the seven poor travellers(七个可怜的旅行者)-第5章
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！
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 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。
20
… Page 21…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
〃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
21
… Page 22…
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。
