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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 back when he awoke； that she might see him from her table at the
bedside where she sat at work； was held undrawn； and a woman's voice
spoke； which was not hers。
〃Can you bear to see a stranger？〃 it said softly。 〃Will you like to see
a stranger？〃
〃Stranger！〃 he repeated。 The voice awoke old memories； before the
days of Private Richard Doubledick。
〃A stranger now； but not a stranger once；〃 it said in tones that thrilled
him。 〃Richard； dear Richard； lost through so many years； my name〃
He cried out her name； 〃Mary；〃 and she held him in her arms； and his
head lay on her bosom。
〃I am not breaking a rash vow； Richard。 These are not Mary
Marshall's lips that speak。 I have another name。〃
She was married。
〃I have another name； Richard。 Did you ever hear it？〃
〃Never！〃
He looked into her face； so pensively beautiful； and wondered at the
smile upon it through her tears。
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〃Think again； Richard。 Are you sure you never heard my altered
name？〃
〃Never！〃
〃Don't move your head to look at me； dear Richard。 Let it lie here；
while I tell my story。 I loved a generous； noble man； loved him with my
whole heart； loved him for years and years； loved him faithfully； devotedly；
loved him without hope of return； loved him； knowing nothing of his
highest qualitiesnot even knowing that he was alive。 He was a brave
soldier。 He was honoured and beloved by thousands of thousands； when
the mother of his dear friend found me； and showed me that in all his
triumphs he had never forgotten me。 He was wounded in a great battle。
He was brought； dying； here； into Brussels。 I came to watch and tend
him； as I would have joyfully gone； with such a purpose； to the dreariest
ends of the earth。 When he knew no one else； he knew me。 When he
suffered most； he bore his sufferings barely murmuring； content to rest his
head where your rests now。 When he lay at the point of death； he married
me； that he might call me Wife before he died。 And the name； my dear
love； that I took on that forgotten night〃 〃I know it now！〃 he sobbed。
〃The shadowy remembrance strengthens。 It is come back。 I thank
Heaven that my mind is quite restored！ My Mary； kiss me； lull this
weary head to rest； or I shall die of gratitude。 His parting words were
fulfilled。 I see Home again！〃
Well！ They were happy。 It was a long recovery； but they were
happy through it all。 The snow had melted on the ground； and the birds
were singing in the leafless thickets of the early spring； when those three
were first able to ride out together； and when people flocked about the
open carriage to cheer and congratulate Captain Richard Doubledick。
But even then it became necessary for the Captain； instead of returning
to England； to complete his recovery in the climate of Southern France。
They found a spot upon the Rhone； within a ride of the old town of
Avignon； and within view of its broken bridge； which was all they could
desire； they lived there； together； six months； then returned to England。
Mrs。 Taunton； growing old after three yearsthough not so old as that her
bright； dark eyes were dimmed and remembering that her strength had
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THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
been benefited by the change resolved to go back for a year to those parts。
So she went with a faithful servant； who had often carried her son in his
arms； and she was to be rejoined and escorted home； at the year's end； by
Captain Richard Doubledick。
She wrote regularly to her children （as she called them now）； and they
to her。 She went to the neighbourhood of Aix； and there； in their own
chateau near the farmer's house she rented； she grew into intimacy with a
family belonging to that part of France。 The intimacy began in her often
meeting among the vineyards a pretty child； a girl with a most
compassionate heart； who was never tired of listening to the solitary
English lady's stories of her poor son and the cruel wars。 The family
were as gentle as the child； and at length she came to know them so well
that she accepted their invitation to pass the last month of her residence
abroad under their roof。 All this intelligence she wrote home； piecemeal
as it came about； from time to time； and at last enclosed a polite note； from
the head of the chateau； soliciting； on the occasion of his approaching
mission to that neighbourhood； the honour of the company of cet homme
si justement celebre； Monsieur le Capitaine Richard Doubledick。
Captain Doubledick； now a hardy； handsome man in the full vigour of
life； broader across the chest and shoulders than he had ever been before；
dispatched a courteous reply； and followed it in person。 Travelling through
all that extent of country after three years of Peace； he blessed the better
days on which the world had fallen。 The corn was golden； not drenched in
unnatural red； was bound in sheaves for food； not trodden underfoot by
men in mortal fight。 The smoke rose up from peaceful hearths； not
blazing ruins。 The carts were laden with the fair fruits of the earth； not
with wounds and death。 To him who had so often seen the terrible
reverse； these things were beautiful indeed； and they brought him in a
softened spirit to the old chateau near Aix upon a deep blue evening。
It was a large chateau of the genuine old ghostly kind； with round
towers； and extinguishers； and a high leaden roof； and more windows than
Aladdin's Palace。 The lattice blinds were all thrown open after the heat
of the day； and there were glimpses of rambling walls and corridors within。
Then there were immense out…buildings fallen into partial decay； masses
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