charlotte temple-第9章

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　dear　Charlotte's　affectionate　mother；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　L。　TEMPLE。〃　〃Gracious　heaven！〃　cried　Charlotte；　forgetting　where　she　was；　and　raising　her　streaming　eyes　as　in　earnest　supplication。　Madame　Du　Pont　was　surprised。　　〃Why　these　tears；　my　love？〃　said　she。　〃Why　this　seeming　agitation？　　I　thought　the　letter　would　have　rejoiced；　instead　of　distressing　you。〃　〃It　does　rejoice　me；〃　replied　Charlotte；　endeavouring　at　composure；　〃but　I　was　praying　for　merit　to　deserve　the　unremitted　attentions　of　the　best　of　parents。〃　〃You　do　right；〃　said　Madame　Du　Pont；　〃to　ask　the　assistance　of　heaven　that　you　may　continue　to　deserve　their　love。　Continue；　my　dear　Charlotte；　in　the　course　you　have　ever　pursued；　and　you　will　insure　at　once　their　happiness　and　your　own。　　〃　〃Oh！〃　cried　Charlotte；　as　her　governess　left　her；　〃I　have　forfeited　both　for　ever！　　Yet　let　me　reflect：the　irrevocable　step　is　not　yet　taken：　it　is　not　too　late　to　recede　from　the　brink　of　a　precipice；　from　which　I　can　only　behold　the　dark　abyss　of　ruin；　shame；　and　remorse！〃　She　arose　from　her　seat；　and　flew　to　the　apartment　of　La　Rue。　〃Oh　Mademoiselle！〃　said　she；　〃I　am　snatched　by　a　miracle　from　destruction！　This　letter　has　saved　me：　　it　has　opened　my　eyes　to　the　folly　I　was　so　near　committing。　　I　will　not　go；　Mademoiselle；　I　will　not　wound　the　hearts　of　those　dear　parents　who　make　my　happiness　the　whole　study　of　their　lives。〃　〃Well；〃　said　Mademoiselle；　〃do　as　you　please；　Miss；　but　pray　understand　that　my　resolution　is　taken；　and　it　is　not　in　your　power　to　alter　it。　I　shall　meet　the　gentlemen　at　the　appointed　hour；　and　shall　not　be　surprized　at　any　outrage　which　Montraville　may　commit；　when　he　finds　himself　disappointed。　　Indeed　I　should　not　be　astonished；　was　he　to　come　immediately　here；　and　reproach　you　for　your　instability　in　the　hearing　of　the　whole　school：　and　what　will　be　the　consequence？　you　will　bear　the　odium　of　having　formed　the　resolution　of　eloping；　and　every　girl　of　spirit　will　laugh　at　your　want　of　fortitude　to　put　it　in　execution；　while　prudes　and　fools　will　load　you　with　reproach　and　contempt。　You　will　have　lost　the　confidence　of　your　parents；　incurred　their　anger；　and　the　scoffs　of　the　world；　and　what　fruit　do　you　expect　to　reap　from　this　piece　of　heroism；　（for　such　no　doubt　you　think　it　is？）　you　will　have　the　pleasure　to　reflect；　that　you　have　deceived　the　man　who　adores　you；　and　whom　in　your　heart　you　prefer　to　all　other　men；　and　that　you　are　separated　from　him　for　ever。　　〃　This　eloquent　harangue　was　given　with　such　volubility；　that　Charlotte　could　not　find　an　opportunity　to　interrupt　her；　or　to　offer　a　single　word　till　the　whole　was　finished；　and　then　found　her　ideas　so　confused；　that　she　knew　not　what　to　say。　At　length　she　determined　that　she　would　go　with　Mademoiselle　to　the　place　of　assignation；　convince　Montraville　of　the　necessity　of　adhering　to　the　resolution　of　remaining　behind；　assure　him　of　her　affection；　and　bid　him　adieu。　Charlotte　formed　this　plan　in　her　mind；　and　exulted　in　the　certainty　of　its　success。　　〃How　shall　I　rejoice；〃　said　she；　〃in　this　triumph　of　reason　over　inclination；　and；　when　in　the　arms　of　my　affectionate　parents；　lift　up　my　soul　in　gratitude　to　heaven　as　I　look　back　on　the　dangers　I　have　escaped！〃　The　hour　of　assignation　arrived：　　Mademoiselle　put　what　money　and　valuables　she　possessed　in　her　pocket；　and　advised　Charlotte　to　do　the　same；　but　she　refused；　〃my　resolution　is　fixed　〃　said　she；　〃I　will　sacrifice　love　to　duty。〃　Mademoiselle　smiled　internally；　and　they　proceeded　softly　down　the　back　stairs　and　out　of　the　garden　gate。　　Montraville　and　Belcour　were　ready　to　receive　them。　〃Now；〃　said　Montraville；　taking　Charlotte　in　his　arms；　〃you　are　mine　for　ever。〃　〃No；〃　said　she；　withdrawing　from　his　embrace；　〃I　am　come　to　take　an　everlasting　farewel。　　〃　It　would　be　useless　to　repeat　the　conversation　that　here　ensued；　suffice　it　to　say；　that　Montraville　used　every　argument　that　had　formerly　been　successful；　Charlotte's　resolution　began　to　waver；　and　he　drew　her　almost　imperceptibly　towards　the　chaise。　〃I　cannot　go；〃　said　she：　　〃cease；　dear　Montraville；　to　persuade。　I　must　not：　　religion；　duty；　forbid。〃　〃Cruel　Charlotte；〃　said　he；　〃if　you　disappoint　my　ardent　hopes；　by　all　that　is　sacred；　this　hand　shall　put　a　period　to　my　existence。　I　cannotwill　not　live　without　you。〃　〃Alas！　my　torn　heart！〃　said　Charlotte；　〃how　shall　I　act？〃　〃Let　me　direct　you；〃　said　Montraville；　lifting　her　into　the　chaise。　〃Oh！　my　dear　forsaken　parents！〃　cried　Charlotte。　The　chaise　drove　off。　　She　shrieked；　and　fainted　into　the　arms　of　her　betrayer。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XIII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CRUEL　DISAPPOINTMENT。　〃WHAT　pleasure；〃　cried　Mr。　Eldridge；　as　he　stepped　into　the　chaise　to　go　for　his　grand…daughter；　〃what　pleasure　expands　the　heart　of　an　old　man　when　he　beholds　the　progeny　of　a　beloved　child　growing　up　in　every　virtue　that　adorned　the　minds　of　her　parents。　I　foolishly　thought；　some　few　years　since；　that　every　sense　of　joy　was　buried　in　the　graves　of　my　dear　partner　and　my　son；　but　my　Lucy；　by　her　filial　affection；　soothed　my　soul　to　peace；　and　this　dear　Charlotte　has　twined　herself　round　my　heart；　and　opened　such　new　scenes　of　delight　to　my　view；　that　I　almost　forget　I　have　ever　been　unhappy。〃　When　the　chaise　stopped；　he　alighted　with　the　alacrity　of　youth；　so　much　do　the　emotions　of　the　soul　influence　the　body。　It　was　half　past　eight　o'clock；　the　ladies　were　assembled　in　the　school　room；　and　Madame　Du　Pont　was　preparing　to　offer　the　morning　sacrifice　of　prayer　and　praise；　when　it　was　discovered；　that　Mademoiselle　and　Charlotte　were　missing。　〃She　is　busy；　no　doubt；〃　said　the　governess；　〃in　preparing　Charlotte　for　her　little　excursion；　but　pleasure　should　never　make　us　forget　our　duty　to　our　Creator。　　Go；　one　of　you；　and　bid　them　both　attend　prayers。　　〃　The　lady　who　went　to　summon　them；　soon　returned；　and　informed　the　governess；　that　the　room　was　locked；　and　that　she　had　knocked　repeatedly；　but　obtained　no　answer。　〃Good　heaven！〃　cried　Madame　Du　Pont；　〃this　is　very　strange：〃　and　turning　pale　with　terror；　she　went　hastily　to　the　door；　and　ordered　it　to　be　forced　open。　　The　apartment　instantly　discovered；　that　no　person　had　been　in　it　the　preceding　night；　the　beds　appearing　as　though　just　made。　　The　house　was　instantly　a　scene　of　confusion：　the　garden；　the　pleasure　grounds　were　searched　to　no　purpose；　every　apartment　rang　with　the　names　of　Miss　Temple　and　Mademoiselle；　but　they　were　too　distant　to　hear；　and　every　face　wore　the　marks　of　disappointment。　Mr。　Eldridge　was　sitting　in　the　parlour；　eagerly　expecting　his　grand…daughter　to　descend；　ready　equipped　for　her　journey：　he　heard　the　confusion　that　reigned　in　the　house；　he　heard　the　name　of　Charlotte　frequently　repeated。　　〃What　can　be　the　matter？〃　said　he；　rising　and　opening　the　door：　　〃I　fear　some　accident　has　befallen　my　dear　girl。〃　The　governess　entered。　　The　visible　agitation　of　her　countenance　discovered　that　something　extraordinary　had　happened。　〃Where　is　Charlotte？〃　said　he；　〃Why　does　not　my　child　come　to　welcome　her　doating　parent？〃　〃Be　composed；　my　dear　Sir；〃　said　Madame　Du　Pont；　〃do　not　frighten　yourself　unnecessarily。　　She　is　not　in　the　house　at　present；　but　as　Mademoiselle　is　undoubtedly　with　her；　she　will　speedily　return　in　safety；　and　I　hope　they　will　both　be　able　to　account　for　this　unseasonable　absence　in　such　a　manner　as　shall　remove　our　present　uneasiness。〃　〃Madam；〃　cried　the　old　man；　with　an　angry　look；　〃has　my　child　been　accustomed　to　go　out　without　leave；　with　no　other　company　or　protector　than　that　French　woman。　　Pardon　me；　Madam；　I　mean　no　reflections　on　your　country；　but　I　never　did　like　Mademoiselle　La　Rue；　I　think　she　was　a　very　improper　person　to　be　entrusted　with　the　care　of　such　a　girl　as　Charlotte　Temple；　or　to　be　suffered　to　take　her　from　under　your　immediate　protection。〃　〃You　wrong　me；　Mr。　Eldridge；〃　replied　she；　〃if　you　suppose　I　have　ever　permitted　your　grand…daughter　to　go　out　unless　with　the　other　ladies。　I　would　to　heaven　I　could　form　any　probable　conjecture　concerning　her　absence　this　morning；　but　it　is　a　mystery　which　her　return　can　alone　unravel。〃　　Servants　were　now　dispatched　to　every　place　where　there　was　the　least　hope　of　hearing　any　tidings　of　the　fugitives；　but　in　vain。　Dreadful　were　the　hours　of　horrid　suspense　which　Mr。　Eldridge　passed　till　twelve　o'clock；　when　that　suspense　was　reduced　to　a　shocking　certainty；　and　every　spark　of　hope　which　till　then　they　had　indulged；　was　in　a　moment　extinguished。　Mr。　Eldridge　was　preparing；　with　a　heavy　heart；　to　return　to　his　anxiously…expecting　children；　when　Madame　Du　Pont　received　the　following　note　without　either　name　or　date。　〃Miss　Temple　is　well；　and　wishes　to　relieve　the　anxiety　of　her　parents；　by　letting　them　know　she　has　voluntarily　put　herself　under　the　protection　of　a　man　whose　future　study　shall　be　to　make　her　happy。　Pursuit　is　needless；　the　measures　taken　to　avoid　discovery　are　too　effectual　to　be　eluded。　　When　she　thinks　her　friends　are　reconciled　to　this　precipitate　step；　they　may　perhaps　be　informed　of　her　place　of　residence。　　Mademoiselle　is　with　her。〃　As　Madame　Du　Pont　read　these　cruel　lines；　she　turned　pale　as　ashes；　her　limbs　trembled；　and　she　was　forced　to　call　for　a