charlotte temple-第21章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ccumulated　woes　that　pour　in　upon　me；　but　oh！　my　dear　Madam；　for　the　love　of　heaven　suffer　me　not　to　expire　in　the　street；　and　when　I　am　at　peace；　as　soon　I　shall　be；　extend　your　compassion　to　my　helpless　offspring；　should　it　please　heaven　that　it　should　survive　its　unhappy　mother。　A　gleam　of　joy　breaks　in　on　my　benighted　soul　while　I　reflect　that　you　cannot；　will　not　refuse　your　protection　to　the　heart…broken。　CHARLOTTE。〃　When　Charlotte　had　finished　this　letter；　late　as　it　was　in　the　afternoon；　and　though　the　snow　began　to　fall　very　fast；　she　tied　up　a　few　necessaries　which　she　had　prepared　against　her　expected　confinement；　and　terrified　lest　she　should　be　again　exposed　to　the　insults　of　her　barbarous　landlady；　more　dreadful　to　her　wounded　spirit　than　either　storm　or　darkness；　she　set　forward　for　New…York。　It　may　be　asked　by　those；　who；　in　a　work　of　this　kind；　love　to　cavil　at　every　trifling　omission；　whether　Charlotte　did　not　possess　any　valuable　of　which　she　could　have　disposed；　and　by　that　means　have　supported　herself　till　Mrs。　Beauchamp's　return；　when　she　would　have　been　certain　of　receiving　every　tender　attention　which　compassion　and　friendship　could　dictate：　　but　let　me　entreat　these　wise；　penetrating　gentlemen　to　reflect；　that　when　Charlotte　left　England；　it　was　in　such　haste　that　there　was　no　time　to　purchase　any　thing　more　than　what　was　wanted　for　immediate　use　on　the　voyage；　and　after　her　arrival　at　New…York；　Montraville's　affection　soon　began　to　decline；　so　that　her　whole　wardrobe　consisted　of　only　necessaries；　and　as　to　baubles；　with　which　fond　lovers　often　load　their　mistresses；　she　possessed　not　one；　except　a　plain　gold　locket　of　small　value；　which　contained　a　lock　of　her　mother's　hair；　and　which　the　greatest　extremity　of　want　could　not　have　forced　her　to　part　with。　I　hope；　Sir；　your　prejudices　are　now　removed　in　regard　to　the　probability　of　my　story？　　Oh　they　are。　　Well　then；　with　your　leave；　I　will　proceed。　The　distance　from　the　house　which　our　suffering　heroine　occupied；　to　New…York；　was　not　very　great；　yet　the　snow　fen　so　fast；　and　the　cold　so　intense；　that；　being　unable　from　her　situation　to　walk　quick；　she　found　herself　almost　sinking　with　cold　and　fatigue　before　she　reached　the　town；　her　garments；　which　were　merely　suitable　to　the　summer　season；　being　an　undress　robe　of　plain　white　muslin；　were　wet　through；　and　a　thin　black　cloak　and　bonnet；　very　improper　habiliments　for　such　a　climate；　but　poorly　defended　her　from　the　cold。　In　this　situation　she　reached　the　city；　and　enquired　of　a　foot　soldier　whom　she　met；　the　way　to　Colonel　Crayton's。　〃Bless　you；　my　sweet　lady；〃　said　the　soldier　with　a　voice　and　look　of　compassion；　〃I　will　shew　you　the　way　with　all　my　heart；　but　if　you　are　going　to　make　a　petition　to　Madam　Crayton　it　is　all　to　no　purpose　I　assure　you：　　if　you　please　I　will　conduct　you　to　Mr。　Franklin's；　though　Miss　Julia　is　married　and　gone　now；　yet　the　old　gentleman　is　very　good。　　〃　〃Julia　Franklin；〃　said　Charlotte；　〃is　she　not　married　to　Montraville？〃　〃Yes；〃　replied　the　soldier；　〃and　may　God　bless　them；　for　a　better　officer　never　lived；　he　is　so　good　to　us　all；　and　as　to　Miss　Julia；　all　the　poor　folk　almost　worshipped　her。〃　〃Gracious　heaven；〃　cried　Charlotte；　〃is　Montraville　unjust　then　to　none　but　me。　　〃　The　soldier　now　shewed　her　Colonel　Crayton's　door；　and；　with　a　beating　heart；　she　knocked　for　admission。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XXXI。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SUBJECT　CONTINUED。　WHEN　the　door　was　opened；　Charlotte；　in　a　voice　rendered　scarcely　articulate；　through　cold　and　the　extreme　agitation　of　her　mind；　demanded　whether　Mrs。　Crayton　was　at　home。　　The　servant　hesitated：　he　knew　that　his　lady　was　engaged　at　a　game　of　picquet　with　her　dear　Corydon；　nor　could　he　think　she　would　like　to　be　disturbed　by　a　person　whose　appearance　spoke　her　of　so　little　consequence　as　Charlotte；　yet　there　was　something　in　her　countenance　that　rather　interested　him　in　her　favour；　and　he　said　his　lady　was　engaged；　but　if　she　had　any　particular　message　he　would　deliver　it。　〃Take　up　this　letter；〃　said　Charlotte：　　〃tell　her　the　unhappy　writer　of　it　waits　in　her　hall　for　an　answer。〃　　The　tremulous　accent；　the　tearful　eye；　must　have　moved　any　heart　not　composed　of　adamant。　The　man　took　the　letter　from　the　poor　suppliant；　and　hastily　ascended　the　stair　case。　〃A　letter；　Madam；〃　said　he；　presenting　it　to　his　lady：　〃an　immediate　answer　is　required。　　〃　Mrs。　Crayton　glanced　her　eye　carelessly　over　the　contents。　〃What　stuff　is　this；〃　cried　she　haughtily；　〃have　not　I　told　you　a　thousand　times　that　I　will　not　be　plagued　with　beggars；　and　petitions　from　people　one　knows　nothing　about？　　Go　tell　the　woman　I　can't　do　any　thing　in　it。　I'm　sorry；　but　one　can't　relieve　every　body。〃　The　servant　bowed；　and　heavily　returned　with　this　chilling　message　to　Charlotte。　〃Surely；〃　said　she；　〃Mrs。　Crayton　has　not　read　my　letter。　Go；　my　good　friend；　pray　go　back　to　her；　tell　her　it　is　Charlotte　Temple　who　requests　beneath　her　hospitable　roof　to　find　shelter　from　the　inclemency　of　the　season。〃　〃Prithee；　don't　plague　me；　man；〃　cried　Mrs。　Crayton　impatiently；　as　the　servant　advanced　something　in　behalf　of　the　unhappy　girl。　〃I　tell　you　I　don't　know　her。〃　〃Not　know　me；〃　cried　Charlotte；　rushing　into　the　room；　（for　she　had　followed　the　man　up　stairs）　〃not　know　me；　not　remember　the　ruined　Charlotte　Temple；　who；　but　for　you；　perhaps　might　still　have　been　innocent；　still　have　been　happy。　　Oh！　　La　Rue；　this　is　beyond　every　thing　I　could　have　believed　possible。〃　〃Upon　my　honour；　Miss；〃　replied　the　unfeeling　woman　with　the　utmost　effrontery；　〃this　is　a　most　unaccountable　address：　it　is　beyond　my　comprehension。　　John；〃　continued　she；　turning　to　the　servant；　〃the　young　woman　is　certainly　out　of　her　senses：　do　pray　take　her　away；　she　terrifies　me　to　death。　　〃　〃Oh　God；〃　cried　Charlotte；　clasping　her　hands　in　an　agony；　〃this　is　too　much；　what　will　become　of　me？　but　I　will　not　leave　you；　they　shall　not　tear　me　from　you；　here　on　my　knees　I　conjure　you　to　save　me　from　perishing　in　the　streets；　if　you　really　have　forgot　me；　oh　for　charity's　sweet　sake　this　night　let　me　be　sheltered　from　the　winter's　piercing　cold。〃　　The　kneeling　figure　of　Charlotte　in　her　affecting　situation　might　have　moved　the　heart　of　a　stoic　to　compassion；　but　Mrs。　Crayton　remained　inflexible。　In　vain　did　Charlotte　recount　the　time　they　had　known　each　other　at　Chichester；　in　vain　mention　their　being　in　the　same　ship；　in　vain　were　the　names　of　Montraville　and　Belcour　mentioned。　Mrs。　Crayton　could　only　say　she　was　sorry　for　her　imprudence；　but　could　not　think　of　having　her　own　reputation　endangered　by　encouraging　a　woman　of　that　kind　in　her　own　house；　besides　she　did　not　know　what　trouble　and　expense　she　might　bring　upon　her　husband　by　giving　shelter　to　a　woman　in　her　situation。　〃I　can　at　least　die　here；〃　said　Charlotte；　〃I　feel　I　cannot　long　survive　this　dreadful　conflict。　　Father　of　mercy；　here　let　me　finish　my　existence。〃　　Her　agonizing　sensations　overpowered　her；　and　she　fell　senseless　on　the　floor。　〃Take　her　away；〃　said　Mrs。　Crayton；　〃she　will　really　frighten　me　into　hysterics；　take　her　away　I　say　this　instant。〃　〃And　where　must　I　take　the　poor　creature？〃　said　the　servant　with　a　voice　and　look　of　compassion。　〃Any　where；〃　cried　she　hastily；　〃only　don't　let　me　ever　see　her　again。　I　declare　she　has　flurried　me　so　I　shan't　be　myself　again　this　fortnight。〃　John；　assisted　by　his　fellow…servant；　raised　and　carried　her　down　stairs。　〃Poor　soul；〃　said　he；　〃you　shall　not　lay　in　the　street　this　night。　I　have　a　bed　and　a　poor　little　hovel；　where　my　wife　and　her　little　ones　rest　them；　but　they　shall　watch　to　night；　and　you　shall　be　sheltered　from　danger。〃　　They　placed　her　in　a　chair；　and　the　benevolent　man；　assisted　by　one　of　his　comrades；　carried　her　to　the　place　where　his　wife　and　children　lived。　A　surgeon　was　sent　for：　　he　bled　her；　she　gave　signs　of　returning　life；　and　before　the　dawn　gave　birth　to　a　female　infant。　After　this　event　she　lay　for　some　hours　in　a　kind　of　stupor；　and　if　at　any　time　she　spoke；　it　was　with　a　quickness　and　incoherence　that　plainly　evinced　the　total　deprivation　of　her　reason。　CHAPTER　XXXII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　REASONS　WHY　AND　WHEREFORE。　THE　reader　of　sensibility　may　perhaps　be　astonished　to　find　Mrs。　Crayton　could　so　positively　deny　any　knowledge　of　Charlotte；　it　is　therefore　but　just　that　her　conduct　should　in　some　measure　be　accounted　for。　She　had　ever　been　fully　sensible　of　the　superiority　of　Charlotte's　sense　and　virtue；　she　was　conscious　that　she　had　never　swerved　from　rectitude；　had　it　not　been　for　her　bad　precepts　and　worse　example。　These　were　things　as　yet　unknown　to　her　husband；　and　she　wished　not　to　have　that　part　of　her　conduct　exposed　to　him；　as　she　had　great　reason　to　fear　she　had　already　lost　considerable　part　of　that　power　she　once　maintained　over　him。　　She　trembled　whilst　Charlotte　was　in　the　house；　lest　the　Colonel　should　return；　she　perfectly　well　remembered　how　much　he　seemed　interested　in　her　favour　whilst　on　their　passage　from　England；　and　made　no　doubt；　but；　should　he　see　her　in　her　present　distress；　he　would　offer　her　an　asylum；　and　protect　her　to　the　utmost　of　his　power。　In　that　case　she　feared　the　unguarded　nature　of　Charlotte　might　discover　to　the　Colonel　the　part　she