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scene of innocent happiness that might have been invented for the
climax of the scenes of peace which had soothed the Captain's
journey。
He looked on； greatly troubled in his mind； until a resounding bell
rang； and the French officer begged to show him his rooms。 They
went upstairs into the gallery from which the officer had looked
down； and Monsieur le Capitaine Richard Doubledick was cordially
welcomed to a grand outer chamber； and a smaller one within； all
clocks and draperies； and hearths； and brazen dogs； and tiles； and
cool devices； and elegance； and vastness。
〃You were at Waterloo；〃 said the French officer。
〃I was；〃 said Captain Richard Doubledick。 〃And at Badajos。〃
Left alone with the sound of his own stern voice in his ears； he sat
down to consider； What shall I do； and how shall I tell him？ At
that time； unhappily； many deplorable duels had been fought between
English and French officers； arising out of the recent war； and
these duels； and how to avoid this officer's hospitality； were the
uppermost thought in Captain Richard Doubledick's mind。
He was thinking； and letting the time run out in which he should
have dressed for dinner； when Mrs。 Taunton spoke to him outside the
door； asking if he could give her the letter he had brought from
Mary。 〃His mother； above all；〃 the Captain thought。 〃How shall I
tell her？〃
〃You will form a friendship with your host； I hope；〃 said Mrs。
Taunton； whom he hurriedly admitted； 〃that will last for life。 He
is so true…hearted and so generous； Richard； that you can hardly
fail to esteem one another。 If He had been spared；〃 she kissed （not
without tears） the locket in which she wore his hair； 〃he would have
appreciated him with his own magnanimity； and would have been truly
happy that the evil days were past which made such a man his enemy。〃
She left the room； and the Captain walked； first to one window；
whence he could see the dancing in the garden； then to another
window； whence he could see the smiling prospect and the peaceful
vineyards。
〃Spirit of my departed friend；〃 said he； 〃is it through thee these
better thoughts are rising in my mind？ Is it thou who hast shown
me； all the way I have been drawn to meet this man； the blessings of
the altered time？ Is it thou who hast sent thy stricken mother to
me； to stay my angry hand？ Is it from thee the whisper comes； that
this man did his duty as thou didst；and as I did； through thy
guidance； which has wholly saved me here on earth；and that he did
no more？〃
He sat down； with his head buried in his hands； and； when he rose
up； made the second strong resolution of his life；that neither to
the French officer； nor to the mother of his departed friend； nor to
any soul； while either of the two was living； would he breathe what
only he knew。 And when he touched that French officer's glass with
his own； that day at dinner； he secretly forgave him in the name of
the Divine Forgiver of injuries。
Here I ended my story as the first Poor Traveller。 But； if I had
told it now； I could have added that the time has since come when
the son of Major Richard Doubledick； and the son of that French
officer； friends as their fathers were before them； fought side by
side in one cause； with their respective nations； like long…divided
brothers whom the better times have brought together； fast united。
CHAPTER IIITHE ROAD
My story being finished； and the Wassail too； we broke up as the
Cathedral bell struck Twelve。 I did not take leave of my travellers
that night； for it had come into my head to reappear； in conjunction
with some hot coffee； at seven in the morning。
As I passed along the High Street； I heard the Waits at a distance；
and struck off to find them。 They were playing near one of the old
gates of the City； at the corner of a wonderfully quaint row of red…
brick tenements； which the clarionet obligingly informed me were
inhabited by the Minor…Canons。 They had odd little porches over the
doors； like sounding…boards over old pulpits； and I thought I should
like to see one of the Minor…Canons come out upon his top stop； and
favour us with a little Christmas discourse about the poor scholars
of Rochester； taking for his text the words of his Master relative
to the devouring of Widows' houses。
The clarionet was so communicative； and my inclinations were （as
they generally are） of so vagabond a tendency； that I accompanied
the Waits across an open green called the Vines； and assistedin
the French senseat the performance of two waltzes； two polkas； and
three Irish melodies； before I thought of my inn any more。 However；
I returned to it then； and found a fiddle in the kitchen； and Ben；
the wall…eyed young man； and two chambermaids； circling round the
great deal table with the utmost animation。
I had a very bad night。 It cannot have been owing to the turkey or
the beef；and the Wassail is out of the questionbut in every
endeavour that I made to get to sleep I failed most dismally。 I was
never asleep； and in whatsoever unreasonable direction my mind
rambled； the effigy of Master Richard Watts perpetually embarrassed
it。
In a word； I only got out of the Worshipful Master Richard Watts's
way by getting out of bed in the dark at six o'clock； and tumbling；
as my custom is； into all the cold water that could be accumulated
for the purpose。 The outer air was dull and cold enough in the
street； when I came down there； and the one candle in our supper…
room at Watts's Charity looked as pale in the burning as if it had
had a bad night too。 But my Travellers had all slept soundly； and
they took to the hot coffee； and the piles of bread…and…butter；
which Ben had arranged like deals in a timber…yard； as kindly as I
could desire。
While it was yet scarcely daylight； we all came out into the street
together； and there shook hands。 The widow took the little sailor
towards Chatham； where he was to find a steamboat for Sheerness； the
lawyer； with an extremely knowing look； went his own way； without
committing himself by announcing his intentions； two more struck off
by the cathedral and old castle for Maidstone； and the book…pedler
accompanied me over the bridge。 As for me； I was going to walk by
Cobham Woods； as far upon my way to London as I fancied。
When I came to the stile and footpath by which I was to diverge from
the main road； I bade farewell to my last remaining Poor Traveller；
and pursued my way alone。 And now the mists began to rise in the
most beautiful manner； and the sun to shine； and as I went on
through the bracing air； seeing the hoarfrost sparkle everywhere； I
felt as if all Nature shared in the joy of the great Birthday。
Going through the woods； the softness of my tread upon the mossy
ground and among the brown leaves enhanced the Christmas sacredness
by which I felt surrounded。 As the whitened stems environed me； I
thought h