byCharlesDickens
CHAPTERI——INTHEOLDCITYOFROCHESTER
Strictlyspeaking，therewereonlysixPoorTravellers；but，beingaTravellermyself，thoughanidleone，andbeingwithalaspoorasI
hopetobe，Ibroughtthenumberuptoseven。Thiswordofexplanationisdueatonce，forwhatsaystheinscriptionoverthequaintolddoor？
RICHARDWATTS，Esq。
byhisWill，dated22Aug。1579，foundedthisCharityforSixpoorTravellers，whonotbeingROGUES，orPROCTORS，MayreceivegratisforoneNight，Lodging，Entertainment，andFourpenceeach。
ItwasintheancientlittlecityofRochesterinKent，ofallthegooddaysintheyearuponaChristmas—eve，thatIstoodreadingthisinscriptionoverthequaintolddoorinquestion。IhadbeenwanderingabouttheneighbouringCathedral，andhadseenthetombofRichardWatts，withtheeffigyofworthyMasterRichardstartingoutofitlikeaship’sfigure—head；andIhadfeltthatIcoulddonoless，asIgavetheVergerhisfee，thaninquirethewaytoWatts’sCharity。Thewaybeingveryshortandveryplain，Ihadcomeprosperouslytotheinscriptionandthequaintolddoor。
\"Now，\"saidItomyself，asIlookedattheknocker，\"IknowIamnotaProctor；IwonderwhetherIamaRogue！\"
Uponthewhole，thoughConsciencereproducedtwoorthreeprettyfaceswhichmighthavehadsmallerattractionforamoralGoliaththantheyhadhadforme，whoambutaTomThumbinthatway，IcametotheconclusionthatIwasnotaRogue。So，beginningtoregardtheestablishmentasinsomesortmyproperty，bequeathedtomeanddiversco—legatees，shareandsharealike，bytheWorshipfulMasterRichardWatts，Isteppedbackwardintotheroadtosurveymyinheritance。
Ifoundittobeacleanwhitehouse，ofastaidandvenerableair，withthequaintolddooralreadythreetimesmentioned（anarcheddoor），choicelittlelonglowlattice—windows，andaroofofthreegables。ThesilentHighStreetofRochesterisfullofgables，witholdbeamsandtimberscarvedintostrangefaces。Itisoddlygarnishedwithaqueeroldclockthatprojectsoverthepavementoutofagravered—brickbuilding，asifTimecarriedonbusinessthere，andhungouthissign。Soothtosay，hedidanactivestrokeofworkinRochester，intheolddaysoftheRomans，andtheSaxons，andtheNormans；anddowntothetimesofKingJohn，whentheruggedcastle——Iwillnotundertaketosayhowmanyhundredsofyearsoldthen——wasabandonedtothecenturiesofweatherwhichhavesodefacedthedarkaperturesinitswalls，thattheruinlooksasiftherooksanddawshadpeckeditseyesout。
Iwasverywellpleased，bothwithmypropertyanditssituation。
WhileIwasyetsurveyingitwithgrowingcontent，Iespied，atoneoftheupperlatticeswhichstoodopen，adecentbody，ofawholesomematronlyappearance，whoseeyesIcaughtinquiringlyaddressedtomine。Theysaidsoplainly，\"Doyouwishtoseethehouse？\"thatIansweredaloud，\"Yes，ifyouplease。\"Andwithinaminutetheolddooropened，andIbentmyhead，andwentdowntwostepsintotheentry。
\"This，\"saidthematronlypresence，usheringmeintoalowroomontheright，\"iswheretheTravellerssitbythefire，andcookwhatbitsofsupperstheybuywiththeirfourpences。\"
\"O！ThentheyhavenoEntertainment？\"saidI。Fortheinscriptionovertheouterdoorwasstillrunninginmyhead，andIwasmentallyrepeating，inakindoftune，\"Lodging，entertainment，andfourpenceeach。\"
\"Theyhaveafireprovidedfor’em，\"returnedthematron——amightycivilperson，not，asIcouldmakeout，overpaid；\"andthesecookingutensils。Andthiswhat’spaintedonaboardistherulesfortheirbehaviour。Theyhavetheirfourpenceswhentheygettheirticketsfromthestewardovertheway，——forIdon’tadmit’emmyself，theymustgettheirticketsfirst，——andsometimesonebuysarasherofbacon，andanotheraherring，andanotherapoundofpotatoes，orwhatnot。Sometimestwoorthreeof’emwillclubtheirfourpencestogether，andmakeasupperthatway。Butnotmuchofanythingistobegotforfourpence，atpresent，whenprovisionsissodear。\"
\"Trueindeed，\"Iremarked。Ihadbeenlookingabouttheroom，admiringitssnugfiresideattheupperend，itsglimpseofthestreetthroughthelowmullionedwindow，anditsbeamsoverhead。
\"Itisverycomfortable，\"saidI。
\"Ill—conwenient，\"observedthematronlypresence。
Ilikedtohearhersayso；foritshowedacommendableanxietytoexecuteinnoniggardlyspirittheintentionsofMasterRichardWatts。ButtheroomwasreallysowelladaptedtoitspurposethatIprotested，quiteenthusiastically，againstherdisparagement。
\"Nay，ma’am，\"saidI，\"Iamsureitiswarminwinterandcoolinsummer。Ithasalookofhomelywelcomeandsoothingrest。Ithasaremarkablycoseyfireside，theveryblinkofwhich，gleamingoutintothestreetuponawinternight，isenoughtowarmallRochester’sheart。AndastotheconvenienceofthesixPoorTravellers——\"
\"Idon’tmeanthem，\"returnedthepresence。\"Ispeakofitsbeinganill—conweniencetomyselfandmydaughter，havingnootherroomtositinofanight。\"
Thiswastrueenough，buttherewasanotherquaintroomofcorrespondingdimensionsontheoppositesideoftheentry:soI
steppedacrosstoit，throughtheopendoorsofbothrooms，andaskedwhatthischamberwasfor。
\"This，\"returnedthepresence，\"istheBoardRoom。Wherethegentlemenmeetwhentheycomehere。\"
Letmesee。Ihadcountedfromthestreetsixupperwindowsbesidestheseontheground—story。Makingaperplexedcalculationinmymind，Irejoined，\"ThenthesixPoorTravellerssleepupstairs？\"
Mynewfriendshookherhead。\"Theysleep，\"sheanswered，\"intwolittleoutergalleriesattheback，wheretheirbedshasalwaysbeen，eversincetheCharitywasfounded。Itbeingsoveryill—
conwenienttomeasthingsisatpresent，thegentlemenaregoingtotakeoffabitoftheback—yard，andmakeaslipofaroomfor’emthere，tositinbeforetheygotobed。\"
\"AndthenthesixPoorTravellers，\"saidI，\"willbeentirelyoutofthehouse？\"
\"Entirelyoutofthehouse，\"assentedthepresence，comfortablysmoothingherhands。\"Whichisconsideredmuchbetterforallparties，andmuchmoreconwenient。\"
Ihadbeenalittlestartled，intheCathedral，bytheemphasiswithwhichtheeffigyofMasterRichardWattswasburstingoutofhistomb；butIbegantothink，now，thatitmightbeexpectedtocomeacrosstheHighStreetsomestormynight，andmakeadisturbancehere。
Howbeit，Ikeptmythoughtstomyself，andaccompaniedthepresencetothelittlegalleriesattheback。Ifoundthemonatinyscale，likethegalleriesinoldinn—yards；andtheywereveryclean。
WhileIwaslookingatthem，thematrongavemetounderstandthattheprescribednumberofPoorTravellerswereforthcomingeverynightfromyear’sendtoyear’send；andthatthebedswerealwaysoccupied。Myquestionsuponthis，andherreplies，broughtusbacktotheBoardRoomsoessentialtothedignityof\"thegentlemen，\"
wheresheshowedmetheprintedaccountsoftheCharityhangingupbythewindow。FromthemIgatheredthatthegreaterpartofthepropertybequeathedbytheWorshipfulMasterRichardWattsforthemaintenanceofthisfoundationwas，attheperiodofhisdeath，meremarsh—land；butthat，incourseoftime，ithadbeenreclaimedandbuiltupon，andwasveryconsiderablyincreasedinvalue。Ifound，too，thataboutathirtiethpartoftheannualrevenuewasnowexpendedonthepurposescommemoratedintheinscriptionoverthedoor；therestbeinghandsomelylaidoutinChancery，lawexpenses，collectorship，receivership，poundage，andotherappendagesofmanagement，highlycomplimentarytotheimportanceofthesixPoorTravellers。Inshort，Imadethenotentirelynewdiscoverythatitmaybesaidofanestablishmentlikethis，indearoldEngland，asofthefatoysterintheAmericanstory，thatittakesagoodmanymentoswallowitwhole。
\"Andpray，ma’am，\"saidI，sensiblethattheblanknessofmyfacebegantobrightenasthethoughtoccurredtome，\"couldoneseetheseTravellers？\"
\"Well！\"shereturneddubiously，\"no！\"
\"Notto—night，forinstance！\"saidI。
\"Well！\"shereturnedmorepositively，\"no。Nobodyeveraskedtoseethem，andnobodyeverdidseethem。\"
AsIamnoteasilybalkedinadesignwhenIamsetuponit，IurgedtothegoodladythatthiswasChristmas—eve；thatChristmascomesbutonceayear，——whichisunhappilytootrue，forwhenitbeginstostaywithusthewholeyearroundweshallmakethisearthaverydifferentplace；thatIwaspossessedbythedesiretotreattheTravellerstoasupperandatemperateglassofhotWassail；thatthevoiceofFamehadbeenheardinthatland，declaringmyabilitytomakehotWassail；thatifIwerepermittedtoholdthefeast，I
shouldbefoundconformabletoreason，sobriety，andgoodhours；inaword，thatIcouldbemerryandwisemyself，andhadbeenevenknownatapinchtokeepothersso，althoughIwasdecoratedwithnobadgeormedal，andwasnotaBrother，Orator，Apostle，Saint，orProphetofanydenominationwhatever。IntheendIprevailed，tomygreatjoy。Itwassettledthatatnineo’clockthatnightaTurkeyandapieceofRoastBeefshouldsmokeupontheboard；andthatI，faintandunworthyministerforonceofMasterRichardWatts，shouldpresideastheChristmas—supperhostofthesixPoorTravellers。
IwentbacktomyinntogivethenecessarydirectionsfortheTurkeyandRoastBeef，and，duringtheremainderoftheday，couldsettletonothingforthinkingofthePoorTravellers。Whenthewindblewhardagainstthewindows，——itwasacoldday，withdarkgustsofsleetalternatingwithperiodsofwildbrightness，asiftheyearweredyingfitfully，——Ipicturedthemadvancingtowardstheirresting—placealongvariouscoldroads，andfeltdelightedtothinkhowlittletheyforesawthesupperthatawaitedthem。I
paintedtheirportraitsinmymind，andindulgedinlittleheighteningtouches。Imadethemfootsore；Imadethemweary；I
madethemcarrypacksandbundles；Imadethemstopbyfinger—postsandmilestones，leaningontheirbentsticks，andlookingwistfullyatwhatwaswrittenthere；Imadethemlosetheirway；andfilledtheirfivewitswithapprehensionsoflyingoutallnight，andbeingfrozentodeath。Itookupmyhat，andwentout，climbedtothetopoftheOldCastle，andlookedoverthewindyhillsthatslopedowntotheMedway，almostbelievingthatIcoulddescrysomeofmyTravellersinthedistance。Afteritfelldark，andtheCathedralbellwasheardintheinvisiblesteeple——quiteaboweroffrostyrimewhenIhadlastseenit——strikingfive，six，seven，IbecamesofullofmyTravellersthatIcouldeatnodinner，andfeltconstrainedtowatchthemstillintheredcoalsofmyfire。Theywereallarrivedbythistime，Ithought，hadgottheirtickets，andweregonein。——TheremypleasurewasdashedbythereflectionthatprobablysomeTravellershadcometoolateandwereshutout。
AftertheCathedralbellhadstruckeight，IcouldsmelladelicioussavourofTurkeyandRoastBeefrisingtothewindowofmyadjoiningbedroom，whichlookeddownintotheinn—yardjustwherethelightsofthekitchenreddenedamassivefragmentoftheCastleWall。ItwashightimetomaketheWassailnow；thereforeIhadupthematerials（which，togetherwiththeirproportionsandcombinations，Imustdeclinetoimpart，astheonlysecretofmyownIwaseverknowntokeep），andmadeagloriousjorum。Notinabowl；forabowlanywherebutonashelfisalowsuperstition，fraughtwithcoolingandslopping；butinabrownearthenwarepitcher，tenderlysuffocated，whenfull，withacoarsecloth。Itbeingnowuponthestrokeofnine，IsetoutforWatts’sCharity，carryingmybrownbeautyinmyarms。IwouldtrustBen，thewaiter，withuntoldgold；
buttherearestringsinthehumanheartwhichmustneverbesoundedbyanother，anddrinksthatImakemyselfarethosestringsinmine。
TheTravellerswereallassembled，theclothwaslaid，andBenhadbroughtagreatbilletofwood，andhadlaiditartfullyonthetopofthefire，sothatatouchortwoofthepokeraftersuppershouldmakearoaringblaze。Havingdepositedmybrownbeautyinarednookofthehearth，insidethefender，whereshesoonbegantosinglikeanetherealcricket，diffusingatthesametimeodoursasofripevineyards，spiceforests，andorangegroves，——Isay，havingstationedmybeautyinaplaceofsecurityandimprovement，I
introducedmyselftomyguestsbyshakinghandsallround，andgivingthemaheartywelcome。
Ifoundthepartytobethuscomposed。Firstly，myself。Secondly，averydecentmanindeed，withhisrightarminasling，whohadacertaincleanagreeablesmellofwoodabouthim，fromwhichIjudgedhimtohavesomethingtodowithshipbuilding。Thirdly，alittlesailor—boy，amerechild，withaprofusionofrichdarkbrownhair，anddeepwomanly—lookingeyes。Fourthly，ashabby—genteelpersonageinathreadbareblacksuit，andapparentlyinverybadcircumstances，withadrysuspiciouslook；theabsentbuttonsonhiswaistcoatekedoutwithredtape；andabundleofextraordinarilytatteredpapersstickingoutofaninnerbreast—pocket。Fifthly，aforeignerbybirth，butanEnglishmaninspeech，whocarriedhispipeinthebandofhishat，andlostnotimeintellingme，inaneasy，simple，engagingway，thathewasawatchmakerfromGeneva，andtravelledallabouttheContinent，mostlyonfoot，workingasajourneyman，andseeingnewcountries，——possibly（Ithought）alsosmugglingawatchorso，nowandthen。Sixthly，alittlewidow，whohadbeenveryprettyandwasstillveryyoung，butwhosebeautyhadbeenwreckedinsomegreatmisfortune，andwhosemannerwasremarkablytimid，scared，andsolitary。Seventhlyandlastly，aTravellerofakindfamiliartomyboyhood，butnowalmostobsolete，——aBook—Pedler，whohadaquantityofPamphletsandNumberswithhim，andwhopresentlyboastedthathecouldrepeatmoreversesinaneveningthanhecouldsellinatwelvemonth。
AlltheseIhavementionedintheorderinwhichtheysatattable。
Ipresided，andthematronlypresencefacedme。Wewerenotlongintakingourplaces，forthesupperhadarrivedwithme，inthefollowingprocession:
Myselfwiththepitcher。
BenwithBeer。
InattentiveBoywithhotplates。InattentiveBoywithhotplates。
THETURKEY。
Femalecarryingsaucestobeheatedonthespot。
THEBEEF。
ManwithTrayonhishead，containingVegetablesandSundries。
VolunteerHostlerfromHotel，grinning，Andrenderingnoassistance。
AswepassedalongtheHighStreet，comet—like，weleftalongtailoffragrancebehinduswhichcausedthepublictostop，sniffinginwonder。Wehadpreviouslyleftatthecorneroftheinn—yardawall—eyedyoungmanconnectedwiththeFlydepartment，andwellaccustomedtothesoundofarailwaywhistlewhichBenalwayscarriesinhispocket，whoseinstructionswere，sosoonasheshouldhearthewhistleblown，todashintothekitchen，seizethehotplum—puddingandmince—pies，andspeedwiththemtoWatts’sCharity，wheretheywouldbereceived（hewasfurtherinstructed）bythesauce—female，whowouldbeprovidedwithbrandyinabluestateofcombustion。
Allthesearrangementswereexecutedinthemostexactandpunctualmanner。Ineversawafinerturkey，finerbeef，orgreaterprodigalityofsauceandgravy；——andmyTravellersdidwonderfuljusticetoeverythingsetbeforethem。Itmademyheartrejoicetoobservehowtheirwindandfrosthardenedfacessoftenedintheclatterofplatesandknivesandforks，andmellowedinthefireandsupperheat。Whiletheirhatsandcapsandwrappers，hangingup，afewsmallbundlesonthegroundinacorner，andinanothercornerthreeorfouroldwalking—sticks，worndownattheendtomerefringe，linkedthissmuginteriorwiththebleakoutsideinagoldenchain。
Whensupperwasdone，andmybrownbeautyhadbeenelevatedonthetable，therewasageneralrequisitiontometo\"takethecorner；\"
whichsuggestedtomecomfortablyenoughhowmuchmyfriendsheremadeofafire，——forwhenhadIeverthoughtsohighlyofthecorner，sincethedayswhenIconnecteditwithJackHorner？
However，asIdeclined，Ben，whosetouchonallconvivialinstrumentsisperfect，drewthetableapart，andinstructingmyTravellerstoopenrightandleftoneithersideofme，andformroundthefire，closedupthecentrewithmyselfandmychair，andpreservedtheorderwehadkeptattable。Hehadalready，inatranquilmanner，boxedtheearsoftheinattentiveboysuntiltheyhadbeenbyimperceptibledegreesboxedoutoftheroom；andhenowrapidlyskirmishedthesauce—femaleintotheHighStreet，disappeared，andsoftlyclosedthedoor。
Thiswasthetimeforbringingthepokertobearonthebilletofwood。Itappeditthreetimes，likeanenchantedtalisman，andabrillianthostofmerry—makersburstoutofit，andsportedoffbythechimney，——rushingupthemiddleinafierycountrydance，andnevercomingdownagain。Meanwhile，bytheirsparklinglight，whichthrewourlampintotheshade，Ifilledtheglasses，andgavemyTravellers，CHRISTMAS！——CHRISTMAS—EVE，myfriends，whentheshepherds，whowerePoorTravellers，too，intheirway，heardtheAngelssing，\"Onearth，peace。Good—willtowardsmen！\"
Idon’tknowwhowasthefirstamongustothinkthatweoughttotakehandsaswesat，indeferencetothetoast，orwhetheranyoneofusanticipatedtheothers，butatanyratewealldidit。WethendranktothememoryofthegoodMasterRichardWatts。AndI
wishhisGhostmayneverhavehadworseusageunderthatroofthanithadfromus。
ItwasthewitchingtimeforStory—telling。\"Ourwholelife，Travellers，\"saidI，\"isastorymoreorlessintelligible，——
generallyless；butweshallreaditbyaclearerlightwhenitisended。I，forone，amsodividedthisnightbetweenfactandfiction，thatIscarceknowwhichiswhich。ShallIbeguilethetimebytellingyouastoryaswesithere？\"
Theyallanswered，yes。Ihadlittletotellthem，butIwasboundbymyownproposal。Therefore，afterlookingforawhileatthespiralcolumnofsmokewreathingupfrommybrownbeauty，throughwhichIcouldhavealmostswornIsawtheeffigyofMasterRichardWattslessstartledthanusual，Ifiredaway。
CHAPTERII——THESTORYOFRICHARDDOUBLEDICK
Intheyearonethousandsevenhundredandninety—nine，arelativeofminecamelimpingdown，onfoot，tothistownofChatham。Icallitthistown，becauseifanybodypresentknowstoanicetywhereRochesterendsandChathambegins，itismorethanIdo。Hewasapoortraveller，withnotafarthinginhispocket。Hesatbythefireinthisveryroom，andhesleptonenightinabedthatwillbeoccupiedtonightbysomeonehere。
MyrelativecamedowntoChathamtoenlistinacavalryregiment，ifacavalryregimentwouldhavehim；ifnot，totakeKingGeorge’sshillingfromanycorporalorsergeantwhowouldputabunchofribbonsinhishat。Hisobjectwastogetshot；buthethoughthemightaswellridetodeathasbeatthetroubleofwalking。
Myrelative’sChristiannamewasRichard，buthewasbetterknownasDick。Hedroppedhisownsurnameontheroaddown，andtookupthatofDoubledick。HewaspassedasRichardDoubledick；age，twenty—
two；height，fivefootten；nativeplace，Exmouth，whichhehadneverbeennearinhislife。TherewasnocavalryinChathamwhenhelimpedoverthebridgeherewithhalfashoetohisdustyfeet，soheenlistedintoaregimentoftheline，andwasgladtogetdrunkandforgetallaboutit。
Youaretoknowthatthisrelativeofminehadgonewrong，andrunwild。Hisheartwasintherightplace，butitwassealedup。Hehadbeenbetrothedtoagoodandbeautifulgirl，whomhehadlovedbetterthanshe——orperhapsevenhe——believed；butinanevilhourhehadgivenhercausetosaytohimsolemnly，\"Richard，Iwillnevermarryanotherman。Iwilllivesingleforyoursake，butMaryMarshall’slips\"——hernamewasMaryMarshall——\"neveraddressanotherwordtoyouonearth。Go，Richard！Heavenforgiveyou！\"Thisfinishedhim。ThisbroughthimdowntoChatham。ThismadehimPrivateRichardDoubledick，withadeterminationtobeshot。
TherewasnotamoredissipatedandrecklesssoldierinChathambarracks，intheyearonethousandsevenhundredandninety—nine，thanPrivateRichardDoubledick。Heassociatedwiththedregsofeveryregiment；hewasasseldomsoberashecouldbe，andwasconstantlyunderpunishment。ItbecamecleartothewholebarracksthatPrivateRichardDoubledickwouldverysoonbeflogged。
NowtheCaptainofRichardDoubledick’scompanywasayounggentlemannotabovefiveyearshissenior，whoseeyeshadanexpressioninthemwhichaffectedPrivateRichardDoubledickinaveryremarkableway。Theywerebright，handsome，darkeyes，——whatarecalledlaughingeyesgenerally，and，whenserious，rathersteadythansevere，——buttheyweretheonlyeyesnowleftinhisnarrowedworldthatPrivateRichardDoubledickcouldnotstand。Unabashedbyevilreportandpunishment，defiantofeverythingelseandeverybodyelse，hehadbuttoknowthatthoseeyeslookedathimforamoment，andhefeltashamed。HecouldnotsomuchassaluteCaptainTauntoninthestreetlikeanyotherofficer。Hewasreproachedandconfused，——troubledbythemerepossibilityofthecaptain’slookingathim。Inhisworstmoments，hewouldratherturnback，andgoanydistanceoutofhisway，thanencounterthosetwohandsome，dark，brighteyes。
Oneday，whenPrivateRichardDoubledickcameoutoftheBlackhole，wherehehadbeenpassingthelasteight—and—fortyhours，andinwhichretreathespentagooddealofhistime，hewasorderedtobetakehimselftoCaptainTaunton’squarters。InthestaleandsqualidstateofamanjustoutoftheBlackhole，hehadlessfancythaneverforbeingseenbythecaptain；buthewasnotsomadyetastodisobeyorders，andconsequentlywentuptotheterraceoverlookingtheparade—ground，wheretheofficers’quarterswere；
twistingandbreakinginhishands，ashewentalong，abitofthestrawthathadformedthedecorativefurnitureoftheBlackhole。
\"Comein！\"criedtheCaptain，whenhehadknockedwithhisknucklesatthedoor。PrivateRichardDoubledickpulledoffhiscap，tookastrideforward，andfeltveryconsciousthathestoodinthelightofthedark，brighteyes。
Therewasasilentpause。PrivateRichardDoubledickhadputthestrawinhismouth，andwasgraduallydoublingitupintohiswindpipeandchokinghimself。
\"Doubledick，\"saidtheCaptain，\"doyouknowwhereyouaregoingto？\"
\"TotheDevil，sir？\"falteredDoubledick。
\"Yes，\"returnedtheCaptain。\"Andveryfast。\"
PrivateRichardDoubledickturnedthestrawoftheBlackholeinhismonth，andmadeamiserablesaluteofacquiescence。
\"Doubledick，\"saidtheCaptain，\"sinceIenteredhisMajesty’sservice，aboyofseventeen，Ihavebeenpainedtoseemanymenofpromisegoingthatroad；butIhaveneverbeensopainedtoseeamanmaketheshamefuljourneyasIhavebeen，eversinceyoujoinedtheregiment，toseeyou。\"
PrivateRichardDoubledickbegantofindafilmstealingovertheflooratwhichhelooked；alsotofindthelegsoftheCaptain’sbreakfast—tableturningcrooked，asifhesawthemthroughwater。
\"Iamonlyacommonsoldier，sir，\"saidhe。\"Itsignifiesverylittlewhatsuchapoorbrutecomesto。\"
\"Youareaman，\"returnedtheCaptain，withgraveindignation，\"ofeducationandsuperioradvantages；andifyousaythat，meaningwhatyousay，youhavesunklowerthanIhadbelieved。Howlowthatmustbe，Ileaveyoutoconsider，knowingwhatIknowofyourdisgrace，andseeingwhatIsee。\"
\"Ihopetogetshotsoon，sir，\"saidPrivateRichardDoubledick；
\"andthentheregimentandtheworldtogetherwillberidofme。\"
Thelegsofthetablewerebecomingverycrooked。Doubledick，lookinguptosteadyhisvision，mettheeyesthathadsostronganinfluenceoverhim。Heputhishandbeforehisowneyes，andthebreastofhisdisgrace—jacketswelledasifitwouldflyasunder。
\"Iwouldrather，\"saidtheyoungCaptain，\"seethisinyou，Doubledick，thanIwouldseefivethousandguineascountedoutuponthistableforagifttomygoodmother。Haveyouamother？\"
\"Iamthankfultosaysheisdead，sir。\"
\"Ifyourpraises，\"returnedtheCaptain，\"weresoundedfrommouthtomouththroughthewholeregiment，throughthewholearmy，throughthewholecountry，youwouldwishshehadlivedtosay，withprideandjoy，’Heismyson！’\"
\"Spareme，sir，\"saidDoubledick。\"Shewouldneverhaveheardanygoodofme。Shewouldneverhavehadanyprideandjoyinowningherselfmymother。Loveandcompassionshemighthavehad，andwouldhavealwayshad，Iknowbutnot——Spareme，sir！Iamabrokenwretch，quiteatyourmercy！\"Andheturnedhisfacetothewall，andstretchedouthisimploringhand。
\"Myfriend——\"begantheCaptain。
\"Godblessyou，sir！\"sobbedPrivateRichardDoubledick。
\"Youareatthecrisisofyourfate。Holdyourcourseunchangedalittlelonger，andyouknowwhatmusthappen。Iknowevenbetterthanyoucanimagine，that，afterthathashappened，youarelost。
Nomanwhocouldshedthosetearscouldbearthosemarks。\"
\"Ifullybelieveit，sir，\"inalow，shiveringvoicesaidPrivateRichardDoubledick。
\"Butamaninanystationcandohisduty，\"saidtheyoungCaptain，\"and，indoingit，canearnhisownrespect，evenifhiscaseshouldbesoveryunfortunateandsoveryrarethathecanearnnootherman’s。Acommonsoldier，poorbrutethoughyoucalledhimjustnow，hasthisadvantageinthestormytimeswelivein，thathealwaysdoeshisdutybeforeahostofsympathisingwitnesses。Doyoudoubtthathemaysodoitastobeextolledthroughawholeregiment，throughawholearmy，throughawholecountry？Turnwhileyoumayyetretrievethepast，andtry。\"
\"Iwill！Iaskforonlyonewitness，sir，\"criedRichard，withaburstingheart。
\"Iunderstandyou。Iwillbeawatchfulandafaithfulone。\"
IhaveheardfromPrivateRichardDoubledick’sownlips，thathedroppeddownuponhisknee，kissedthatofficer’shand，arose，andwentoutofthelightofthedark，brighteyes，analteredman。
Inthatyear，onethousandsevenhundredandninety—nine，theFrenchwereinEgypt，inItaly，inGermany，wherenot？NapoleonBonapartehadlikewisebeguntostiragainstusinIndia，andmostmencouldreadthesignsofthegreattroublesthatwerecomingon。Intheverynextyear，whenweformedanalliancewithAustriaagainsthim，CaptainTaunton’sregimentwasonserviceinIndia。Andtherewasnotafinernon—commissionedofficerinit，——no，norinthewholeline——thanCorporalRichardDoubledick。
Ineighteenhundredandone，theIndianarmywereonthecoastofEgypt。Nextyearwastheyearoftheproclamationoftheshortpeace，andtheywererecalled。Ithadthenbecomewellknowntothousandsofmen，thatwhereverCaptainTaunton，withthedark，brighteyes，led，there，closetohim，everathisside，firmasarock，trueasthesun，andbraveasMars，wouldbecertaintobefound，whilelifebeatintheirhearts，thatfamoussoldier，SergeantRichardDoubledick。
Eighteenhundredandfive，besidesbeingthegreatyearofTrafalgar，wasayearofhardfightinginIndia。ThatyearsawsuchwondersdonebyaSergeant—Major，whocuthiswaysingle—handedthroughasolidmassofmen，recoveredthecoloursofhisregiment，whichhadbeenseizedfromthehandofapoorboyshotthroughtheheart，andrescuedhiswoundedCaptain，whowasdown，andinaveryjungleofhorses’hoofsandsabres，——sawsuchwondersdone，Isay，bythisbraveSergeant—Major，thathewasspeciallymadethebearerofthecolourshehadwon；andEnsignRichardDoubledickhadrisenfromtheranks。
Sorelycutupineverybattle，butalwaysreinforcedbythebravestofmen，——forthefameoffollowingtheoldcolours，shotthroughandthrough，whichEnsignRichardDoubledickhadsaved，inspiredallbreasts，——thisregimentfoughtitswaythroughthePeninsularwar，uptotheinvestmentofBadajosineighteenhundredandtwelve。
AgainandagainithadbeencheeredthroughtheBritishranksuntilthetearshadsprungintomen’seyesatthemerehearingofthemightyBritishvoice，soexultantintheirvalour；andtherewasnotadrummer—boybutknewthelegend，thatwhereverthetwofriends，MajorTaunton，withthedark，brighteyes，andEnsignRichardDoubledick，whowasdevotedtohim，wereseentogo，theretheboldestspiritsintheEnglisharmybecamewildtofollow。
Oneday，atBadajos，——notinthegreatstorming，butinrepellingahotsallyofthebesiegeduponourmenatworkinthetrenches，whohadgivenway，——thetwoofficersfoundthemselveshurryingforward，facetoface，againstapartyofFrenchinfantry，whomadeastand。