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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
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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
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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
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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 on