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foreigner by birth； but an Englishman in speech； who carried his
pipe in the band of his hat； and lost no time in telling me； in an
easy； simple； engaging way； that he was a watchmaker from Geneva；
and travelled all about the Continent； mostly on foot； working as a
journeyman； and seeing new countries；possibly （I thought） also
smuggling a watch or so； now and then。 Sixthly； a little widow； who
had been very pretty and was still very young； but whose beauty had
been wrecked in some great misfortune； and whose manner was
remarkably timid； scared； and solitary。 Seventhly and lastly； a
Traveller of a kind familiar to my boyhood； but now almost
obsolete；a Book…Pedler； who had a quantity of Pamphlets and
Numbers with him； and who presently boasted that he could repeat
more verses in an evening than he could sell in a twelvemonth。
All these I have mentioned in the order in which they sat at table。
I presided； and the matronly presence faced me。 We were not long in
taking our places； for the supper had arrived with me； in the
following procession：
Myself with the pitcher。
Ben with Beer。
Inattentive Boy with hot plates。 Inattentive Boy with hot plates。
THE TURKEY。
Female carrying sauces to be heated on the spot。
THE BEEF。
Man with Tray on his head； containing Vegetables and Sundries。
Volunteer Hostler from Hotel； grinning；
And rendering no assistance。
As we passed along the High Street； comet…like； we left a long tail
of fragrance behind us which caused the public to stop； sniffing in
wonder。 We had previously left at the corner of the inn…yard a
wall…eyed young man connected with the Fly department； and well
accustomed to the sound of a railway whistle which Ben always
carries in his pocket； whose instructions were； so soon as he should
hear the whistle blown； to dash into the kitchen； seize the hot
plum…pudding and mince…pies； and speed with them to Watts's Charity；
where they would be received （he was further instructed） by the
sauce…female； who would be provided with brandy in a blue state of
combustion。
All these arrangements were executed in the most exact and punctual
manner。 I never saw a finer turkey； finer beef； or greater
prodigality of sauce and gravy；and my Travellers did wonderful
justice to everything set before them。 It made my heart rejoice to
observe how their wind and frost hardened faces softened in the
clatter of plates and knives and forks； and mellowed in the fire and
supper heat。 While their hats and caps and wrappers； hanging up； a
few small bundles on the ground in a corner； and in another corner
three or four old walking…sticks； worn down at the end to mere
fringe； linked this smug interior with the bleak outside in a golden
chain。
When supper was done； and my brown beauty had been elevated on the
table； there was a general requisition to me to 〃take the corner；〃
which suggested to me comfortably enough how much my friends here
made of a fire；for when had I ever thought so highly of the
corner； since the days 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 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。
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 liv