out of the room； and he now rapidly
skirmished the sauce…female into the High Street； disappeared； and softly
closed the door。
This was the time for bringing the poker to bear on the billet of wood。
I tapped it three times； like an enchanted talisman； and a brilliant host of
merry…makers burst out of it； and sported off by the chimney；rushing up
the middle in a fiery country dance； and never coming down again。
Meanwhile； by their sparkling light； which threw our lamp into the shade；
I filled the glasses； and gave my Travellers； CHRISTMAS！
CHRISTMAS…EVE； my friends； when the shepherds； who were Poor
Travellers； too； in their way； heard the Angels sing； 〃On earth； peace。
Good…will towards men！〃
I don't know who was the first among us to think that we ought to take
hands as we sat； in deference to the toast； or whether any one of us
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anticipated the others； but at any rate we all did it。 We then drank to the
memory of the good Master Richard Watts。 And I wish his Ghost may
never have had worse usage under that roof than it had from us。
It was the witching time for Story…telling。 〃Our whole life；
Travellers；〃 said I； 〃is a story more or less intelligible； generally less； but
we shall read it by a clearer light when it is ended。 I； for one； am so
divided this night between fact and fiction； that I scarce know which is
which。 Shall I beguile the time by telling you a story as we sit here？〃
They all answered； yes。 I had little to tell them； but I was bound by
my own proposal。 Therefore； after looking for awhile at the spiral
column of smoke wreathing up from my brown beauty； through which I
could have almost sworn I saw the effigy of Master Richard Watts less
startled than usual； I fired away。
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CHAPTER IITHE STORY OF
RICHARD DOUBLEDICK
In the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety…nine； a relative of
mine came limping down； on foot； to this town of Chatham。 I call it this
town； because if anybody present knows to a nicety where Rochester ends
and Chatham begins； it is more than I do。 He was a poor traveller； with
not a farthing in his pocket。 He sat by the fire in this very room； and he
slept one night in a bed that will be occupied tonight by some one here。
My relative came down to Chatham to enlist in a cavalry regiment； if a
cavalry regiment would have him； if not； to take King George's shilling
from any corporal or sergeant who would put a bunch of ribbons in his hat。
His object was to get shot； but he thought he might as well ride to death as
be at the trouble of walking。
My relative's Christian name was Richard； but he was better known as
Dick。 He dropped his own surname on the road down； and took up that
of Doubledick。 He was passed as Richard Doubledick； age； twenty… two；
height； five foot ten； native place； Exmouth； which he had never been near
in his life。 There was no cavalry in Chatham when he limped over the
bridge here with half a shoe to his dusty feet； so he enlisted into a regiment
of the line； and was glad to get drunk and forget all about it。
You are to know that this relative of mine had gone wrong； and run
wild。 His heart was in the right place； but it was sealed up。 He had
been betrothed to a good and beautiful girl； whom he had loved better than
sheor perhaps even hebelieved； but in an evil hour he had given her
cause to say to him solemnly； 〃Richard； I will never marry another man。
I will live single for your sake； but Mary Marshall's lips〃her name was
Mary Marshall〃never address another word to you on earth。 Go；
Richard！ Heaven forgive you！〃 This finished him。 This brought him
down to Chatham。 This made him Private Richard Doubledick； with a
determination to be shot。
There was not a more dissipated and reckless soldier in Chatham
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THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
barracks； in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety…nine； than
Private Richard Doubledick。 He associated with the dregs of every
regiment； he was as seldom sober as he could be； and was constantly
under punishment。 It became clear to the whole barracks that Private
Richard Doubledick would very soon be flogged。
Now the Captain of Richard Doubledick's company was a young
gentleman not above five years his senior； whose eyes had an expression
in them which affected Private Richard Doubledick in a very remarkable
way。 They were bright； handsome； dark eyes；what are called laughing
eyes generally； and； when serious； rather steady than severe；but they
were the only eyes now left in his narrowed world that Private Richard
Doubledick could not stand。 Unabashed by evil report and punishment；
defiant of everything else and everybody else； he had but to know that
those eyes looked at him for a moment； and he felt ashamed。 He could
not so much as salute Captain Taunton in the street like any other officer。
He was reproached and confused；troubled by the mere possibility of the
captain's looking at him。 In his worst moments； he would rather turn
back； and go any distance out of his way； than encounter those two
handsome； dark； bright eyes。
One day； when Private Richard Doubledick came out of the Black hole；
where he had been passing the last eight…and…forty hours；