the seven poor travellers(七个可怜的旅行者)-第6部分
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〃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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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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of dark trees； terrace…gardens； balustrades； tanks of water； too weak to play
and too dirty to work； statues； weeds； and thickets of iron railing that
seemed to have overgrown themselves like the shrubberies； and to have
branched out in all manner of wild shapes。 The entrance doors stood
open； as doors often do in that country when the heat of the day is past；
and the Captain saw no bell or knocker； and walked in。
He walked into a lofty stone hall； refreshingly cool and gloomy after
the glare of a Southern day's travel。 Extending along the four sides of
this hall was a gallery； leading to suites of rooms； and it was lighted from
the top。 Still no bell was to be seen。
〃Faith；〃 said the Captain halting； ashamed of the clanking of his boots；
〃this is a ghostly beginning！〃
He started back； and felt his face turn white。 In the gallery； looking
down at him； stood the French officerthe officer whose picture he had
carried in his mind so long and so far。 Compared with the original； at
lastin every lineament how like it was！
He moved； and disappeared； and Captain Richard Doubledick heard
his steps coming quickly down own into the hall。 He entered through an
archway。 There was a bright； sudden look upon his face； much such a
look as it had worn in that fatal moment。
Monsieur le Capitaine Richard Doubledick？ Enchanted to receive
him！ A thousand apologies！ The servants were all out in the air。 There
was a little fete among them in the garden。 In effect； it was the fete day
of my daughter； the little cherished and protected of Madame Taunton。
He was so gracious and so frank that Monsieur le Capitaine Richard
Doubledick could not withhold his hand。 〃It is the hand of a brave
Englishman；〃 said the French officer； retaining it while he spoke。 〃I could
respect a brave Englishman； even as my foe； how much more as my friend！
I also am a soldier。〃
〃He has not remembered me； as I have remembered him； he did not
take such note of my face； that day； as I took of his；〃 thought Captain
Richard Doubledick。 〃How shall I tell him？〃
The French officer conducted his guest into a garden and presented
him to his wife； an engaging and beautiful woman； sitting with Mrs。
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Taunton in a whimsical old…fashioned pavilion。 His daughter； her fair
young face beaming with joy； came running to embrace him； and there
was a boy…baby to tumble down among the orange trees on the broad steps；
in making for his father's legs。 A multitude of children visitors were
dancing to sprightly music； and all the servants and peasants about the
chateau were dancing too。 It was a 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； a
