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！
previous scene in his existence was closed。 He had firmly resolved that
his expiation should be to live unknown； to disturb no more the peace that
had long grown over his old offences； to let it be revealed； when he was
dead； that he had striven and suffered； and had never forgotten； and then；
17
… Page 18…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
if they could forgive him and believe himwell； it would be time enough
time enough！
But that night； remembering the words he had cherished for two years；
〃Tell her how we became friends。 It will comfort her； as it comforts me；〃
he related everything。 It gradually seemed to him as if in his maturity he
had recovered a mother； it gradually seemed to her as if in her
bereavement she had found a son。 During his stay in England； the quiet
garden into which he had slowly and painfully crept； a stranger； became
the boundary of his home； when he was able to rejoin his regiment in the
spring； he left the garden； thinking was this indeed the first time he had
ever turned his face towards the old colours with a woman's blessing！
He followed themso ragged； so scarred and pierced now； that they
would scarcely hold togetherto Quatre Bras and Ligny。 He stood beside
them； in an awful stillness of many men； shadowy through the mist and
drizzle of a wet June forenoon； on the field of Waterloo。 And down to that
hour the picture in his mind of the French officer had never been
compared with the reality。
The famous regiment was in action early in the battle； and received its
first check in many an eventful year； when he was seen to fall。 But it swept
on to avenge him； and left behind it no such creature in the world of
consciousness as Lieutenant Richard Doubledick。
Through pits of mire； and pools of rain； along deep ditches； once roads；
that were pounded and ploughed to pieces by artillery； heavy waggons；
tramp of men and horses； and the struggle of every wheeled thing that
could carry wounded soldiers； jolted among the dying and the dead； so
disfigured by blood and mud as to be hardly recognisable for humanity；
undisturbed by the moaning of men and the shrieking of horses； which；
newly taken from the peaceful pursuits of life； could not endure the sight
of the stragglers lying by the wayside； never to resume their toilsome
journey； dead； as to any sentient life that was in it； and yet alive；the form
that had been Lieutenant Richard Doubledick； with whose praises England
rang； was conveyed to Brussels。 There it was tenderly laid down in
hospital； and there it lay； week after week； through the long bright summer
days； until the harvest； spared by war； had ripened and was gathered in。
18
… Page 19…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
Over and over again the sun rose and set upon the crowded city； over
and over again the moonlight nights were quiet on the plains of Waterloo：
and all that time was a blank to what had been Lieutenant Richard
Doubledick。 Rejoicing troops marched into Brussels； and marched out；
brothers and fathers； sisters； mothers； and wives； came thronging thither；
drew their lots of joy or agony； and departed； so many times a day the
bells rang； so many times the shadows of the great buildings changed； so
many lights sprang up at dusk； so many feet passed here and there upon
the pavements； so many hours of sleep and cooler air of night succeeded：
indifferent to all； a marble face lay on a bed； like the face of a recumbent
statue on the tomb of Lieutenant Richard Doubledick。
Slowly labouring； at last； through a long heavy dream of confused time
and place； presenting faint glimpses of army surgeons whom he knew； and
of faces that had been familiar to his youth；dearest and kindest among
them； Mary Marshall's； with a solicitude upon it more like reality than
anything he could discern；Lieutenant Richard Doubledick came back to
life。 To the beautiful life of a calm autumn evening sunset； to the
peaceful life of a fresh quiet room with a large window standing open； a
balcony beyond； in which were moving leaves and sweet…smelling flowers；
beyond； again； the clear sky； with the sun full in his sight； pouring its
golden radiance on his bed。
It was so tranquil and so lovely that he thought he had passed into
another world。 And he said in a faint voice； 〃Taunton； are you near me？〃
A face bent over him。 Not his； his mother's。
〃I came to nurse you。 We have nursed you many weeks。 You were
moved here long ago。 Do you remember nothing？〃
〃Nothing。〃
The lady kissed his cheek； and held his hand； soothing him。
〃Where is the regiment？ What has happened？ Let me call you
mother。 What has happened； mother？〃
〃A great victory； dear。 The war is over； and the regiment was the
bravest in the field。〃
His eyes kindled； his lips trembled； he sobbed； and the tears ran down
his face。 He was very weak； too weak to move his hand。
19
… Page 20…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
〃Was it dark just now？〃 he asked presently。
〃No。〃
〃It was only dark to me？ Something passed away； like a black
shadow。 But as it went； and the sunO the blessed sun； how beautiful it
is！touched my face； I thought I saw a light white cloud pass out at the
door。 Was there nothing that went out？〃
She shook her head； and in a little while he fell asleep； she still holding
his hand； and soothing him。
From that time； he recovered。 Slowly； for he had been desperately
wounded in the head； and had been shot in the body； but making some
little advance every day。 When he had gained sufficient strength to
converse as he lay in bed； he soon began to remark that Mrs。 Taunton
always brought him back to his own history。 Then he recalled his
preserver's dying words； and thought； 〃It comforts her。〃
One day he awoke out of a sleep； refreshed； and asked her to read to
him。 But the curtain of the bed； softening the light； which she always
drew