charlotte temple-第6章

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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　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？〃　〃Read　it；　to　be　sure；〃　returned　Mademoiselle。　〃I　am　afraid　I　ought　not；〃　said　Charlotte：　　〃my　mother　has　often　told　me；　I　should　never　read　a　letter　given　me　by　a　young　man；　without　first　giving　it　to　her。　　〃　〃Lord　bless　you；　my　dear　girl；〃　cried　the　teacher　smiling；　〃have　you　a　mind　to　be　in　leading　strings　all　your　life　time。　Prithee　open　the　letter；　read　it；　and　judge　for　yourself；　if　you　show　it　your　mother；　the　consequence　will　be；　you　will　be　taken　from　school；　and　a　strict　guard　kept　over　you；　so　you　will　stand　no　chance　of　ever　seeing　the　smart　young　officer　again。〃　〃I　should　not　like　to　leave　school　yet；〃　replied　Charlotte；　〃till　I　have　attained　a　greater　proficiency　in　my　Italian　and　music。　But　you　can；　if　you　please；　Mademoiselle；　take　the　letter　back　to　Montraville；　and　tell　him　I　wish　him　well；　but　cannot；　with　any　propriety；　enter　into　a　clandestine　correspondence　with　him。〃　She　laid　the　letter　on　the　table；　and　began　to　undress　herself。　〃Well；〃　said　La　Rue；　〃I　vow　you　are　an　unaccountable　girl：　have　you　no　curiosity　to　see　the　inside　now？　for　my　part　I　could　no　more　let　a　letter　addressed　to　me　lie　unopened　so　long；　than　I　could　work　miracles：　　he　writes　a　good　hand；〃　continued　she；　turning　the　letter；　to　look　at　the　superscription。　〃'Tis　well　enough；〃　said　Charlotte；　drawing　it　towards　her。　〃He　is　a　genteel　young　fellow；〃　said　La　Rue　carelessly；　folding　up　her　apron　at　the　same　time；　〃but　I　think　he　is　marked　with　the　small　pox。〃　〃Oh　you　are　greatly　mistaken；〃　said　Charlotte　eagerly；　〃he　has　a　remarkable　clear　skin　and　fine　complexion。〃　〃His　eyes；　if　I　could　judge　by　what　I　saw；〃　said　La　Rue；　〃are　grey　and　want　expression。〃　〃By　no　means；〃　replied　Charlotte；　〃they　are　the　most　expressive　eyes　I　ever　saw。〃　　〃Well；　child；　whether　they　are　grey　or　black　is　of　no　consequence：　　you　have　determined　not　to　read　his　letter；　so　it　is　likely　you　will　never　either　see　or　hear　from　him　again。〃　Charlotte　took　up　the　letter；　and　Mademoiselle　continued　〃He　is　most　probably　going　to　America；　and　if　ever　you　should　hear　any　account　of　him；　it　may　possibly　be　that　he　is　killed；　and　though　he　loved　you　ever　so　fervently；　though　his　last　breath　should　be　spent　in　a　prayer　for　your　happiness；　it　can　be　nothing　to　you：　you　can　feel　nothing　for　the　fate　of　the　man；　whose　letters　you　will　not　open；　and　whose　sufferings　you　will　not　alleviate；　by　permitting　him　to　think　you　would　remember　him　when　absent；　and　pray　for　his　safety。〃　Charlotte　still　held　the　letter　in　her　hand：　　her　heart　swelled　at　the　conclusion　of　Mademoiselle's　speech；　and　a　tear　dropped　upon　the　wafer　that　closed　it。　〃The　wafer　is　not　dry　yet；〃　said　she；　〃and　sure　there　can　be　no　great　harm〃　She　hesitated。　　La　Rue　was　silent。　〃I　may　read　it；　Mademoiselle；　and　return　it　afterwards。〃　〃Certainly；〃　replied　Mademoiselle。　〃At　any　rate　I　am　determined　not　to　answer　it；〃　continued　Charlotte；　as　she　opened　the　letter。　Here　let　me　stop　to　make　one　remark；　and　trust　me　my　very　heart　aches　while　I　write　it；　but　certain　I　am；　that　when　once　a　woman　has　stifled　the　sense　of　shame　in　her　own　bosom；　when　once　she　has　lost　sight　of　the　basis　on　which　reputation；　honour；　every　thing　that　should　be　dear　to　the　female　heart；　rests；　she　grows　hardened　in　guilt；　and　will　spare　no　pains　to　bring　down　innocence　and　beauty　to　the　shocking　level　with　herself：　　and　this　proceeds　from　that　diabolical　spirit　of　envy；　which　repines　at　seeing　another　in　the　full　possession　of　that　respect　and　esteem　which　she　can　no　longer　hope　to　enjoy。　Mademoiselle　eyed　the　unsuspecting　Charlotte；　as　she　perused　the　letter；　with　a　malignant　pleasure。　　She　saw；　that　the　contents　had　awakened　new　emotions　in　her　youthful　bosom：　　she　encouraged　her　hopes；　calmed　her　fears；　and　before　they　parted　for　the　night；　it　was　determined　that　she　should　meet　Montraville　the　ensuing　evening。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VIII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DOMESTIC　PLEASURES　PLANNED。　〃I　THINK；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Temple；　laying　her　hand　on　her　husband's　arm　as　they　were　walking　together　in　the　garden；　〃I　think　next　Wednesday　is　Charlotte's　birth　day：　　now　I　have　formed　a　little　scheme　in　my　own　mind；　to　give　her　an　agreeable　surprise；　and　if　you　have　no　objection；　we　will　send　for　her　home　on　that　day。〃　Temple　pressed　his　wife's　hand　in　token　of　approbation；　and　she　proceeded。〃You　know　the　little　alcove　at　the　bottom　of　the　garden；　of　which　Charlotte　is　so　fond？　　I　have　an　inclination　to　deck　this　out　in　a　fanciful　manner；　and　invite　all　her　little　friends　to　partake　of　a　collation　of　fruit；　sweetmeats；　and　other　things　suitable　to　the　general　taste　of　young　guests；　and　to　make　it　more　pleasing　to　Charlotte；　she　shall　be　mistress　of　the　feast；　and　entertain　her　visitors　in　this　alcove。　　I　know　she　will　be　delighted；　and　to　complete　all；　they　shall　have　some　music；　and　finish　with　a　dance。　　〃　〃A　very　fine　plan；　indeed；〃　said　Temple；　smiling；　〃and　you　really　suppose　I　will　wink　at　your　indulging　the　girl　in　this　manner？　You　will　quite　spoil　her；　Lucy；　indeed　you　will。　　〃　〃She　is　the　only　child　we　have；〃　said　Mrs。　Temple；　the　whole　tenderness　of　a　mother　adding　animation　to　her　fine　countenance；　but　it　was　withal　tempered　so　sweetly　with　the　meek　affection　and　submissive　duty　of　the　wife；　that　as　she　paused　expecting　her　husband's　answer；　he　gazed　at　her　tenderly；　and　found　he　was　unable　to　refuse　her　request。　〃She　is　a　good　girl；〃　said　Temple。　〃She　is；　indeed；〃　replied　the　fond　mother　exultingly；　〃a　grateful；　affectionate　girl；　and　I　am　sure　will　never　lose　sight　of　the　duty　she　owes　her　parents。〃　〃If　she　does；〃　said　he；　'she　must　forget　the　example　set　her　by　the　best　of　mothers。〃　Mrs。　Temple　could　not　reply；　but　the　delightful　sensation　that　dilated　her　heart　sparkled　in　her　intelligent　eyes　and　heightened　the　vermillion　on　her　cheeks。　Of　all　the　pleasures　of　which　the　human　mind　is　sensible；　there　is　none　equal　to　that　which　warms　and　expands　the　bosom；　when　listening　to　commendations　bestowed　on　us　by　a　beloved　object；　and　are　conscious　of　having　deserved　them。　Ye　giddy　flutterers　in　the　fantastic　round　of　dissipation；　who　eagerly　seek　pleasure　in　the　lofty　dome；　rich　treat；　and　midnight　revel　tell　me；　ye　thoughtless　daughters　of　folly；　have　ye　ever　found　the　phantom　you　have　so　long　sought　with　such　unremitted　assiduity？　Has　she　not　always　eluded　your　grasp；　and　when　you　have　reached　your　hand　to　take　the　cup　she　extends　to　her　deluded　votaries；　have　you　not　found　the　long…expected　draught　strongly　tinctured　with　the　bitter　dregs　of　disappointment？　　I　know　you　have：　I　see　it　in　the　wan　cheek；　sunk　eye；　and　air　of　chagrin；　which　ever　mark　the　children　of　dissipation。　　Pleasure　is　a　vain　illusion；　she　draws　you　on　to　a　thousand　follies；　errors；　and　I　may　say　vices；　and　then　leaves　you　to　deplore　your　thoughtless　credulity。　Look；　my　dear　friends；　at　yonder　lovely　Virgin；　arrayed　in　a　white　robe　devoid　of　ornament；　behold　the　meekness　of　her　countenance；　the　modesty　of　her　gait；　her　handmaids　are　Humility；　Filial　Piety；　Conjugal　Affection；　Industry；　and　Benevolence；　her　name　is　CONTENT；　she　holds　in　her　hand　the　cup　of　true　felicity；　and　when　once　you　have　formed　an　intimate　acquaintance　with　these　her　attendants；　nay　you　must　admit　them　as　your　bosom　friends　and　chief　counsellors；　then；　whatever　may　be　your　situation　in　life；　the　meek　eyed　Virgin　wig　immediately　take　up　her　abode　with　you。　Is　poverty　your　portion？she　will　lighten　your　labours；　preside　at　your　frugal　board；　and　watch　your　quiet　slumbers。　Is　your　state　mediocrity？she　will　heighten　every　blessing　you　enjoy；　by　informing　you　how　grateful　you　should　be　to　that　bountiful　Providence　who　might　have　placed　you　in　the　most　abject　situation；　and；　by　teaching　you　to　weigh　your　blessings　against　your　deserts；　show　you　how　much　more　you　receive　than　you　have　a　right　to　expect。　Are　you　possessed　of　affluence？what　an　inexhaustible　fund　of　happiness　will　she　lay　before　you！　　To　relieve　the　distressed；　redress　the　injured；　in　short；　to　perform　all　the　good　works　of　peace　and　mercy。　Content；　my　dear　friends；　will　blunt　even　the　arrows　of　adversity；　so　that　they　cannot　materially　harm　you。　　She　will　dwell　in　the　humblest　cottage；　she　will　attend　you　even　to　a　prison。　Her　parent　is　Religion；　her　sisters；　Patience　and　Hope。　She　will　pass　with　you　through　life；　smoothing　the　rough　paths　and　tread　to　earth　those　thorns　which　every　one　must　meet　with　as　they　journey　onward　to　the　appointed　goal。　　She　will　soften　the　pains　of　sickness；　continue　with　you　even　in　the　col