charlotte temple-第17部分

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　Mrs。　Beauchamp。　〃If　she　were　here；〃　she　would　cry；　〃she　would　certainly　comfort　me；　and　sooth　the　distraction　of　my　soul。　　〃　She　was　sitting　one　afternoon；　wrapped　in　these　melancholy　reflexions；　when　she　was　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　Belcour。　　Great　as　the　alteration　was　which　incessant　sorrow　had　made　on　her　person；　she　was　still　interesting；　still　charming；　and　the　unhallowed　flame；　which　had　urged　Belcour　to　plant　dissension　between　her　and　Montraville；　still　raged　in　his　bosom：　　he　was　determined；　if　possible；　to　make　her　his　mistress；　nay；　he　had　even　conceived　the　diabolical　scheme　of　taking　her　to　New…York；　and　making　her　appear　in　every　public　place　where　it　was　likely　she　should　meet　Montraville；　that　he　might　be　a　witness　to　his　unmanly　triumph。　When　he　entered　the　room　where　Charlotte　was　sitting；　he　assumed　the　look　of　tender；　consolatory　friendship。　〃And　how　does　my　lovely　Charlotte？〃　said　he；　taking　her　hand：　〃I　fear　you　are　not　so　well　as　I　could　wish。〃　〃I　am　not　well；　Mr。　Belcour；〃　said　she；　〃very　far　from　it；　but　the　pains　and　infirmities　of　the　body　I　could　easily　bear；　nay；　submit　to　them　with　patience；　were　they　not　aggravated　by　the　most　insupportable　anguish　of　my　mind。〃　〃You　are　not　happy；　Charlotte；〃　said　he；　with　a　look　of　well…dissembled　sorrow。　〃Alas！〃　replied　she　mournfully；　shaking　her　head；　〃how　can　I　be　happy；　deserted　and　forsaken　as　I　am；　without　a　friend　of　my　own　sex　to　whom　I　can　unburthen　my　full　heart；　nay；　my　fidelity　suspected　by　the　very　man　for　whom　I　have　sacrificed　every　thing　valuable　in　life；　for　whom　I　have　made　myself　a　poor　despised　creature；　an　outcast　from　society；　an　object　only　of　contempt　and　pity。〃　〃You　think　too　meanly　of　yourself；　Miss　Temple：　there　is　no　one　who　would　dare　to　treat　you　with　contempt：　au　who　have　the　pleasure　of　knowing　you　must　admire　and　esteem。　You　are　lonely　here；　my　dear　girl；　give　me　leave　to　conduct　you　to　New…York；　where　the　agreeable　society　of　some　ladies；　to　whom　I　will　introduce　you；　will　dispel　these　sad　thoughts；　and　I　shall　again　see　returning　chearfulness　animate　those　lovely　features。〃　〃Oh　never！　never！〃　cried　Charlotte；　emphatically：　　〃the　virtuous　part　of　my　sex　will　scorn　me；　and　I　will　never　associate　with　infamy。　No；　Belcour；　here　let　me　hide　my　shame　and　sorrow；　here　let　me　spend　my　few　remaining　days　in　obscurity；　unknown　and　unpitied；　here　let　me　die　unlamented；　and　my　name　sink　to　oblivion。〃　Here　her　tears　stopped　her　utterance。　　Belcour　was　awed　to　silence：　he　dared　not　interrupt　her；　and　after　a　moment's　pause　she　proceeded〃I　once　had　conceived　the　thought　of　going　to　New…York　to　seek　out　the　still　dear；　though　cruel；　ungenerous　Montraville；　to　throw　myself　at　his　feet；　and　entreat　his　compassion；　heaven　knows；　not　for　myself；　if　I　am　no　longer　beloved；　I　will　not　be　indebted　to　his　pity　to　redress　my　injuries；　but　I　would　have　knelt　and　entreated　him　not　to　forsake　my　poor　unborn〃　She　could　say　no　more；　a　crimson　glow　rushed　over　her　cheeks；　and　covering　her　face　with　her　hands；　she　sobbed　aloud。　Something　like　humanity　was　awakened　in　Belcour's　breast　by　this　pathetic　speech：　　he　arose　and　walked　towards　the　window；　but　the　selfish　passion　which　had　taken　possession　of　his　heart；　soon　stifled　these　finer　emotions；　and　he　thought　if　Charlotte　was　once　convinced　she　had　no　longer　any　dependance　on　Montraville；　she　would　more　readily　throw　herself　on　his　protection。　Determined；　therefore；　to　inform　her　of　all　that　had　happened；　he　again　resumed　his　seat；　and　finding　she　began　to　be　more　composed；　enquired　if　she　had　ever　heard　from　Montraville　since　the　unfortunate　recontre　in　her　bed　chamber。　〃Ah　no；〃　said　she。　　〃I　fear　I　shall　never　hear　from　him　again。〃　〃I　am　greatly　of　your　opinion；〃　said　Belcour；　〃for　he　has　been　for　some　time　past　greatly　attached〃　At　the　word　〃attached〃　a　death…like　paleness　overspread　the　countenance　of　Charlotte；　but　she　applied　to　some　hartshorn　which　stood　beside　her；　and　Belcour　proceeded。　〃He　has　been　for　some　time　past　greatly　attached　to　one　Miss　Franklin；　a　pleasing　lively　girl；　with　a　large　fortune。〃　〃She　may　be　richer；　may　be　handsomer；〃　cried　Charlotte；　〃but　cannot　love　him　so　well。　　Oh　may　she　beware　of　his　art；　and　not　trust　him　too　far　as　I　have　done。〃　〃He　addresses　her　publicly；〃　said　he；　〃and　it　was　rumoured　they　were　to　be　married　before　he　sailed　for　Eustatia；　whither　his　company　is　ordered。〃　〃Belcour；〃　said　Charlotte；　seizing　his　hand；　and　gazing　at　him　earnestly；　while　her　pale　lips　trembled　with　convulsive　agony；　〃tell　me；　and　tell　me　truly；　I　beseech　you；　do　you　think　he　can　be　such　a　villain　as　to　marry　another　woman；　and　leave　me　to　die　with　want　and　misery　in　a　strange　land：　　tell　me　what　you　think；　I　can　bear　it　very　well；　I　will　not　shrink　from　this　heaviest　stroke　of　fate；　I　have　deserved　my　afflictions；　and　I　will　endeavour　to　bear　them　as　I　ought。〃　〃I　fear；〃　said　Belcour；　〃he　can　be　that　villain。〃　〃Perhaps；〃　cried　she；　eagerly　interrupting　him；　〃perhaps　he　is　married　already：　　come；　let　me　know　the　worst；〃　continued　she　with　an　affected　look　of　composure：　　〃you　need　not　be　afraid；　I　shall　not　send　the　fortunate　lady　a　bowl　of　poison。〃　〃Well　then；　my　dear　girl；〃　said　he；　deceived　by　her　appearance；　〃they　were　married　on　Thursday；　and　yesterday　morning　they　sailed　for　Eustatia。〃　〃Marriedgonesay　you？〃　cried　she　in　a　distracted　accent；　〃what　without　a　last　farewell；　without　one　thought　on　my　unhappy　situation！　Oh　Montraville；　may　God　forgive　your　perfidy。〃　　She　shrieked；　and　Belcour　sprang　forward　just　in　time　to　prevent　her　falling　to　the　floor。　Alarming　faintings　now　succeeded　each　other；　and　she　was　conveyed　to　her　bed；　from　whence　she　earnestly　prayed　she　might　never　more　arise。　Belcour　staid　with　her　that　night；　and　in　the　morning　found　her　in　a　high　fever。　　The　fits　she　had　been　seized　with　had　greatly　terrified　him；　and　confined　as　she　now　was　to　a　bed　of　sickness；　she　was　no　longer　an　object　of　desire：　　it　is　true　for　several　days　he　went　constantly　to　see　her；　but　her　pale；　emaciated　appearance　disgusted　him：　his　visits　became　less　frequent；　he　forgot　the　solemn　charge　given　him　by　Montraville；　he　even　forgot　the　money　entrusted　to　his　care；　and；　the　burning　blush　of　indignation　and　shame　tinges　my　cheek　while　I　write　it；　this　disgrace　to　humanity　and　manhood　at　length　forgot　even　the　injured　Charlotte；　and；　attracted　by　the　blooming　health　of　a　farmer's　daughter；　whom　he　had　seen　in　his　frequent　excursions　to　the　country；　he　left　the　unhappy　girl　to　sink　unnoticed　to　the　grave；　a　prey　to　sickness；　grief；　and　penury；　while　he；　having　triumphed　over　the　virtue　of　the　artless　cottager；　rioted　in　all　the　intemperance　of　luxury　and　lawless　pleasure。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XXVIII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　TRIFLING　RETROSPECT。　〃BLESS　my　heart；〃　cries　my　young；　volatile　reader；　〃I　shall　never　have　patience　to　get　through　these　volumes；　there　are　so　many　ahs！　and　ohs！　so　much　fainting；　tears；　and　distress；　I　am　sick　to　death　of　the　subject。〃　My　dear；　chearful；　innocent　girl；　for　innocent　I　will　suppose　you　to　be；　or　you　would　acutely　feel　the　woes　of　Charlotte；　did　conscience　say；　thus　might　it　have　been　with　me；　had　not　Providence　interposed　to　snatch　me　from　destruction：　　therefore；　my　lively；　innocent　girl；　I　must　request　your　patience：　　I　am　writing　a　tale　of　truth：　I　mean　to　write　it　to　the　heart：　　but　if　perchance　the　heart　is　rendered　impenetrable　by　unbounded　prosperity；　or　a　continuance　in　vice；　I　expect　not　my　tale　to　please；　nay；　I　even　expect　it　will　be　thrown　by　with　disgust。　　But　softly；　gentle　fair　one；　I　pray　you　throw　it　not　aside　till　you　have　perused　the　whole；　mayhap　you　may　find　something　therein　to　repay　you　for　the　trouble。　Methinks　I　see　a　sarcastic　smile　sit　on　your　countenance。〃And　what；〃　cry　you；　〃does　the　conceited　author　suppose　we　can　glean　from　these　pages；　if　Charlotte　is　held　up　as　an　object　of　terror；　to　prevent　us　from　falling　into　guilty　errors？　does　not　La　Rue　triumph　in　her　shame；　and　by　adding　art　to　guilt；　obtain　the　affection　of　a　worthy　man；　and　rise　to　a　station　where　she　is　beheld　with　respect；　and　chearfully　received　into　all　companies。　　What　then　is　the　moral　you　would　inculcate？　Would　you　wish　us　to　think　that　a　deviation　from　virtue；　if　covered　by　art　and　hypocrisy；　is　not　an　object　of　detestation；　but　on　the　contrary　shall　raise　us　to　fame　and　honour？　while　the　hapless　girl　who　falls　a　victim　to　her　too　great　sensibility；　shall　be　loaded　with　ignominy　and　shame？〃　　No；　my　fair　querist；　I　mean　no　such　thing。　Remember　the　endeavours　of　the　wicked　are　often　suffered　to　prosper；　that　in　the　end　their　fall　may　be　attended　with　more　bitterness　of　heart；　while　the　cup　of　affliction　is　poured　out　for　wise　and　salutary　ends；　and　they　who　are　compelled　to　drain　it　even　to　the　bitter　dregs；　often　find　comfort　at　the　bottom；　the　tear　of　penitence　blots　their　offences　from　the　book　of　fate；　and　they　rise　from　the　heavy；　painful　trial；　purified　and　fit　for　a　mansion　in　the　kingdom　of　eternity。　Yes；　my　young　friends；　the　tear　of　compassion　shall　fall　for　the　fate　of　Charlotte；　while　the　name　of　La　Rue　shall　be　detested　and　despised。　For　Charlotte；　the　soul　melts　with　sympathy；　for　La　Rue；　it　feels　nothing　but　horror　and　contempt。　　But　perhaps　your　gay　hearts　would　rather　follow　the　fortunate　Mrs。　Crayton　through　the　scenes　of　pleasure　and　dissipation　in　which　she　was　engaged；　than　listen　to　the　complaints　and　miseries　of　Charlotte。　　I　will　for　once　oblige　you；　I　will　for　once　follow　her　to　midnight　revels；　balls；　and　scenes　of　gaiety；　for　in　such　was　she　constantly　engaged。　I　have　said　her　person　was　lovely；　let　us　add　that　she　was　surrounded　by　splendor　and　affluence；　and　he　must　know　but　little　of　the　world　who　can　wonder；　（however　faulty　such　a　woman's　conduct；）　at　her　being　followed　by　the　men；　and　her　company　courted　by　the　women：　　in　short　Mrs。　Crayton　was　the　universal　favourite：　she　set　the　fashions；　she　was　toasted　by　all　the　gentlemen；　and　copied　by　all　the　ladies。　Colonel　Crayton　was　a　domestic　man。　　Could　he　be　happy　with　such　a　woman？　impossible！　　Remonstrance　was　vain：　　he　might　as　well　have　preached　to　the　winds；　as　endeavour　to　persuade　her　from　any　action；　however　ridiculous；　on　which　she　had　set　her　mind：　in　short；　after　a　littl