charlotte temple-第16章

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h　him　to　lament　my　miseries；　but　tell　him　not　who　inflicted　them；　lest　in　wishing　to　revenge　his　mother's　injuries；　he　should　wound　the　peace　of　his　father。　〃And　now；　dear　friends　of　my　soul；　kind　guardians　of　my　infancy；　farewell。　I　feel　I　never　more　must　hope　to　see　you；　the　anguish　of　my　heart　strikes　at　the　strings　of　life；　and　in　a　short　time　I　shall　be　at　rest。　Oh　could　I　but　receive　your　blessing　and　forgiveness　before　I　died；　it　would　smooth　my　passage　to　the　peaceful　grave；　and　be　a　blessed　foretaste　of　a　happy　eternity。　　I　beseech　you；　curse　me　not；　my　adored　parents；　but　let　a　tear　of　pity　and　pardon　fall　to　the　memory　of　your　lost　CHARLOTTE。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XXIII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　MAN　MAY　SMILE；　AND　SMILE；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AND　BE　A　VILLAIN。　WHILE　Charlotte　was　enjoying　some　small　degree　of　comfort　in　the　consoling　friendship　of　Mrs。　Beauchamp；　Montraville　was　advancing　rapidly　in　his　affection　towards　Miss　Franklin。　Julia　was　an　amiable　girl；　she　saw　only　the　fair　side　of　his　character；　she　possessed　an　independent　fortune；　and　resolved　to　be　happy　with　the　man　of　her　heart；　though　his　rank　and　fortune　were　by　no　means　so　exalted　as　she　had　a　right　to　expect；　she　saw　the　passion　which　Montraville　struggled　to　conceal；　she　wondered　at　his　timidity；　but　imagined　the　distance　fortune　had　placed　between　them　occasioned　his　backwardness；　and　made　every　advance　which　strict　prudence　and　a　becoming　modesty　would　permit。　　Montraville　saw　with　pleasure　he　was　not　indifferent　to　her；　but　a　spark　of　honour　which　animated　his　bosom　would　not　suffer　him　to　take　advantage　of　her　partiality。　He　was　well　acquainted　with　Charlotte's　situation；　and　he　thought　there　would　be　a　double　cruelty　in　forsaking　her　at　such　a　time；　and　to　marry　Miss　Franklin；　while　honour；　humanity；　every　sacred　law；　obliged　him　still　to　protect　and　support　Charlotte；　was　a　baseness　which　his　soul　shuddered　at。　He　communicated　his　uneasiness　to　Belcour：　　it　was　the　very　thing　this　pretended　friend　had　wished。　　〃And　do　you　really；〃　said　he；　laughing；　〃hesitate　at　marrying　the　lovely　Julia；　and　becoming　master　of　her　fortune；　because　a　little　foolish；　fond　girl　chose　to　leave　her　friends；　and　run　away　with　you　to　America。　Dear　Montraville；　act　more　like　a　man　of　sense；　this　whining；　pining　Charlotte；　who　occasions　you　so　much　uneasiness；　would　have　eloped　with　somebody　else　if　she　had　not　with　you。〃　〃Would　to　heaven；〃　said　Montraville；　〃I　had　never　seen　her；　my　regard　for　her　was　but　the　momentary　passion　of　desire；　but　I　feel　I　shall　love　and　revere　Julia　Franklin　as　long　as　I　live；　yet　to　leave　poor　Charlotte　in　her　present　situation　would　be　cruel　beyond　description。〃　〃Oh　my　good　sentimental　friend；〃　said　Belcour；　〃do　you　imagine　no　body　has　a　right　to　provide　for　the　brat　but　yourself。〃　Montraville　started。　　〃Sure；〃　said　he；　〃you　cannot　mean　to　insinuate　that　Charlotte　is　false。〃　〃I　don't　insinuate　it；〃　said　Belcour；　〃I　know　it。〃　Montraville　turned　pale　as　ashes。　　〃Then　there　is　no　faith　in　woman；〃　said　he。　〃While　I　thought　you　attached　to　her；〃　said　Belcour　with　an　air　of　indifference；　〃I　never　wished　to　make　you　uneasy　by　mentioning　her　perfidy；　but　as　I　know　you　love　and　are　beloved　by　Miss　Franklin；　I　was　determined　not　to　let　these　foolish　scruples　of　honour　step　between　you　and　happiness；　or　your　tenderness　for　the　peace　of　a　perfidious　girl　prevent　your　uniting　yourself　to　a　woman　of　honour。〃　〃Good　heavens！〃　said　Montraville；　〃what　poignant　reflections　does　a　man　endure　who　sees　a　lovely　woman　plunged　in　infamy；　and　is　conscious　he　was　her　first　seducer；　but　are　you　certain　of　what　you　say；　Belcour？〃　〃So　far；〃　replied　he；　〃that　I　myself　have　received　advances　from　her　which　I　would　not　take　advantage　of　out　of　regard　to　you：　but　hang　it；　think　no　more　about　her。　　I　dined　at　Franklin's　to…day；　and　Julia　bid　me　seek　and　bring　you　to　tea：　　so　come　along；　my　lad；　make　good　use　of　opportunity；　and　seize　the　gifts　of　fortune　while　they　are　within　your　reach。〃　　Montraville　was　too　much　agitated　to　pass　a　happy　evening　even　in　the　company　of　Julia　Franklin：　he　determined　to　visit　Charlotte　early　the　next　morning；　tax　her　with　her　falsehood；　and　take　an　everlasting　leave　of　her；　but　when　the　morning　came；　he　was　commanded　on　duty；　and　for　six　weeks　was　prevented　from　putting　his　design　in　execution。　　At　length　he　found　an　hour　to　spare；　and　walked　out　to　spend　it　with　Charlotte：　it　was　near　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　when　he　arrived　at　her　cottage；　she　was　not　in　the　parlour；　and　without　calling　the　servant　he　walked　up　stairs；　thinking　to　find　her　in　her　bed　room。　He　opened　the　door；　and　the　first　object　that　met　his　eyes　was　Charlotte　asleep　on　the　bed；　and　Belcour　by　her　side。　〃Death　and　distraction；〃　said　he；　stamping；　〃this　is　too　much。　Rise；　villain；　and　defend　yourself。〃　　Belcour　sprang　from　the　bed。　The　noise　awoke　Charlotte；　terrified　at　the　furious　appearance　of　Montraville；　and　seeing　Belcour　with　him　in　the　chamber；　she　caught　hold　of　his　arm　as　he　stood　by　the　bed…side；　and　eagerly　asked　what　was　the　matter。　〃Treacherous；　infamous　girl；〃　said　he；　〃can　you　ask？　　How　came　he　here？〃　pointing　to　Belcour。　〃As　heaven　is　my　witness；〃　replied　she　weeping；　'I　do　not　know。　I　have　not　seen　him　for　these　three　weeks。〃　〃Then　you　confess　he　sometimes　visits　you？〃　〃He　came　sometimes　by　your　desire。〃　〃'Tis　false；　I　never　desired　him　to　come；　and　you　know　I　did　not：　but　mark　me；　Charlotte；　from　this　instant　our　connexion　is　at　an　end。　Let　Belcour；　or　any　other　of　your　favoured　lovers；　take　you　and　provide　for　you；　I　have　done　with　you　for　ever。〃　He　was　then　going　to　leave　her；　but　starting　wildly　from　the　bed；　she　threw　herself　on　her　knees　before　him；　protesting　her　innocence　and　entreating　him　not　to　leave　her。　　〃Oh　Montraville；〃　said　she；　〃kill　me；　for　pity's　sake　kill　me；　but　do　not　doubt　my　fidelity。　Do　not　leave　me　in　this　horrid　situation；　for　the　sake　of　your　unborn　child；　oh！　spurn　not　the　wretched　mother　from　you。　　〃　〃Charlotte；〃　said　he；　with　a　firm　voice；　〃I　shall　take　care　that　neither　you　nor　your　child　want　any　thing　in　the　approaching　painful　hour；　but　we　meet　no　more。〃　　He　then　endeavoured　to　raise　her　from　the　ground；　but　in　vain；　she　clung　about　his　knees；　entreating　him　to　believe　her　innocent；　and　conjuring　Belcour　to　clear　up　the　dreadful　mystery。　Belcour　cast　on　Montraville　a　smile　of　contempt：　　it　irritated　him　almost　to　madness；　he　broke　from　the　feeble　arms　of　the　distressed　girl；　she　shrieked　and　fell　prostrate　on　the　floor。　Montraville　instantly　left　the　house　and　returned　hastily　to　the　city。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XXIV。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MYSTERY　DEVELOPED。　UNFORTUNATELY　for　Charlotte；　about　three　weeks　before　this　unhappy　rencontre；　Captain　Beauchamp；　being　ordered　to　Rhode…Island；　his　lady　had　accompanied　him；　so　that　Charlotte　was　deprived　of　her　friendly　advice　and　consoling　society。　　The　afternoon　on　which　Montraville　had　visited　her　she　had　found　herself　languid　and　fatigued；　and　after　making　a　very　slight　dinner　had　lain　down　to　endeavour　to　recruit　her　exhausted　spirits；　and；　contrary　to　her　expectations；　had　fallen　asleep。　　She　had　not　long　been　lain　down；　when　Belcour　arrived；　for　he　took　every　opportunity　of　visiting　her；　and　striving　to　awaken　her　resentment　against　Montraville。　He　enquired　of　the　servant　where　her　mistress　was；　and　being　told　she　was　asleep；　took　up　a　book　to　amuse　himself：　having　sat　a　few　minutes；　he　by　chance　cast　his　eyes　towards　the　road；　and　saw　Montraville　approaching；　he　instantly　conceived　the　diabolical　scheme　of　ruining　the　unhappy　Charlotte　in　his　opinion　for　ever；　he　therefore　stole　softly　up　stairs；　and　laying　himself　by　her　side　with　the　greatest　precaution；　for　fear　she　should　awake；　was　in　that　situation　discovered　by　his　credulous　friend。　When　Montraville　spurned　the　weeping　Charlotte　from　him；　and　left　her　almost　distracted　with　terror　and　despair；　Belcour　raised　her　from　the　floor；　and　leading　her　down　stairs；　assumed　the　part　of　a　tender；　consoling　friend；　she　listened　to　the　arguments　he　advanced　with　apparent　composure；　but　this　was　only　the　calm　of　a　moment：　the　remembrance　of　Montraville's　recent　cruelty　again　rushed　upon　her　mind：　　she　pushed　him　from　her　with　some　violence；　and　crying〃Leave　me；　Sir；　I　beseech　you　leave　me；　for　much　I　fear　you　have　been　the　cause　of　my　fidelity　being　suspected；　go；　leave　me　to　the　accumulated　miseries　my　own　imprudence　has　brought　upon　me。〃　She　then　left　him　with　precipitation；　and　retiring　to　her　own　apartment；　threw　herself　on　the　bed；　and　gave　vent　to　an　agony　of　grief　which　it　is　impossible　to　describe。　It　now　occurred　to　Belcour　that　she　might　possibly　write　to　Montraville；　and　endeavour　to　convince　him　of　her　innocence：　　he　was　well　aware　of　her　pathetic　remonstrances；　and；　sensible　of　the　tenderness　of　Montraville's　heart；　resolved　to　prevent　any　letters　ever　reaching　him：　he　therefore　called　the　servant；　and；　by　the　powerful　persuasion　of　a　bribe；　prevailed　with　her　to　promise　whatever　letters　her　mistress　might　write　should　be　sent　to　him。　　He　then　left　a　polite；　tender　note　for　Charlotte；　and　returned　to　New…York。　His　first　business　was　to　seek　Montraville；　and　endeavour　to　convince　him　that　what　had