charlotte temple-第15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！
ed girl to return to her friends： she was an only child； and I make no doubt but that they would joyfully receive her； it would shock me greatly to see her henceforth leading a life of infamy； as I should always accuse myself of being the primary cause of all her errors。 If she should chuse to remain under your protection； be kind to her； Belcour； I conjure you。 Let not satiety prompt you to treat her in such a manner； as may drive her to actions which necessity might urge her to； while her better reason disapproved them： she shall never want a friend while I live； but I never more desire to behold her； her presence would be always painful to me； and a glance from her eye would call the blush of conscious guilt into my cheek。 〃I will write a letter to her； which you may deliver when I am gone； as I shall go to St。 Eustatia the day after my union with Julia； who will accompany me。〃 Belcour promised to fulfil the request of his friend； though nothing was farther from his intentions； than the least design of delivering the letter； or making Charlotte acquainted with the provision Montraville had made for her； he was bent on the complete ruin of the unhappy girl； and supposed； by reducing her to an entire dependance on him； to bring her by degrees to consent to gratify his ungenerous passion。 The evening before the day appointed for the nuptials of Montraville and Julia； the former refired early to his apartment； and ruminating on the past scenes of his life； suffered the keenest remorse in the remembrance of Charlotte's seduction。 〃Poor girl； 〃 said he； 〃I will at least write and bid her adieu； I will too endeavour to awaken that love of virtue in her bosom which her unfortunate attachment to me has extinguished。〃 He took up the pen and began to write； but words were denied him。 How could he address the woman whom he had seduced； and whom； though he thought unworthy his tenderness； he was about to bid adieu for ever？ How should he tell her that he was going to abjure her； to enter into the most indissoluble ties with another； and that he could not even own the infant which she bore as his child？ Several letters were begun and destroyed： at length he completed the following： TO CHARLOTTE。 〃Though I have taken up my pen to address you； my poor injured girl； I feel I am inadequate to the task； yet； however painful the endeavour； I could not resolve upon leaving you for ever without one kind line to bid you adieu； to tell you how my heart bleeds at the remembrance of what you was； before you saw the hated Montraville。 Even now imagination paints the scene； when； torn by contending passions； when； struggling between love and duty； you fainted in my arms； and I lifted you into the chaise： I see the agony of your mind； when； recovering； you found yourself on the road to Portsmouth： but how； my gentle girl； how could you； when so justly impressed with the value of virtue； how could you； when loving as I thought you loved me； yield to the solicitations of Belcour？ 〃Oh Charlotte； conscience tells me it was I； villain that I am； who first taught you the allurements of guilty pleasure； it was I who dragged you from the calm repose which innocence and virtue ever enjoy； and can I； dare I tell you； it was not love prompted to the horrid deed？ No； thou dear； fallen angel； believe your repentant Montraville； when he tells you the man who truly loves will never betray the object of his affection。 Adieu； Charlotte： could you still find charms in a life of unoffend…ing innocence； return to your parents； you shall never want the means of support both for yourself and child。 Oh！ gracious heaven！ may that child be entirely free from the vices of its father and the weakness of its mother。 〃To…morrowbut no； I cannot tell you what to…morrow will produce； Belcour will inform you： he also has cash for you； which I beg you will ask for whenever you may want it。 Once more adieu： believe me could I hear you was returned to your friends； and enjoying that tranquillity of which I have robbed you； I should be as completely happy as even you； in your fondest hours； could wish me； but till then a gloom will obscure the brightest prospects of MONTRAVILLE。〃 After he had sealed this letter he threw himself on the bed； and enjoyed a few hours repose。 Early in the morning Belcour tapped at his door： he arose hastily； and prepared to meet his Julia at the altar。 〃This is the letter to Charlotte；〃 said he； giving it to Belcour： 〃take it to her when we are gone to Eustatia； and I conjure you； my dear friend； not to use any sophistical arguments to prevent her return to virtue； but should she incline that way； encourage her in the thought； and assist her to put her design in execution。 CHAPTER XXVII。 Pensive she mourn'd； and hung her languid head； Like a fair lily overcharg'd with dew。 CHARLOTTE had now been left almost three months a prey to her own melancholy reflexionssad companions indeed； nor did any one break in upon her solitude but Belcour； who once or twice called to enquire after her health； and tell her he had in vain endeavoured to bring Montraville to hear reason； and once； but only once； was her mind cheared by the receipt of an affectionate letter from Mrs。 Beauchamp。 Often had she wrote to her perfidious seducer； and with the most persuasive eloquence endeavoured to convince him of her innocence； but these letters were never suffered to reach the hands of Montraville； or they must； though on the very eve of marriage； have prevented his deserting the wretched girl。 Real anguish of heart had in a great measure faded her charms； her cheeks were pale from want of rest； and her eyes； by frequent； indeed almost continued weeping； were sunk and heavy。 Sometimes a gleam of hope would play about her heart when she thought of her parents〃They cannot surely；〃 she would say； 〃refuse to forgive me； or should they deny their pardon to me； they win not hate my innocent infant on account of its mother's errors。〃 How often did the poor mourner wish for the consoling presence of the benevolent Mrs。 Beauchamp。 〃If she were here；〃 she would cry； 〃she would certainly comfort me； and sooth the distraction of my soul。 〃 She was sitting one afternoon； wrapped in these melancholy reflexions； when she was interrupted by the entrance of Belcour。 Great as the alteration was which incessant sorrow had made on her person； she was still interesting； still charming； and the unhallowed flame； which had urged Belcour to plant dissension between her and Montraville； still raged in his bosom： he was determined； if possible； to make her his mistress； nay； he had even conceived the diabolical scheme of taking her to New…York； and making her appear in every public place where it was likely she should meet Montraville； that he might be a witness to his unmanly triumph。 When he entered the room where Charlotte was sitting； he assumed the look of tender； consolatory friendship。 〃And how does my lovely Charlotte？〃 said he； taking her hand： 〃I fear you are not so well as I could wish。〃 〃I am not well； Mr。 Belcour；〃 said she； 〃very far from it； but the pains and infirmities of the body I could easily bear； nay； submit to them with patience； were they not aggravated by the most insupportable anguish of my mind。〃 〃You are not happy； Charlotte；〃 said he； with a look of well…dissembled sorrow。 〃Alas！〃 replied she mournfully； shaking her head； 〃how can I be happy； deserted and forsaken as I am； without a friend of my own sex to whom I can unburthen my full heart； nay； my fidelity suspected by the very man for whom I have sacrificed every thing valuable in life； for whom I have made myself a poor despised creature； an outcast from society； an object only of contempt and pity。〃 〃You think too meanly of yourself； Miss Temple： there is no one who would dare to treat you with contempt： au who have the pleasure of knowing you must admire and esteem。 You are lonely here； my dear girl； give me leave to conduct you to New…York； where the agreeable society of some ladies； to whom I will introduce you； will dispel these sad thoughts； and I shall again see returning chearfulness animate those lovely features。〃 〃Oh never！ never！〃 cried Charlotte； emphatically： 〃the virtuous part of my sex will scorn me； and I will never associate with infamy。 No； Belcour； here let me hide my shame and sorrow； here let me spend my few remaining days in obscurity； unknown and unpitied； here let me die unlamented； and my name sink to oblivion。〃 Here her tears stopped her utterance。 Belcour was awed to silence： he dared not interrupt her； and after a moment's pause she proceeded〃I once had conceived the thought of going to New…York to seek out the still dear； though cruel； ungenerous Montraville； to throw myself at his feet； and entreat his compassion； heaven knows； not for myself； if I am no longer beloved； I will not be indebted to his pity to redress my injuries； but I would have knelt and entreated him not to forsake my poor unborn〃 She could say no more； a crimson glow rushed over her cheeks； and covering her face with her hands； she sobbed aloud。 Something like humanity was awakened in Belcour's breast by this pathetic speech： he arose and walked towards the window； but the selfish passion which had taken possession of his heart； soon stifled these finer emotions； and he thought if Charlotte was once convinced she had no longer any dependance on Montraville； she would more readily throw herself on his protection。 Determined； therefore； to inform her of all that had happened； he again resumed his seat； and finding she began to be more composed； enquired if she had ever heard from Montraville since the unfortunate recontre in her bed chamber。 〃Ah no；〃 said she。 〃I fear I shall never hear from him again。〃 〃I am greatly of your opinion；〃 said Belcour； 〃for he has been for some time past greatly attached〃 At the word 〃attached〃 a death…like paleness overspread the countenance of Charlotte； but she applied to some hartshorn which stood beside her； and Belcour proceeded。 〃He has been for some time past greatly attached to one Miss Franklin； a pleasing lively girl； with a large fortune。〃 〃She may be richer； may be handsomer；〃 cried Charlotte； 〃but cannot love him so well。 Oh may she beware of his art； and not trust him too far as I have done。〃 〃He addresses her publicly；〃 said he； 〃and it was rumoured they were to be married before he sailed for Eustatia； whither his company is ordered。〃 〃Belcour；〃 said Charlotte； seizing his hand； and gazing at him earnestly； while her pale lips trembled with convulsive agony； 〃tell me； and tell me truly； I beseech you； do you think he can be such a villain as to marry another woman； and leave me to die with want and misery in a strange land： tell me what you think； I can bear it very well； I will not shrink from this heaviest stroke of fate； I have deserved my afflictions； and I will endeavour to bear them as I ought。〃 〃I fear；〃 said Belcour； 〃he can be that villain。〃 〃Perhaps；〃 cried she； eagerly interrupting him； 〃perhaps he is married already： come； let me know the worst；〃 continued she with an affected look of composure： 〃you need not be afraid； I shall not send the fortunate lady a bowl of poison。〃 〃Well then； my dear girl；〃 s
