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the resolution of remaining behind； assure him of her affection； and bid
him adieu。
Charlotte formed this plan in her mind； and exulted in the certainty of
its success。 〃How shall I rejoice；〃 said she； 〃in this triumph of reason over
inclination； and； when in the arms of my affectionate parents； lift up my
soul in gratitude to heaven as I look back on the dangers I have escaped！〃
The hour of assignation arrived： Mademoiselle put what money and
valuables she possessed in her pocket； and advised Charlotte to do the
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same； but she refused； 〃my resolution is fixed 〃 said she； 〃I will sacrifice
love to duty。〃
Mademoiselle smiled internally； and they proceeded softly down the
back stairs and out of the garden gate。 Montraville and Belcour were ready
to receive them。
〃Now；〃 said Montraville； taking Charlotte in his arms； 〃you are mine
for ever。〃
〃No；〃 said she； withdrawing from his embrace； 〃I am come to take an
everlasting farewel。 〃
It would be useless to repeat the conversation that here ensued； suffice
it to say； that Montraville used every argument that had formerly been
successful； Charlotte's resolution began to waver； and he drew her almost
imperceptibly towards the chaise。
〃I cannot go；〃 said she： 〃cease； dear Montraville； to persuade。 I must
not： religion； duty； forbid。〃
〃Cruel Charlotte；〃 said he； 〃if you disappoint my ardent hopes； by all
that is sacred； this hand shall put a period to my existence。 I cannotwill
not live without you。〃
〃Alas！ my torn heart！〃 said Charlotte； 〃how shall I act？〃
〃Let me direct you；〃 said Montraville； lifting her into the chaise。
〃Oh！ my dear forsaken parents！〃 cried Charlotte。
The chaise drove off。 She shrieked； and fainted into the arms of her
betrayer。
CHAPTER XIII。
CRUEL DISAPPOINTMENT。
〃WHAT pleasure；〃 cried Mr。 Eldridge； as he stepped into the chaise to
go for his grand…daughter； 〃what pleasure expands the heart of an old man
when he beholds the progeny of a beloved child growing up in every
virtue that adorned the minds of her parents。 I foolishly thought； some few
years since； that every sense of joy was buried in the graves of my dear
partner and my son； but my Lucy； by her filial affection； soothed my soul
to peace； and this dear Charlotte has twined herself round my heart； and
opened such new scenes of delight to my view； that I almost forget I have
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ever been unhappy。〃
When the chaise stopped； he alighted with the alacrity of youth； so
much do the emotions of the soul influence the body。
It was half past eight o'clock； the ladies were assembled in the school
room； and Madame Du Pont was preparing to offer the morning sacrifice
of prayer and praise； when it was discovered； that Mademoiselle and
Charlotte were missing。
〃She is busy； no doubt；〃 said the governess； 〃in preparing Charlotte for
her little excursion； but pleasure should never make us forget our duty to
our Creator。 Go； one of you； and bid them both attend prayers。 〃
The lady who went to summon them； soon returned； and informed the
governess； that the room was locked； and that she had knocked repeatedly；
but obtained no answer。
〃Good heaven！〃 cried Madame Du Pont； 〃this is very strange：〃 and
turning pale with terror； she went hastily to the door； and ordered it to be
forced open。 The apartment instantly discovered； that no person had been
in it the preceding night； the beds appearing as though just made。 The
house was instantly a scene of confusion： the garden； the pleasure grounds
were searched to no purpose； every apartment rang with the names of Miss
Temple and Mademoiselle； but they were too distant to hear； and every
face wore the marks of disappointment。
Mr。 Eldridge was sitting in the parlour； eagerly expecting his grand…
daughter to descend； ready equipped for her journey： he heard the
confusion that reigned in the house； he heard the name of Charlotte
frequently repeated。 〃What can be the matter？〃 said he； rising and opening
the door： 〃I fear some accident has befallen my dear girl。〃
The governess entered。 The visible agitation of her countenance
discovered that something extraordinary had happened。
〃Where is Charlotte？〃 said he； 〃Why does not my child come to
welcome her doating parent？〃
〃Be composed； my dear Sir；〃 said Madame Du Pont； 〃do not frighten
yourself unnecessarily。 She is not in the house at present； but as
Mademoiselle is undoubtedly with her； she will speedily return in safety；
and I hope they will both be able to account for this unseasonable absence
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in such a manner as shall remove our present uneasiness。〃
〃Madam；〃 cried the old man； with an angry look； 〃has my child been
accustomed to go out without leave； with no other company or protector
than that French woman。 Pardon me； Madam； I mean no reflections on
your country； but I never did like Mademoiselle La Rue； I think she was a
very improper person to be entrusted with the care of such a girl as
Charlotte Temple； or to be suffered to take her from under your immediate
protection。〃
〃You wrong me； Mr。 Eldridge；〃 replied she； 〃if you suppose I have
ever permitted your grand…daughter to go out unless with the other ladies。
I would to heaven I could form any probable conjecture concerning her
absence this morning； but it is a mystery which her return can alone
unravel。〃 Servants were now dispatched to every place where there was
the least hope of hearing any tidings of the fugitives； but in vain。 Dreadful
were the hours of horrid suspense which Mr。 Eldridge passed till twelve
o'clock； when that suspense was reduced to a shocking certainty； and every
spark of hope which till then they had indulged； was in a moment
extinguished。
Mr。 Eldridge was preparing； with a heavy heart； to return to his
anxiously…expecting children； when Madame Du Pont received the
following note without either name or date。
〃Miss Temple is well； and wishes to relieve the anxiety of her parents；
by letting them know she has voluntarily put herself under the protection
of a man whose future study shall be to make her happy。 Pursuit is
needless； the measures taken to avoid discovery are too effectual to be
eluded。 When she thinks her friends are reconciled to this precipitate step；
they may perhaps be informed of her place of residence。 Mademoiselle is
with her。〃
As Madame Du Pont read these cruel lines； she turned pale as ashes；
her limbs trembled； and she was forced to call for a glass of water。 She
loved Charlotte truly； and when she reflected on the innocence and
gentleness of her disposition； she concluded that it must have been the
advice and machinations of La Rue； which led her to this imprudent action；
she recollected her agitation at the receipt of her mother's letter； and saw in
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it the conflict of her mind。
〃Does that letter relate to Charlotte？〃 said Mr。 Eldridge； having waited
some time in expectation of Madame Du Pont's speaking。
〃It does；〃 said she。 〃Charlotte is well； but cannot return today。〃
〃Not return； Madam？ where is she？ who will detain her from her fond；
expecting parents？〃
〃You distract me with these questions； Mr。 Eldridge。 Indeed I know not
where she is； or who has seduced her from her duty。〃
The whole truth now rushed at once upon Mr。 Eldridge's mind。 〃She
has eloped then；〃 said he。 〃My child is betrayed； the darling； the comfort
of my aged heart； is lost。 Oh would to heaven I had died but yesterday。〃
A violent gush of grief in some