charlotte temple-第16部分

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r；　without　the　benignant　look　of　compassion　to　chear；　or　the　angelic　voice　of　pity　to　pour　the　balm　of　consolation　on　her　wounded　heart；　when　he　thought　of　this；　his　whole　soul　dissolved　in　tenderness；　and　while　he　wiped　the　tear　of　anguish　from　the　eye　of　his　patient；　uncomplaining　Lucy；　he　struggled　to　suppress　the　sympathizing　drop　that　started　in　his　own。　〃Oh；　my　poor　girl；〃　said　Mrs。　Temple；　〃how　must　she　be　altered；　else　surely　she　would　have　relieved　our　agonizing　minds　by　one　line　to　say　she　livedto　say　she　had　not　quite　forgot　the　parents　who　almost　idolized　her。〃　〃Gracious　heaven；〃　said　Mr。　Temple；　starting　from　his　seat；　l；who　would　wish　to　be　a　father；　to　experience　the　agonizing　pangs　inflicted　on　a　parent's　heart　by　the　ingratitude　of　a　child？〃　Mrs。　Temple　wept：　　her　father　took　her　hand；　he　would　have　said；　〃be　comforted　my　child；〃　but　the　words　died　on　his　tongue。　The　sad　silence　that　ensued　was　interrupted　by　a　loud　rap　at　the　door。　In　a　moment　a　servant　entered　with　a　letter　in　his　hand。　Mrs。　Temple　took　it　from　him：　　she　cast　her　eyes　upon　the　superscription；　she　knew　the　writing。　　〃'Tis　Charlotte；〃　said　she；　eagerly　breaking　the　seal；　〃she　has　not　quite　forgot　us。〃　　But　before　she　had　half　gone　through　the　contents；　a　sudden　sickness　seized　her；　she　grew　cold　and　giddy；　and　puffing　it　into　her　husband's　hand；　she　cried〃Read　it：　　I　cannot。〃　　Mr。　Temple　attempted　to　read　it　aloud；　but　frequently　paused　to　give　vent　to　his　tears。　〃My　poor　deluded　child；〃　said　he；　when　he　had　finished。　〃Oh；　shall　we　not　forgive　the　dear　penitent？〃　said　Mrs。　Temple。　〃We　must；　we　will；　my　love；　she　is　willing　to　return；　and　'tis　our　duty　to　receive　her。〃　〃Father　of　mercy；〃　said　Mr。　Eldridge；　raising　his　clasped　hands；　〃let　me　but　live　once　more　to　see　the　dear　wanderer　restored　to　her　afflicted　parents；　and　take　me　from　this　world　of　sorrow　whenever　it　seemeth　best　to　thy　wisdom。〃　〃Yes；　we　will　receive　her；〃　said　Mr。　Temple；　〃we　will　endeavour　to　heal　her　wounded　spirit；　and　speak　peace　and　comfort　to　her　agitated　soul。　I　will　write　to　her　to　return　immediately。'　〃Oh！〃　said　Mrs。　Temple；　〃I　would　if　possible　fly　to　her；　support　and　chear　the　dear　sufferer　in　the　approaching　hour　of　distress；　and　tell　her　how　nearly　penitence　is　allied　to　virtue。　Cannot　we　go　and　conduct　her　home；　my　love？〃　continued　she；　laying　her　hand　on　his　arm。　　〃My　father　will　surely　forgive　our　absence　if　we　go　to　bring　home　his　darling。〃　〃You　cannot　go；　my　Lucy；〃　said　Mr。　Temple：　　〃the　delicacy　of　your　frame　would　but　poorly　sustain　the　fatigue　of　a　long　voyage；　but　I　will　go　and　bring　the　gentle　penitent　to　your　arms：　we　may　still　see　many　years　of　happiness。〃　The　struggle　in　the　bosom　of　Mrs。　Temple　between　maternal　and　conjugal　tenderness　was　long　and　painful。　　At　length　the　former　triumphed；　and　she　consented　that　her　husband　should　set　forward　to　New…York　by　the　first　opportunity：　　she　wrote　to　her　Charlotte　in　the　tenderest；　most　consoling　manner；　and　looked　forward　to　the　happy　hour；　when　she　should　again　embrace　her；　with　the　most　animated　hope。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XXVI。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　WHAT　MIGHT　BE　EXPECTED。　IN　the　mean　time　the　passion　Montraville　had　conceived　for　Julia　Franklin　daily　encreased；　and　he　saw　evidently　how　much　he　was　beloved　by　that　amiable　girl：　　he　was　likewise　strongly　prepossessed　with　an　idea　of　Charlotte's　perfidy。　　What　wonder　then　if　he　gave　himself　up　to　the　delightful　sensation　which　pervaded　his　bosom；　and　finding　no　obstacle　arise　to　oppose　his　happiness；　he　solicited　and　obtained　the　hand　of　Julia。　　A　few　days　before　his　marriage　he　thus　addressed　Belcour：　〃Though　Charlotte；　by　her　abandoned　conduct；　has　thrown　herself　from　my　protection；　I　still　hold　myself　bound　to　support　her　till　relieved　from　her　present　condition；　and　also　to　provide　for　the　child。　I　do　not　intend　to　see　her　again；　but　I　will　place　a　sum　of　money　in　your　hands；　which　will　amply　supply　her　with　every　convenience；　but　should　she　require　more；　let　her　have　it；　and　I　will　see　it　repaid。　I　wish　I　could　prevail　on　the　poor　deluded　girl　to　return　to　her　friends：　she　was　an　only　child；　and　I　make　no　doubt　but　that　they　would　joyfully　receive　her；　it　would　shock　me　greatly　to　see　her　henceforth　leading　a　life　of　infamy；　as　I　should　always　accuse　myself　of　being　the　primary　cause　of　all　her　errors。　　If　she　should　chuse　to　remain　under　your　protection；　be　kind　to　her；　Belcour；　I　conjure　you。　Let　not　satiety　prompt　you　to　treat　her　in　such　a　manner；　as　may　drive　her　to　actions　which　necessity　might　urge　her　to；　while　her　better　reason　disapproved　them：　　she　shall　never　want　a　friend　while　I　live；　but　I　never　more　desire　to　behold　her；　her　presence　would　be　always　painful　to　me；　and　a　glance　from　her　eye　would　call　the　blush　of　conscious　guilt　into　my　cheek。　〃I　will　write　a　letter　to　her；　which　you　may　deliver　when　I　am　gone；　as　I　shall　go　to　St。　Eustatia　the　day　after　my　union　with　Julia；　who　will　accompany　me。〃　Belcour　promised　to　fulfil　the　request　of　his　friend；　though　nothing　was　farther　from　his　intentions；　than　the　least　design　of　delivering　the　letter；　or　making　Charlotte　acquainted　with　the　provision　Montraville　had　made　for　her；　he　was　bent　on　the　complete　ruin　of　the　unhappy　girl；　and　supposed；　by　reducing　her　to　an　entire　dependance　on　him；　to　bring　her　by　degrees　to　consent　to　gratify　his　ungenerous　passion。　The　evening　before　the　day　appointed　for　the　nuptials　of　Montraville　and　Julia；　the　former　refired　early　to　his　apartment；　and　ruminating　on　the　past　scenes　of　his　life；　suffered　the　keenest　remorse　in　the　remembrance　of　Charlotte's　seduction。　〃Poor　girl；　〃　said　he；　〃I　will　at　least　write　and　bid　her　adieu；　I　will　too　endeavour　to　awaken　that　love　of　virtue　in　her　bosom　which　her　unfortunate　attachment　to　me　has　extinguished。〃　He　took　up　the　pen　and　began　to　write；　but　words　were　denied　him。　How　could　he　address　the　woman　whom　he　had　seduced；　and　whom；　though　he　thought　unworthy　his　tenderness；　he　was　about　to　bid　adieu　for　ever？　How　should　he　tell　her　that　he　was　going　to　abjure　her；　to　enter　into　the　most　indissoluble　ties　with　another；　and　that　he　could　not　even　own　the　infant　which　she　bore　as　his　child？　　Several　letters　were　begun　and　destroyed：　　at　length　he　completed　the　following：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　TO　CHARLOTTE。　〃Though　I　have　taken　up　my　pen　to　address　you；　my　poor　injured　girl；　I　feel　I　am　inadequate　to　the　task；　yet；　however　painful　the　endeavour；　I　could　not　resolve　upon　leaving　you　for　ever　without　one　kind　line　to　bid　you　adieu；　to　tell　you　how　my　heart　bleeds　at　the　remembrance　of　what　you　was；　before　you　saw　the　hated　Montraville。　Even　now　imagination　paints　the　scene；　when；　torn　by　contending　passions；　when；　struggling　between　love　and　duty；　you　fainted　in　my　arms；　and　I　lifted　you　into　the　chaise：　　I　see　the　agony　of　your　mind；　when；　recovering；　you　found　yourself　on　the　road　to　Portsmouth：　but　how；　my　gentle　girl；　how　could　you；　when　so　justly　impressed　with　the　value　of　virtue；　how　could　you；　when　loving　as　I　thought　you　loved　me；　yield　to　the　solicitations　of　Belcour？　〃Oh　Charlotte；　conscience　tells　me　it　was　I；　villain　that　I　am；　who　first　taught　you　the　allurements　of　guilty　pleasure；　it　was　I　who　dragged　you　from　the　calm　repose　which　innocence　and　virtue　ever　enjoy；　and　can　I；　dare　I　tell　you；　it　was　not　love　prompted　to　the　horrid　deed？　No；　thou　dear；　fallen　angel；　believe　your　repentant　Montraville；　when　he　tells　you　the　man　who　truly　loves　will　never　betray　the　object　of　his　affection。　　Adieu；　Charlotte：　　could　you　still　find　charms　in　a　life　of　unoffend…ing　innocence；　return　to　your　parents；　you　shall　never　want　the　means　of　support　both　for　yourself　and　child。　Oh！　gracious　heaven！　may　that　child　be　entirely　free　from　the　vices　of　its　father　and　the　weakness　of　its　mother。　〃To…morrowbut　no；　I　cannot　tell　you　what　to…morrow　will　produce；　Belcour　will　inform　you：　　he　also　has　cash　for　you；　which　I　beg　you　will　ask　for　whenever　you　may　want　it。　　Once　more　adieu：　believe　me　could　I　hear　you　was　returned　to　your　friends；　and　enjoying　that　tranquillity　of　which　I　have　robbed　you；　I　should　be　as　completely　happy　as　even　you；　in　your　fondest　hours；　could　wish　me；　but　till　then　a　gloom　will　obscure　the　brightest　prospects　of　MONTRAVILLE。〃　After　he　had　sealed　this　letter　he　threw　himself　on　the　bed；　and　enjoyed　a　few　hours　repose。　　Early　in　the　morning　Belcour　tapped　at　his　door：　he　arose　hastily；　and　prepared　to　meet　his　Julia　at　the　altar。　〃This　is　the　letter　to　Charlotte；〃　said　he；　giving　it　to　Belcour：　〃take　it　to　her　when　we　are　gone　to　Eustatia；　and　I　conjure　you；　my　dear　friend；　not　to　use　any　sophistical　arguments　to　prevent　her　return　to　virtue；　but　should　she　incline　that　way；　encourage　her　in　the　thought；　and　assist　her　to　put　her　design　in　execution。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XXVII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　Pensive　she　mourn'd；　and　hung　her　languid　head；　　　　　　　　　　　　　Like　a　fair　lily　overcharg'd　with　dew。　CHARLOTTE　had　now　been　left　almost　three　months　a　prey　to　her　own　melancholy　reflexionssad　companions　indeed；　nor　did　any　one　break　in　upon　her　solitude　but　Belcour；　who　once　or　twice　called　to　enquire　after　her　health；　and　tell　her　he　had　in　vain　endeavoured　to　bring　Montraville　to　hear　reason；　and　once；　but　only　once；　was　her　mind　cheared　by　the　receipt　of　an　affectionate　letter　from　Mrs。　Beauchamp。　　Often　had　she　wrote　to　her　perfidious　seducer；　and　with　the　most　persuasive　eloquence　endeavoured　to　convince　him　of　her　innocence；　but　these　letters　were　never　suffered　to　reach　the　hands　of　Montraville；　or　they　must；　though　on　the　very　eve　of　marriage；　have　prevented　his　deserting　the　wretched　girl。　Real　anguish　of　heart　had　in　a　great　measure　faded　her　charms；　her　cheeks　were　pale　from　want　of　rest；　and　her　eyes；　by　frequent；　indeed　almost　continued　weeping；　were　sunk　and　heavy。　Sometimes　a　gleam　of　hope　would　play　about　her　heart　when　she　thought　of　her　parents〃They　cannot　surely；〃　she　would　say；　〃refuse　to　forgive　me；　or　should　they　deny　their　pardon　to　me；　they　win　not　hate　my　innocent　infant　on　account　of　its　mother's　errors。〃　How　often　did　the　poor　mourner　wish　for　the　consoling　presence　of　the　benevolent　Mrs。　Beauchamp。　〃If　she　were　here；〃　she　would　cry；　〃she　would　certainly　comfort　me；　and　sooth　the　d