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And down to that hour the picture in his mind of the French officer
had never been compared with the reality。
The famous regiment was in action early in the battle； and received
its first check in many an eventful year； when he was seen to fall。
But it swept on to avenge him； and left behind it no such creature
in the world of 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。
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。
〃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。
〃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 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