charlotte temple-第2章

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is　expenses　within　the　limits　of　his　income。　He　had　a　heart　open　to　every　generous　feeling　of　humanity；　and　a　hand　ready　to　dispense　to　those　who　wanted　part　of　the　blessings　he　enjoyed　himself。　As　he　was　universally　known　to　be　the　friend　of　the　unfortunate；　his　advice　and　bounty　was　frequently　solicited；　nor　was　it　seldom　that　he　sought　out　indigent　merit；　and　raised　it　from　obscurity；　confining　his　own　expenses　within　a　very　narrow　compass。　〃You　are　a　benevolent　fellow；〃　said　a　young　officer　to　him　one　day；　〃and　I　have　a　great　mind　to　give　you　a　fine　subject　to　exercise　the　goodness　of　your　heart　upon。〃　〃You　cannot　oblige　me　more；〃　said　Temple；　〃than　to　point　out　any　way　by　which　I　can　be　serviceable　to　my　fellow　creatures。〃　〃Come　along　then；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃we　will　go　and　visit　a　man　who　is　not　in　so　good　a　lodging　as　he　deserves；　and；　were　it　not　that　he　has　an　angel　with　him；　who　comforts　and　supports　him；　he　must　long　since　have　sunk　under　his　misfortunes。〃　The　young　man's　heart　was　too　full　to　proceed；　and　Temple；　unwilling　to　irritate　his　feelings　by　making　further　enquiries；　followed　him　in　silence；　til　they　arrived　at　the　Fleet　prison。　The　officer　enquired　for　Captain　Eldridge：　　a　person　led　them　up　several　pair　of　dirty　stairs；　and　pointing　to　a　door　which　led　to　a　miserable；　small　apartment；　said　that　was　the　Captain's　room；　and　retired。　The　officer；　whose　name　was　Blakeney；　tapped　at　the　door；　and　was　bid　to　enter　by　a　voice　melodiously　soft。　　He　opened　the　door；　and　discovered　to　Temple　a　scene　which　rivetted　him　to　the　spot　with　astonishment。　The　apartment；　though　small；　and　bearing　strong　marks　of　poverty；　was　neat　in　the　extreme。　　In　an　arm…chair；　his　head　reclined　upon　his　hand；　his　eyes　fixed　on　a　book　which　lay　open　before　him；　sat　an　aged　man　in　a　Lieutenant's　uniform；　which；　though　threadbare；　would　sooner　call　a　blush　of　shame　into　the　face　of　those　who　could　neglect　real　merit；　than　cause　the　hectic　of　confusion　to　glow　on　the　cheeks　of　him　who　wore　it。　Beside　him　sat　a　lovely　creature　busied　in　painting　a　fan　mount。　She　was　fair　as　the　lily；　but　sorrow　had　nipped　the　rose　in　her　cheek　before　it　was　half　blown。　　Her　eyes　were　blue；　and　her　hair；　which　was　light　brown；　was　slightly　confined　under　a　plain　muslin　cap；　tied　round　with　a　black　ribbon；　a　white　linen　gown　and　plain　lawn　handkerchief　composed　the　remainder　of　her　dress；　and　in　this　simple　attire；　she　was　more　irresistibly　charming　to　such　a　heart　as　Temple's；　than　she　would　have　been；　if　adorned　with　all　the　splendor　of　a　courtly　belle。　When　they　entered；　the　old　man　arose　from　his　seat；　and　shaking　Blakeney　by　the　hand　with　great　cordiality；　offered　Temple　his　chair；　and　there　being　but　three　in　the　room；　seated　himself　on　the　side　of　his　little　bed　with　evident　composure。　〃This　is　a　strange　place；〃　said　he　to　Temple；　〃to　receive　visitors　of　distinction　in；　but　we　must　fit　our　feelings　to　our　station。　While　I　am　not　ashamed　to　own　the　cause　which　brought　me　here；　why　should　I　blush　at　my　situation？　　Our　misfortunes　are　not　our　faults；　and　were　it　not　for　that　poor　girl〃　Here　the　philosopher　was　lost　in　the　father。　　He　rose　hastily　from　his　seat；　and　walking　toward　the　window；　wiped　off　a　tear　which　he　was　afraid　would　tarnish　the　cheek　of　a　sailor。　Temple　cast　his　eye　on　Miss　Eldridge：　　a　pellucid　drop　had　stolen　from　her　eyes；　and　fallen　upon　a　rose　she　was　painting。　It　blotted　and　discoloured　the　flower。　　〃　'Tis　emblematic；〃　said　he　mentally：　　〃the　rose　of　youth　and　health　soon　fades　when　watered　by　the　tear　of　affliction。〃　〃My　friend　Blakeney；〃　said　he；　addressing　the　old　man；　〃told　me　I　could　be　of　service　to　you：　　be　so　kind　then；　dear　Sir；　as　to　point　out　some　way　in　which　I　can　relieve　the　anxiety　of　your　heart　and　increase　the　pleasures　of　my　own。〃　〃My　good　young　man；〃　said　Eldridge；　〃you　know　not　what　you　offer。　While　deprived　of　my　liberty　I　cannot　be　free　from　anxiety　on　my　own　account；　but　that　is　a　trifling　concern；　my　anxious　thoughts　extend　to　one　more　dear　a　thousand　times　than　life：　I　am　a　poor　weak　old　man；　and　must　expect　in　a　few　years　to　sink　into　silence　and　oblivion；　but　when　I　am　gone；　who　will　protect　that　fair　bud　of　innocence　from　the　blasts　of　adversity；　or　from　the　cruel　hand　of　insult　and　dishonour。　　〃　〃Oh；　my　father！〃　cried　Miss　Eldridge；　tenderly　taking　his　hand；　〃be　not　anxious　on　that　account；　for　daily　are　my　prayers　offered　to　heaven　that　our　lives　may　terminate　at　the　same　instant；　and　one　grave　receive　us　both；　for　why　should　I　live　when　deprived　of　my　only　friend。〃　Temple　was　moved　even　to　tears。　　〃You　will　both　live　many　years；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　hope　see　much　happiness。　　Cheerly；　my　friend；　cheerly；　these　passing　clouds　of　adversity　will　serve　only　to　make　the　sunshine　of　prosperity　more　pleasing。　　But　we　are　losing　time：　you　might　ere　this　have　told　me　who　were　your　creditors；　what　were　their　demands；　and　other　particulars　necessary　to　your　liberation。〃　〃My　story　is　short；〃　said　Mr。　Eldridge；　〃but　there　are　some　particulars　which　will　wring　my　heart　barely　to　remember；　yet　to　one　whose　offers　of　friendship　appear　so　open　and　disinterested；　I　will　relate　every　circumstance　that　led　to　my　present；　painful　situation。　But　my　child；〃　continued　he；　addressing　his　daughter；　〃let　me　prevail　on　you　to　take　this　opportunity；　while　my　friends　are　with　me；　to　enjoy　the　benefit　of　air　and　exercise。　Go；　my　love；　leave　me　now；　to…morrow　at　your　usual　hour　I　will　expect　you。　　〃　Miss　Eldridge　impressed　on　his　cheek　the　kiss　of　filial　affection；　and　obeyed。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　III。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　UNEXPECTED　MISFORTUNES。　〃MY　life；〃　said　Mr。　Eldridge；　〃till　within　these　few　years　was　marked　by　no　particular　circumstance　deserving　notice。　　I　early　embraced　the　life　of　a　sailor；　and　have　served　my　King　with　unremitted　ardour　for　many　years。　　At　the　age　of　twenty…five　I　married　an　amiable　woman；　one　son；　and　the　girl　who　just　now　left　us；　were　the　fruits　of　our　union。　My　boy　had　genius　and　spirit。　　I　straitened　my　little　income　to　give　him　a　liberal　education；　but　the　rapid　progress　he　made　in　his　studies　amply　compensated　for　the　inconvenience。　At　the　academy　where　he　received　his　education　he　commenced　an　acquaintance　with　a　Mr。　Lewis；　a　young　man　of　affluent　fortune：　as　they　grew　up　their　intimacy　ripened　into　friendship；　and　they　became　almost　inseparable　companions。　〃George　chose　the　profession　of　a　soldier。　　I　had　neither　friends　or　money　to　procure　him　a　commission；　and　had　wished　him　to　embrace　a　nautical　life：　　but　this　was　repugnant　to　his　wishes；　and　I　ceased　to　urge　him　on　the　subject。　〃The　friendship　subsisting　between　Lewis　and　my　son　was　of　such　a　nature　as　gave　him　free　access　to　our　family；　and　so　specious　was　his　manner　that　we　hesitated　not　to　state　to　him　all　our　little　difficulties　in　regard　to　George's　future　views。　He　listened　to　us　with　attention；　and　offered　to　advance　any　sum　necessary　for　his　first　setting　out。　〃I　embraced　the　offer；　and　gave　him　my　note　for　the　payment　of　it；　but　he　would　not　suffer　me　to　mention　any　stipulated　time；　as　he　said　I　might　do　it　whenever　most　convenient　to　myself。　About　this　time　my　dear　Lucy　returned　from　school；　and　I　soon　began　to　imagine　Lewis　looked　at　her　with　eyes　of　affection。　I　gave　my　child　a　caution　to　beware　of　him；　and　to　look　on　her　mother　as　her　fe；；end。　She　was　unaffectedly　artless；　and　when；　as　I　suspected；　Lewis　made　professions　of　love；　she　confided　in　her　parents；　and　assured　us　her　heart　was　perfectly　unbiassed　in　his　favour；　and　she　would　chearfully　submit　to　our　direction。　〃I　took　an　early　opportunity　of　questioning　him　concerning　his　intentions　towards　my　child：　　he　gave　an　equivocal　answer；　and　I　forbade　him　the　house。　〃The　next　day　he　sent　and　demanded　payment　of　his　money。　It　was　not　in　my　power　to　comply　with　the　demand。　　I　requested　three　days　to　endeavour　to　raise　it；　determining　in　that　time　to　mortgage　my　half　pay；　and　live　on　a　small　annuity　which　my　wife　possessed；　rather　than　be　under　an　obligation　to　so　worthless　a　man：　but　this　short　time　was　not　allowed　me；　for　that　evening；　as　I　was　sitting　down　to　supper；　unsuspicious　of　danger；　an　officer　entered；　and　tore　me　from　the　embraces　of　my　family。　〃My　wife　had　been　for　some　time　in　a　declining　state　of　health：　ruin　at　once　so　unexpected　and　inevitable　was　a　stroke　she　was　not　prepared　to　bear；　and　I　saw　her　faint　into　the　arms　of　our　servant；　as　I　left　my　own　habitation　for　the　comfortless　walls　of　a　prison。　My　poor　Lucy；　distracted　with　her　fears　for　us　both；　sunk　on　the　floor　and　endeavoured　to　detain　me　by　her　feeble　efforts；　but　in　vain；　they　forced　open　her　arms；　she　shrieked；　and　fell　prostrate。　But　pardon　me。　　The　horrors　of　that　night　unman　me。　I　cannot　proceed。〃　He　rose　from　his　seat；　and　walked　several　times　across　the　room：　at　length；　attaining　more　composure；　he　cried〃What　a　mere　infant　I　am！　　Why；　Sir；　I　never　felt　thus　in　the　day　of　battle。〃　〃No；〃　said　Temple；　〃but　the　truly　brave　soul　is　tremblingly　alive　to　the　feelings　of　humanity。〃　〃True；〃　replied　the　old　man；　（something　like　satisfaction　darting　across　his　features）　〃and　painful　as　these　feelings　are；　I　would　not　exchange　them　for　that　torpor　which　the　stoic　mistakes　for　philosophy。　How　many　exquisite　delights　should　I　have　passed　by　unnoticed；　but　for　these　keen　sensations；　this　quick　sense　of　happiness　or　misery？　Then　let　us；　my　friend；　take　the　cup　of　life　as　it　is　presented　to　us；　tempered　by　the　hand　of　a　wise　Providence；　be　thankful　for　the　good；　be　patient　under　the　evil；　and　presume　not　to　enquire　why　the　latter　predominates。〃　〃This　is　true　philosophy；〃　said　Temple。　〃'Tis　the　only　way　to　reconcile　ourselves　to　the　cross　events　of　life；〃　replied　he。　　〃But　I　forget　myself。　　I　will　not　longer　intrude　on　your　patience；　but　proceed　in　my　melancholy　tale。　〃The　very　evening　that　I　was　taken　to　prison；　my　son　arrived　from　Ireland；　where　he　had　been　some　time　with　his　regiment。　From　the　distracted　expressions　of　his　mother　and　sister；　he　learnt　by　whom　I　had　been　arrested；　and；　late　as　it　was；　flew　on　the　wings　of　wounded　affection；　to　the　house　of　his　false　friend；　and　earnestly　enquired　the　cause　of　this　cruel　conduct。　　With　all　the　calmness　of　a　cool　deliberate　villain；　he　avowed　his　passion　for　Lucy；　declared　her　situation　in　life　would　not　permit　him　to　marry　her；　but　offered　to　release　me　immediately；　and　make　any　settlement　on　her；　if　George　would　persuade　her　to　live；　as　he　impiously　termed　it；　a　life　of　honour。　〃Fired　at　the　insult　offered　to　a　man　and　a　soldier；　my　boy　struck　the　villain；　and　a　challenge　ensued。　　He　then　went　to　a　coffee…house　in　the　neighbourhood　and　wrote　a　long　affectionate　letter　to　me；　blaming　himself　severely　for　having　introduced　Lewis　into　the　family；　or　permitted　him　to　confer　an　obligation；　which　had　brought　inevitable　ruin　on　us　all。　　He　begged　me；　whatever　might　be　the　event　of　the　ensuing　morning；　not　to　suffer　regret　or　unavailing　sorrow　for　his　fate；　to　encrease　the　anguish　of　my　heart；　which　he　greatly　feared　was　already　insupportable。　〃This　letter　was　delivered　to　me　early　in　the　morning。　It　would　be　vain　to　attempt　describing　my　feelings　on　the　perusal　of　it；　suffice　it　to　say；　that　a　merciful　Providence　interposed；　and　I　was　for　three　weeks　insensible　to　miseries