charlotte temple-第8章

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ink　of　a　wife　till　his　rank　is　such　as　to　place　him　above　the　fear　of　bringing　into　the　world　a　train　of　helpless　innocents；　heirs　only　to　penury　and　affliction。　If；　indeed；　a　woman；　whose　fortune　is　sufficient　to　preserve　you　in　that　state　of　independence　I　would　teach　you　to　prize；　should　generously　bestow　herself　on　a　young　soldier；　whose　chief　hope　of　future　prosperity　depended　on　his　success　in　the　field　if　such　a　woman　should　offerevery　barrier　is　removed；　and　I　should　rejoice　in　an　union　which　would　promise　so　much　felicity。　But　mark　me；　boy；　if；　on　the　contrary；　you　rush　into　a　precipitate　union　with　a　girl　of　little　or　no　fortune；　take　the　poor　creature　from　a　comfortable　home　and　kind　friends；　and　plunge　her　into　all　the　evils　a　narrow　income　and　increasing　family　can　inflict；　I　will　leave　you　to　enjoy　the　blessed　fruits　of　your　rashness；　for　by　all　that　is　sacred；　neither　my　interest　or　fortune　shall　ever　be　exerted　in　your　favour。　I　am　serious；〃　continued　he；　〃therefore　imprint　this　conversation　on　your　memory；　and　let　it　influence　your　future　conduct。　Your　happiness　will　always　be　dear　to　me；　and　I　wish　to　warn　you　of　a　rock　on　which　the　peace　of　many　an　honest　fellow　has　been　wrecked；　for　believe　me；　the　difficulties　and　dangers　of　the　longest　winter　campaign　are　much　easier　to　be　borne；　than　the　pangs　that　would　seize　your　heart；　when　you　beheld　the　woman　of　your　choice；　the　children　of　your　affection；　involved　in　penury　and　distress；　and　reflected　that　it　was　your　own　folly　and　precipitancy　had　been　the　prime　cause　of　their　sufferings。　　〃　As　this　conversation　passed　but　a　few　hours　before　Montraville　took　leave　of　his　father；　it　was　deeply　impressed　on　his　mind：　when；　therefore；　Belcour　came　with　him　to　the　place　of　assignation　with　Charlotte；　he　directed　him　to　enquire　of　the　French　woman　what　were　Miss　Temple's　expectations　in　regard　to　fortune。　Mademoiselle　informed　him；　that　though　Charlotte's　father　possessed　a　genteel　independence；　it　was　by　no　means　probable　that　he　could　give　his　daughter　more　than　a　thousand　pounds；　and　in　case　she　did　not　marry　to　his　liking；　it　was　possible　he　might　not　give　her　a　single　SOUS；　nor　did　it　appear　the　least　likely；　that　Mr。　Temple　would　agree　to　her　union　with　a　young　man　on　the　point　of　embarking　for　the　feat　of　war。　Montraville　therefore　concluded　it　was　impossible　he　should　ever　marry　Charlotte　Temple；　and　what　end　he　proposed　to　himself　by　continuing　the　acquaintance　he　had　commenced　with　her；　he　did　not　at　that　moment　give　himself　time　to　enquire。　CHAPTER　XI。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CONFLICT　OF　LOVE　AND　DUTY。　ALMOST　a　week　was　now　gone；　and　Charlotte　continued　every　evening　to　meet　Montraville；　and　in　her　heart　every　meeting　was　resolved　to　be　the　last；　but　alas！　when　Montraville　at　parting　would　earnestly　intreat　one　more　interview；　that　treacherous　heart　betrayed　her；　and；　forgetful　of　its　resolution；　pleaded　the　cause　of　the　enemy　so　powerfully；　that　Charlotte　was　unable　to　resist。　Another　and　another　meeting　succeeded；　and　so　well　did　Montraville　improve　each　opportunity；　that　the　heedless　girl　at　length　confessed　no　idea　could　be　so　painful　to　her　as　that　of　never　seeing　him　again。　〃Then　we　will　never　be　parted；〃　said　he。　〃Ah；　Montraville；〃　replied　Charlotte；　forcing　a　smile；　〃how　can　it　be　avoided？　　My　parents　would　never　consent　to　our　union；　and　even　could　they　be　brought　to　approve　it；　how　should　I　bear　to　be　separated　from　my　kind；　my　beloved　mother？〃　〃Then　you　love　your　parents　more　than　you　do　me；　Charlotte？〃　〃I　hope　I　do；〃　said　she；　blushing　and　looking　down；　〃I　hope　my　affection　for　them　will　ever　keep　me　from　infringing　the　laws　of　filial　duty。〃　〃Well；　Charlotte；〃　said　Montraville　gravely；　and　letting　go　her　hand；　〃since　that　is　the　case；　I　find　I　have　deceived　myself　with　fallacious　hopes。　　I　had　flattered　my　fond　heart；　that　I　was　dearer　to　Charlotte　than　any　thing　in　the　world　beside。　I　thought　that　you　would　for　my　sake　have　braved　the　dangers　of　the　ocean；　that　you　would；　by　your　affection　and　smiles；　have　softened　the　hardships　of　war；　and；　had　it　been　my　fate　to　fall；　that　your　tenderness　would　chear　the　hour　of　death；　and　smooth　my　passage　to　another　world。　　But　farewel；　Charlotte！　　I　see　you　never　loved　me。　I　shall　now　welcome　the　friendly　ball　that　deprives　me　of　the　sense　of　my　misery。〃　〃Oh　stay；　unkind　Montraville；〃　cried　she；　catching　hold　of　his　arm；　as　he　pretended　to　leave　her；　〃stay；　and　to　calm　your　fears；　I　will　here　protest　that　was　it　not　for　the　fear　of　giving　pain　to　the　best　of　parents；　and　returning　their　kindness　with　ingratitude；　I　would　follow　you　through　every　danger；　and；　in　studying　to　promote　your　happiness；　insure　my　own。　But　I　cannot　break　my　mother's　heart；　Montraville；　I　must　not　bring　the　grey　hairs　of　my　doating　grand…father　with　sorrow　to　the　grave；　or　make　my　beloved　father　perhaps　curse　the　hour　that　gave　me　birth。〃　She　covered　her　face　with　her　hands；　and　burst　into　tears。　〃All　these　distressing　scenes；　my　dear　Charlotte；〃　cried　Montraville；　〃are　merely　the　chimeras　of　a　disturbed　fancy。　　Your　parents　might　perhaps　grieve　at　first；　but　when　they　heard　from　your　own　hand　that　you　was　with　a　man　of　honour；　and　that　it　was　to　insure　your　felicity　by　an　union　with　him；　to　which　you　feared　they　would　never　have　given　their　assent；　that　you　left　their　protection；　they　will；　be　assured；　forgive　an　error　which　love　alone　occasioned；　and　when　we　return　from　America；　receive　you　with　open　arms　and　tears　of　joy。〃　Belcour　and　Mademoiselle　heard　this　last　speech；　and　conceiving　it　a　proper　time　to　throw　in　their　advice　and　persuasions；　approached　Charlotte；　and　so　well　seconded　the　entreaties　of　Montraville；　that　finding　Mademoiselle　intended　going　with　Belcour；　and　feeling　her　own　treacherous　heart　too　much　inclined　to　accompany　them；　the　hapless　Charlotte；　in　an　evil　hour；　consented　that　the　next　evening　they　should　bring　a　chaise　to　the　end　of　the　town；　and　that　she　would　leave　her　friends；　and　throw　herself　entirely　on　the　protection　of　Montraville。　〃But　should　you；〃　said　she；　looking　earnestly　at　him；　her　eyes　full　of　tears；　〃should　you；　forgetful　of　your　promises；　and　repenting　the　engagements　you　here　voluntarily　enter　into；　forsake　and　leave　me　on　a　foreign　shore〃　〃Judge　not　so　meanly　of　me；〃　said　he。　〃The　moment　we　reach　our　place　of　destination；　Hymen　shall　sanctify　our　love；　and　when　I　shall　forget　your　goodness；　may　heaven　forget　me。〃　〃Ah；〃　said　Charlotte；　leaning　on　Mademoiselle's　arm　as　they　walked　up　the　garden　together；　〃I　have　forgot　all　that　I　ought　to　have　remembered；　in　consenting　to　this　intended　elopement。〃　〃You　are　a　strange　girl；〃　said　Mademoiselle：　　〃you　never　know　your　own　mind　two　minutes　at　a　time。　　just　now　you　declared　Montraville's　happiness　was　what　you　prized　most　in　the　world；　and　now　I　suppose　you　repent　having　insured　that　happiness　by　agreeing　to　accompany　him　abroad。〃　〃Indeed　I　do　repent；〃　replied　Charlotte；　〃from　my　soul：　but　while　discretion　points　out　the　impropriety　of　my　conduct；　inclination　urges　me　on　to　ruin。〃　〃Ruin！　fiddlestick！〃　said　Mademoiselle；　〃am　I　not　going　with　you？　and　do　I　feel　any　of　these　qualms？〃　〃You　do　not　renounce　a　tender　father　and　mother；〃　said　Charlotte。　〃But　I　hazard　my　dear　reputation；〃　replied　Mademoiselle；　bridling。　〃True；〃　replied　Charlotte；　〃but　you　do　not　feel　what　I　do。〃　She　then　bade　her　good　night：　　but　sleep　was　a　stranger　to　her　eyes；　and　the　tear　of　anguish　watered　her　pillow。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Nature's　last；　best　gift：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Creature　in　whom　excell'd；　whatever　could　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　To　sight　or　thought　be　nam'd！　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Holy；　divine！　good；　amiable；　and　sweet！　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　How　thou　art　fall'n！　WHEN　Charlotte　left　her　restless　bed；　her　languid　eye　and　pale　cheek　discovered　to　Madame　Du　Pont　the　little　repose　she　had　tasted。　〃My　dear　child；〃　said　the　affectionate　governess；　〃what　is　the　cause　of　the　languor　so　apparent　in　your　frame？　　Are　you　not　well？〃　〃Yes；　my　dear　Madam；　very　well；〃　replied　Charlotte；　attempting　to　smile；　〃but　I　know　not　how　it　was；　I　could　not　sleep　last　night；　and　my　spirits　are　depressed　this　morning。〃　〃Come　chear　up；　my　love；〃　said　the　governess；　〃I　believe　I　have　brought　a　cordial　to　revive　them。　　I　have　just　received　a　letter　from　your　good　mama；　and　here　is　one　for　yourself。〃　Charlotte　hastily　took　the　letter：　　it　contained　these　words　〃As　to…morrow　is　the　anniversary　of　the　happy　day　that　gave　my　beloved　girl　to　the　anxious　wishes　of　a　maternal　heart；　I　have　requested　your　governess　to　let　you　come　home　and　spend　it　with　us；　and　as　I　know　you　to　be　a　good　affectionate　child；　and　make　it　your　study　to　improve　in　those　branches　of　education　which　you　know　will　give　most　pleasure　to　your　delighted　parents；　as　a　reward　for　your　diligence　and　attention　I　have　prepared　an　agreeable　surprise　for　your　reception。　Your　grand…father；　eager　to　embrace　the　darling　of　his　aged　heart；　will　come　in　the　chaise　for　you；　so　hold　yourself　in　readiness　to　attend　him　by　nine　o'clock。　Your　dear　father　joins　in　every　tender　wish　for　your　health　and　future　felicity；　which　warms　the　heart　of　my　dear　Charlotte's　affectionate　mother；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　L。　TEMPLE。〃