the seven poor travellers(七个可怜的旅行者)-第8节
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！
injuries。
Here I ended my story as the first Poor Traveller。 But； if I had told
it now； I could have added that the time has since come when the son of
Major Richard Doubledick； and the son of that French officer； friends as
their fathers were before them； fought side by side in one cause； with their
respective nations； like long…divided brothers whom the better times have
brought together； fast united。
25
… Page 26…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
CHAPTER IIITHE ROAD
My story being finished； and the Wassail too； we broke up as the
Cathedral bell struck Twelve。 I did not take leave of my travellers that
night； for it had come into my head to reappear； in conjunction with some
hot coffee； at seven in the morning。
As I passed along the High Street； I heard the Waits at a distance； and
struck off to find them。 They were playing near one of the old gates of
the City； at the corner of a wonderfully quaint row of red… brick tenements；
which the clarionet obligingly informed me were inhabited by the Minor…
Canons。 They had odd little porches over the doors； like sounding…
boards over old pulpits； and I thought I should like to see one of the
Minor…Canons come out upon his top stop； and favour us with a little
Christmas discourse about the poor scholars of Rochester； taking for his
text the words of his Master relative to the devouring of Widows' houses。
The clarionet was so communicative； and my inclinations were （as
they generally are） of so vagabond a tendency； that I accompanied the
Waits across an open green called the Vines； and assistedin the French
senseat the performance of two waltzes； two polkas； and three Irish
melodies； before I thought of my inn any more。 However； I returned to it
then； and found a fiddle in the kitchen； and Ben； the wall…eyed young man；
and two chambermaids； circling round the great deal table with the utmost
animation。
I had a very bad night。 It cannot have been owing to the turkey or the
beef；and the Wassail is out of the questionbut in every endeavour that I
made to get to sleep I failed most dismally。 I was never asleep； and in
whatsoever unreasonable direction my mind rambled； the effigy of Master
Richard Watts perpetually embarrassed it。
In a word； I only got out of the Worshipful Master Richard Watts's way
by getting out of bed in the dark at six o'clock； and tumbling； as my
custom is； into all the cold water that could be accumulated for the
purpose。 The outer air was dull and cold enough in the street； when I
came down there； and the one candle in our supper… room at Watts's
26
… Page 27…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
Charity looked as pale in the burning as if it had had a bad night too。 But
my Travellers had all slept soundly； and they took to the hot coffee； and
the piles of bread…and…butter； which Ben had arranged like deals in a
timber…yard； as kindly as I could desire。
While it was yet scarcely daylight； we all came out into the street
together； and there shook hands。 The widow took the little sailor towards
Chatham； where he was to find a steamboat for Sheerness； the lawyer；
with an extremely knowing look； went his own way； without committing
himself by announcing his intentions； two more struck off by the cathedral
and old castle for Maidstone； and the book…pedler accompanied me over
the bridge。 As for me； I was going to walk by Cobham Woods； as far
upon my way to London as I fancied。
When I came to the stile and footpath by which I was to diverge from
the main road； I bade farewell to my last remaining Poor Traveller； and
pursued my way alone。 And now the mists began to rise in the most
beautiful manner； and the sun to shine； and as I went on through the
bracing air； seeing the hoarfrost sparkle everywhere； I felt as if all Nature
shared in the joy of the great Birthday。
Going through the woods； the softness of my tread upon the mossy
ground and among the brown leaves enhanced the Christmas sacredness
by which I felt surrounded。 As the whitened stems environed me； I
thought how the Founder of the time had never raised his benignant hand；
save to bless and heal； except in the case of one unconscious tree。 By
Cobham Hall； I came to the village； and the churchyard where the dead
had been quietly buried； 〃in the sure and certain hope〃 which Christmas
time inspired。 What children could I see at play； and not be loving of；
recalling who had loved them！ No garden that I passed was out of unison
with the day； for I remembered that the tomb was in a garden； and that
〃she； supposing him to be the gardener；〃 had said； 〃Sir； if thou have borne
him hence； tell me where thou hast laid him； and I will take him away。〃
In time； the distant river with the ships came full in view； and with it
pictures of the poor fishermen； mending their nets； who arose and
followed him；of the teaching of the people from a ship pushed off a little
way from shore； by reason of the multitude；of a majestic figure walking
27
… Page 28…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
on the water； in the loneliness of night。 My very shadow on the ground
was eloquent of Christmas； for did not the people lay their sick where the
more shadows of the men who had heard and seen him might fall as they
passed along？
Thus Christmas begirt me； far and near； until I had come to Blackheath；
and had walked down the long vista of gnarled old trees in Greenwich
Park； and was being steam…rattled through the mists now closing in once
more； towards the lights of London。 Brightly they shone； but not so
brightly as my own fire； and the brighter faces around it； when we came
together to celebrate the day。 And there I told of worthy Master Richard
Watts； and of my supper with the Six Poor Travellers who were neither
Rogues nor Proctors； and from that hour to this I have never seen one of
them again。
28
