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never coming down again。 Meanwhile； by their sparkling light； which
threw our lamp into the shade； I filled the glasses； and gave my
Travellers； CHRISTMAS！CHRISTMAS…EVE； my friends； when the
shepherds； who were Poor Travellers； too； in their way； heard the
Angels sing； 〃On earth； peace。 Good…will towards men！〃
I don't know who was the first among us to think that we ought to
take hands as we sat； in deference to the toast； or whether any one
of us anticipated the others； but at any rate we all did it。 We
then drank to the memory of the good Master Richard Watts。 And I
wish his Ghost may never have had worse usage under that roof than
it had from us。
It was the witching time for Story…telling。 〃Our whole life；
Travellers；〃 said I； 〃is a story more or less intelligible；
generally less； but we shall read it by a clearer light when it is
ended。 I； for one； am so divided this night between fact and
fiction； that I scarce know which is which。 Shall I beguile the
time by telling you a story as we sit here？〃
They all answered； yes。 I had little to tell them； but I was bound
by my own proposal。 Therefore； after looking for awhile at the
spiral column of smoke wreathing up from my brown beauty； through
which I could have almost sworn I saw the effigy of Master Richard
Watts less startled than usual； I fired away。
CHAPTER IITHE STORY OF RICHARD DOUBLEDICK
In the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety…nine； a relative
of mine came limping down； on foot； to this town of Chatham。 I call
it this town； because if anybody present knows to a nicety where
Rochester ends and Chatham begins； it is more than I do。 He was a
poor traveller； with not a farthing in his pocket。 He sat by the
fire in this very room； and he slept one night in a bed that will be
occupied tonight by some one here。
My relative came down to Chatham to enlist in a cavalry regiment； if
a cavalry regiment would have him； if not； to take King George's
shilling from any corporal or sergeant who would put a bunch of
ribbons in his hat。 His object was to get shot； but he thought he
might as well ride to death as be at the trouble of walking。
My relative's Christian name was Richard； but he was better known as
Dick。 He dropped his own surname on the road down； and took up that
of Doubledick。 He was passed as Richard Doubledick； age； twenty…
two； height； five foot ten； native place； Exmouth； which he had
never been near in his life。 There was no cavalry in Chatham when
he limped over the bridge here with half a shoe to his dusty feet；
so he enlisted into a regiment of the line； and was glad to get
drunk and forget all about it。
You are to know that this relative of mine had gone wrong； and run
wild。 His heart was in the right place； but it was sealed up。 He
had been betrothed to a good and beautiful girl； whom he had loved
better than sheor perhaps even hebelieved； but in an evil hour
he had given her cause to say to him solemnly； 〃Richard； I will
never marry another man。 I will live single for your sake； but Mary
Marshall's lips〃her name was Mary Marshall〃never address another
word to you on earth。 Go； Richard！ Heaven forgive you！〃 This
finished him。 This brought him down to Chatham。 This made him
Private Richard Doubledick； with a determination to be shot。
There was not a more dissipated and reckless soldier in Chatham
barracks； in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety…nine；
than Private Richard Doubledick。 He associated with the dregs of
every regiment； he was as seldom sober as he could be； and was
constantly under punishment。 It became clear to the whole barracks
that Private Richard Doubledick would very soon be flogged。
Now the Captain of Richard Doubledick's company was a young
gentleman not above five years his senior； whose eyes had an
expression in them which affected Private Richard Doubledick in a
very remarkable way。 They were bright； handsome； dark eyes；what
are called laughing eyes generally； and； when serious； rather steady
than severe；but they were the only eyes now left in his narrowed
world that Private Richard Doubledick could not stand。 Unabashed by
evil report and punishment； defiant of everything else and everybody
else； he had but to know that those eyes looked at him for a moment；
and he felt ashamed。 He could not so much as salute Captain Taunton
in the street like any other officer。 He was reproached and
confused；troubled by the mere possibility of the captain's looking
at him。 In his worst moments； he would rather turn back； and go any
distance out of his way； than encounter those two handsome； dark；
bright eyes。
One day； when Private Richard Doubledick came out of the Black hole；
where he had been passing the last eight…and…forty hours； and in
which retreat he spent a good deal of his time； he was ordered to
betake himself to Captain Taunton's quarters。 In the stale and
squalid state of a man just out of the Black hole； he had less fancy
than ever for being seen by the captain； but he was not so mad yet
as to disobey orders； and consequently went up to the terrace
overlooking the parade…ground； where the officers' quarters were；
twisting and breaking in his hands； as he went along； a bit of the
straw that had formed the decorative furniture of the Black hole。
〃Come in！〃 cried the Captain； when he had knocked with his knuckles
at the door。 Private Richard Doubledick pulled off his cap； took a
stride forward； and felt very conscious that he stood in the light
of the dark； bright eyes。
There was a silent pause。 Private Richard Doubledick had put the
straw in his mouth； and was gradually doubling it up into his
windpipe and choking himself。
〃Doubledick；〃 said the Captain； 〃do you know where you are going
to？〃
〃To the Devil； sir？〃 faltered Doubledick。
〃Yes；〃 returned the Captain。 〃And very fast。〃
Private Richard Doubledick turned the straw of the Black hole in his
month； and made a miserable salute of acquiescence。
〃Doubledick；〃 said the Captain； 〃since I entered his Majesty's
service； a boy of seventeen； I have been pained to see many men of
promise going that road； but I have never been so pained to see a
man make the shameful journey as I have been； ever since you joined
the regiment； to see you。〃
Private Richard Doubledick began to find a film stealing over the
floor at which he looked； also to find the legs of the Captain's
breakfast…table turning crooked； as if he saw them through water。
〃I am only a common soldier； sir；〃 said he。 〃It signifies very
little what such a poor brute comes to。〃
〃You are a man；〃 returned the Captain； with grave indignation； 〃of
education and superior advantages； and if you say that； meaning what
you say； you have sunk lower than I had believed。 How low that must
be； I leave you to consider； knowing what I know of your disgrace；
and seeing what I see。〃
〃I hope to get shot soon； sir；〃 said Private Richard Doubledick；
〃and then the regiment and the world together will be rid of me。〃
The legs of the table were becoming very crooked。 Doubledick；
looking up to steady his vision； met the eyes that had so strong an
influence over him。 He put his hand before his own eyes； and the
breast of his disgrace…jacket swelled as if it would fly asunder。
〃I would rather；〃 said the young Captain； 〃see this in you；
Doubledick； than I would see five thousand guineas counted out upon
this table for a gift to my good mother。 Have you a mother？〃
〃I am thankful to say she is dead； sir。〃
〃If your praises；〃 returned the Captain； 〃were sounded from mouth to
mouth through the whole regiment； through the whole army； through
the whole country； you would wish she had lived to say； with pride
and joy； 'He is my son！'〃
〃Spare me； sir；〃 said Doubledick。 〃She would never have heard any
good of me。 She would never have had any pride and joy in owning
herself my mother。 Love and compassion she might have had； and
would have always had； I know but notSpare me； sir！ I am a broken
wretch； quite at your mercy！〃 And he turned his face to the wall；
and stretched out his imploring hand。
〃My friend〃 began the Captain。
〃God bless you； sir！〃 sobbed Private Richard Doubledick。
〃You are at the crisis of your fate。 Hold your course unchanged a
little longer； and you know what must happen。 I know even better
than you can imagine； that； after that has happened； you are lost。
No man who could shed those tears could bear those marks。〃
〃I fully believe it； sir；〃 in a low； shivering voice said Private
Richard Doubledick。
〃But a man in any station can do his duty；〃 said the young Captain；
〃and； in doing it； can earn his own respect； even if his case should
be so very unfortunate and so very rare that he can earn no other
man's。 A common soldier； poor brute though you calle