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met him several times clandestinely； and being invited to come out that
evening； and eat some fruit and pastry in a summer…house belonging to the
gentleman he was visiting； and requested to bring some of the ladies with
her； Charlotte being her favourite； was fixed on to accompany her。
The mind of youth eagerly catches at promised pleasure： pure and
innocent by nature； it thinks not of the dangers lurking beneath those
pleasures； till too late to avoid them： when Mademoiselle asked Charlotte
to go with her； she mentioned the gentleman as a relation； and spoke in
such high terms of the elegance of his gardens； the sprightliness of his
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conversation； and the liberality with which he ever entertained his guests；
that Charlotte thought only of the pleasure she should enjoy in the visit；
not on the imprudence of going without her governess's knowledge； or of
the danger to which she exposed herself in visiting the house of a gay
young man of fashion。
Madame Du Pont was gone out for the evening； and the rest of the
ladies retired to rest； when Charlotte and the teacher stole out at the back
gate； and in crossing the field； were accosted by Montraville； as mentioned
in the first chapter。
Charlotte was disappointed in the pleasure she had promised herself
from this visit。 The levity of the gentlemen and the freedom of their
conversation disgusted her。 She was astonished at the liberties
Mademoiselle permitted them to take； grew thoughtful and uneasy； and
heartily wished herself at home again in her own chamber。
Perhaps one cause of that wish might be； an earnest desire to see the
contents of the letter which had been put into her hand by Montraville。
Any reader who has the least knowledge of the world； will easily
imagine the letter was made up of encomiums on her beauty； and vows of
everlasting love and constancy； nor will he be surprised that a heart open
to every gentle； generous sentiment； should feel itself warmed by gratitude
for a man who professed to feel so much for her； nor is it improbable but
her mind might revert to the agreeable person and martial appearance of
Montraville。
In affairs of love； a young heart is never in more danger than when
attempted by a handsome young soldier。 A man of an indifferent
appearance； will； when arrayed in a military habit； shew to advantage； but
when beauty of person； elegance of manner； and an easy method of paying
compliments； are united to the scarlet coat； smart cockade； and military
sash； ah！ well…a…day for the poor girl who gazes on him： she is in
imminent danger； but if she listens to him with pleasure； 'tis all over with
her； and from that moment she has neither eyes nor ears for any other
object。
Now； my dear sober matron； （if a sober matron should deign to turn
over these pages； before she trusts them to the eye of a darling daughter；）
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let me intreat you not to put on a grave face； and throw down the book in a
passion and declare 'tis enough to turn the heads of half the girls in
England； I do solemnly protest； my dear madam； I mean no more by what
I have here advanced； than to ridicule those romantic girls； who foolishly
imagine a red coat and silver epaulet constitute the fine gentleman； and
should that fine gentleman make half a dozen fine speeches to them； they
will imagine themselves so much in love as to fancy it a meritorious action
to jump out of a two pair of stairs window； abandon their friends； and trust
entirely to the honour of a man； who perhaps hardly knows the meaning of
the word； and if he does； will be too much the modern man of refinement；
to practice it in their favour。
Gracious heaven！ when I think on the miseries that must rend the heart
of a doating parent； when he sees the darling of his age at first seduced
from his protection； and afterwards abandoned； by the very wretch whose
promises of love decoyed her from the paternal roof when he sees her
poor and wretched； her bosom tom between remorse for her crime and
love for her vile betrayerwhen fancy paints to me the good old man
stooping to raise the weeping penitent； while every tear from her eye is
numbered by drops from his bleeding heart； my bosom glows with honest
indignation； and I wish for power to extirpate those monsters of seduction
from the earth。
Oh my dear girlsfor to such only am I writinglisten not to the voice
of love； unless sanctioned by paternal approbation： be assured； it is now
past the days of romance： no woman can be run away with contrary to her
own inclination： then kneel down each morning； and request kind heaven
to keep you free from temptation； or； should it please to suffer you to be
tried； pray for fortitude to resist the impulse of inclination when it runs
counter to the precepts of religion and virtue。
CHAPTER VII。
NATURAL SENSE OF PROPRIETY INHERENT IN THE
FEMALE BOSOM。
〃I CANNOT think we have done exactly right in going out this
evening； Mademoiselle；〃 said Charlotte； seating herself when she entered
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her apartment： 〃nay； I am sure it was not right； for I expected to be very
happy； but was sadly disappointed。〃
〃It was your own fault； then；〃 replied Mademoiselle： 〃for I am sure my
cousin omitted nothing that could serve to render the evening agreeable。〃
〃True；〃 said Charlotte： 〃but I thought the gentlemen were very free in
their manner： I wonder you would suffer them to behave as they did。〃
〃Prithee； don't be such a foolish little prude；〃 said the artful woman；
affecting anger： 〃I invited you to go in hopes it would divert you； and be
an agreeable change of scene； however； if your delicacy was hurt by the
behaviour of the gentlemen； you need not go again； so there let it rest。 〃
〃I do not intend to go again；〃 said Charlotte； gravely taking off her
bonnet； and beginning to prepare for bed： 〃I am sure； if Madame Du Pont
knew we had been out to…night； she would be very angry； and it is ten to
one but she hears of it by some means or other。〃
〃Nay； Miss；〃 said La Rue； 〃perhaps your mighty sense of propriety
may lead you to tell her yourself： and in order to avoid the censure you
would incur； should she hear of it by accident； throw the blame on me： but
I confess I deserve it： it will be a very kind return for that partiality which
led me to prefer you before any of the rest of the ladies； but perhaps it will
give you pleasure；〃 continued she； letting fall some hypocritical tears； 〃to
see me deprived of bread； and for an action which by the most rigid could
only be esteemed an inadvertency； lose my place and character； and be
driven again into the world； where I have already suffered all the evils
attendant on poverty。 〃
This was touching Charlotte in the most vulnerable part： she rose from
her seat； and taking Mademoiselle's hand〃You know； my dear La Rue；〃
said she； 〃I love you too well； to do anything that would injure you in my
governess's opinion： I am only sorry we went out this evening。〃
〃I don't believe it； Charlotte；〃 said she； assuming a little vivacity； 〃for
if you had not gone out； you would not have seen the gentleman who met
us crossing the field； and I rather think you were pleased with his
conversation。〃
〃I had seen him once before；〃 replied Charlotte； 〃and thought him an
agreeable man； and you know one is always pleased to see a person with
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whom one has passed several chearful hours。 〃But；〃 said she pausing； and
drawing the letter from her pocket； while a gentle suffusion of vermillion
tinged her neck and face； 〃he gave me this letter； what shall I do with it？〃