the seven poor travellers(七个可怜的旅行者)-第7节
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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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THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
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； 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。〃
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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。
