charlotte temple-第4章

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ghter。　Unfortunately　for　Temple；　he　thought　quite　otherwise：　the　conversation　he　had　just　had　with　his　father；　discovered　to　him　the　situation　of　his　heart；　and　he　found　that　the　most　affluent　fortune　would　bring　no　increase　of　happiness　unless　Lucy　Eldridge　shared　it　with　him；　and　the　knowledge　of　the　purity　of　her　sentiments；　and　the　integrity　of　his　own　heart；　made　him　shudder　at　the　idea　his　father　had　started；　of　marrying　a　woman　for　no　other　reason　than　because　the　affluence　of　her　fortune　would　enable　him　to　injure　her　by　maintaining　in　splendor　the　woman　to　whom　his　heart　was　devoted：　he　therefore　resolved　to　refuse　Miss　Weatherby；　and　be　the　event　what　it　might；　offer　his　heart　and　hand　to　Lucy　Eldridge。　Full　of　this　determination；　he　fought　his　father；　declared　his　resolution；　and　was　commanded　never　more　to　appear　in　his　presence。　Temple　bowed；　his　heart　was　too　full　to　permit　him　to　speak；　he　left　the　house　precipitately；　and　hastened　to　relate　the　cause　of　his　sorrows　to　his　good　old　friend　and　his　amiable　daughter。　In　the　mean　time；　the　Earl；　vexed　to　the　soul　that　such　a　fortune　should　be　lost；　determined　to　offer　himself　a　candidate　for　Miss　Weatherby's　favour。　What　wonderful　changes　are　wrought　by　that　reigning　power；　ambition！　the　love…sick　girl；　when　first　she　heard　of　Temple's　refusal；　wept；　raved；　tore　her　hair；　and　vowed　to　found　a　protestant　nunnery　with　her　fortune；　and　by　commencing　abbess；　shut　herself　up　from　the　sight　of　cruel　ungrateful　man　for　ever。　Her　father　was　a　man　of　the　world：　　he　suffered　this　first　transport　to　subside；　and　then　very　deliberately　unfolded　to　her　the　offers　of　the　old　Earl；　expatiated　on　the　many　benefits　arising　from　an　elevated　title；　painted　in　glowing　colours　the　surprise　and　vexation　of　Temple　when　he　should　see　her　figuring　as　a　Countess　and　his　mother…in…law；　and　begged　her　to　consider　well　before　she　made　any　rash　vows。　The　DISTRESSED　fair　one　dried　her　tears；　listened　patiently；　and　at　length　declared　she　believed　the　surest　method　to　revenge　the　slight　put　on　her　by　the　son；　would　be　to　accept　the　father：　so　said　so　done；　and　in　a　few　days　she　became　the　Countess　D。　Temple　heard　the　news　with　emotion：　　he　had　lost　his　father's　favour　by　avowing　his　passion　for　Lucy；　and　he　saw　now　there　was　no　hope　of　regaining　it：　　〃but　he　shall　not　make　me　miserable；〃　said　he。　〃Lucy　and　I　have　no　ambitious　notions：　　we　can　live　on　three　hundred　a　year　for　some　little　time；　till　the　mortgage　is　paid　off；　and　then　we　shall　have　sufficient　not　only　for　the　comforts　but　many　of　the　little　elegancies　of　life。　　We　will　purchase　a　little　cottage；　my　Lucy；〃　said　he；　〃and　thither　with　your　reverend　father　we　will　retire；　we　will　forget　there　are　such　things　as　splendor；　profusion；　and　dissipation：　we　will　have　some　cows；　and　you　shall　be　queen　of　the　dairy；　in　a　morning；　while　I　look　after　my　garden；　you　shall　take　a　basket　on　your　arm；　and　sally　forth　to　feed　your　poultry；　and　as　they　flutter　round　you　in　token　of　humble　gratitude；　your　father　shall　smoke　his　pipe　in　a　woodbine　alcove；　and　viewing　the　serenity　of　your　countenance；　feel　such　real　pleasure　dilate　his　own　heart；　as　shall　make　him　forget　he　had　ever　been　unhappy。〃　Lucy　smiled；　and　Temple　saw　it　was　a　smile　of　approbation。　He　sought　and　found　a　cottage　suited　to　his　taste；　thither；　attended　by　Love　and　Hymen；　the　happy　trio　retired；　where；　during　many　years　of　uninterrupted　felicity；　they　cast　not　a　wish　beyond　the　little　boundaries　of　their　own　tenement。　　Plenty；　and　her　handmaid；　Prudence；　presided　at　their　board；　Hospitality　stood　at　their　gate；　Peace　smiled　on　each　face；　Content　reigned　in　each　heart；　and　Love　and　Health　strewed　roses　on　their　pillows。　Such　were　the　parents　of　Charlotte　Temple；　who　was　the　only　pledge　of　their　mutual　love；　and　who；　at　the　earnest　entreaty　of　a　particular　friend；　was　permitted　to　finish　the　education　her　mother　had　begun；　at　Madame　Du　Pont's　school；　where　we　first　introduced　her　to　the　acquaintance　of　the　reader。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VI。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AN　INTRIGUING　TEACHER。　MADAME　Du　Pont　was　a　woman　every　way　calculated　to　take　the　care　of　young　ladies；　had　that　care　entirely　devolved　on　herself；　but　it　was　impossible　to　attend　the　education　of　a　numerous　school　without　proper　assistants；　and　those　assistants　were　not　always　the　kind　of　people　whose　conversation　and　morals　were　exactly　such　as　parents　of　delicacy　and　refinement　would　wish　a　daughter　to　copy。　Among　the　teachers　at　Madame　Du　Pont's　school；　was　Mademoiselle　La　Rue；　who　added　to　a　pleasing　person　and　insinuating　address；　a　liberal　education　and　the　manners　of　a　gentlewoman。　She　was　recommended　to　the　school　by　a　lady　whose　humanity　overstepped　the　bounds　of　discretion：　　for　though　she　knew　Miss　La　Rue　had　eloped　from　a　convent　with　a　young　officer；　and；　on　coming　to　England；　had　lived　with　several　different　men　in　open　defiance　of　all　moral　and　religious　duties；　yet；　finding　her　reduced　to　the　most　abject　want；　and　believing　the　penitence　which　she　professed　to　be　sincere；　she　took　her　into　her　own　family；　and　from　thence　recommended　her　to　Madame　Du　Pont；　as　thinking　the　situation　more　suitable　for　a　woman　of　her　abilities。　　But　Mademoiselle　possessed　too　much　of　the　spirit　of　intrigue　to　remain　long　without　adventures。　At　church；　where　she　constantly　appeared；　her　person　attracted　the　attention　of　a　young　man　who　was　upon　a　visit　at　a　gentleman's　seat　in　the　neighbourhood：　　she　had　met　him　several　times　clandestinely；　and　being　invited　to　come　out　that　evening；　and　eat　some　fruit　and　pastry　in　a　summer…house　belonging　to　the　gentleman　he　was　visiting；　and　requested　to　bring　some　of　the　ladies　with　her；　Charlotte　being　her　favourite；　was　fixed　on　to　accompany　her。　The　mind　of　youth　eagerly　catches　at　promised　pleasure：　pure　and　innocent　by　nature；　it　thinks　not　of　the　dangers　lurking　beneath　those　pleasures；　till　too　late　to　avoid　them：　when　Mademoiselle　asked　Charlotte　to　go　with　her；　she　mentioned　the　gentleman　as　a　relation；　and　spoke　in　such　high　terms　of　the　elegance　of　his　gardens；　the　sprightliness　of　his　conversation；　and　the　liberality　with　which　he　ever　entertained　his　guests；　that　Charlotte　thought　only　of　the　pleasure　she　should　enjoy　in　the　visit；　not　on　the　imprudence　of　going　without　her　governess's　knowledge；　or　of　the　danger　to　which　she　exposed　herself　in　visiting　the　house　of　a　gay　young　man　of　fashion。　Madame　Du　Pont　was　gone　out　for　the　evening；　and　the　rest　of　the　ladies　retired　to　rest；　when　Charlotte　and　the　teacher　stole　out　at　the　back　gate；　and　in　crossing　the　field；　were　accosted　by　Montraville；　as　mentioned　in　the　first　chapter。　Charlotte　was　disappointed　in　the　pleasure　she　had　promised　herself　from　this　visit。　　The　levity　of　the　gentlemen　and　the　freedom　of　their　conversation　disgusted　her。　　She　was　astonished　at　the　liberties　Mademoiselle　permitted　them　to　take；　grew　thoughtful　and　uneasy；　and　heartily　wished　herself　at　home　again　in　her　own　chamber。　Perhaps　one　cause　of　that　wish　might　be；　an　earnest　desire　to　see　the　contents　of　the　letter　which　had　been　put　into　her　hand　by　Montraville。　Any　reader　who　has　the　least　knowledge　of　the　world；　will　easily　imagine　the　letter　was　made　up　of　encomiums　on　her　beauty；　and　vows　of　everlasting　love　and　constancy；　nor　will　he　be　surprised　that　a　heart　open　to　every　gentle；　generous　sentiment；　should　feel　itself　warmed　by　gratitude　for　a　man　who　professed　to　feel　so　much　for　her；　nor　is　it　improbable　but　her　mind　might　revert　to　the　agreeable　person　and　martial　appearance　of　Montraville。　In　affairs　of　love；　a　young　heart　is　never　in　more　danger　than　when　attempted　by　a　handsome　young　soldier。　　A　man　of　an　indifferent　appearance；　will；　when　arrayed　in　a　military　habit；　shew　to　advantage；　but　when　beauty　of　person；　elegance　of　manner；　and　an　easy　method　of　paying　compliments；　are　united　to　the　scarlet　coat；　smart　cockade；　and　military　sash；　ah！　well…a…day　for　the　poor　girl　who　gazes　on　him：　she　is　in　imminent　danger；　but　if　she　listens　to　him　with　pleasure；　'tis　all　over　with　her；　and　from　that　moment　she　has　neither　eyes　nor　ears　for　any　other　object。　Now；　my　dear　sober　matron；　（if　a　sober　matron　should　deign　to　turn　over　these　pages；　before　she　trusts　them　to　the　eye　of　a　darling　daughter；）　let　me　intreat　you　not　to　put　on　a　grave　face；　and　throw　down　the　book　in　a　passion　and　declare　'tis　enough　to　turn　the　heads　of　half　the　girls　in　England；　I　do　solemnly　protest；　my　dear　madam；　I　mean　no　more　by　what　I　have　here　advanced；　than　to　ridicule　those　romantic　girls；　who　foolishly　imagine　a　red　coat　and　silver　epaulet　constitute　the　fine　gentleman；　and　should　that　fine　gentleman　make　half　a　dozen　fine　speeches　to　them；　they　will　imagine　themselves　so　much　in　love　as　to　fancy　it　a　meritorious　action　to　jump　out　of　a　two　pair　of　stairs　window；　abandon　their　friends；　and　trust　entirely　to　the　honour　of　a　man；　who　perhaps　hardly　knows　the　meaning　of　the　word；　and　if　he　does；　will　be　too　much　the　modern　man　of　refinement；　to　practice　it　in　their　favour。　Gracious　heaven！　when　I　think　on　the　miseries　that　must　rend　the　heart　of　a　doating　parent；　when　he　sees　the　darling　of　his　age　at　first　seduced　from　his　protection；　and　afterwards　abandoned；　by　the　very　wretch　whose　promises　of　love　decoyed　her　from　the　paternal　roof　when　he　sees　her　poor　and　wretched；　her　bosom　tom　between　remorse　for　her　crime　and　love　for　her　vile　betrayerwhen　fancy　paints　to　me　the　good　old　man　stooping　to　raise　the　weeping　penitent；　while　every　tear　from　her　eye　is　numbered　by　drops　from　his　bleeding　heart；　my　bosom　glows　with　honest　indignation；　and　I　wish　for　power　to　extirpate　those　monsters　of　seduction　from　the　earth。　Oh　my　dear　girlsfor　to　such　only　am　I　writinglisten　not　to　the　voice　of　love；　unless　sanctioned　by　paternal　approbation：　be　assured；　it　is　now　past　the　days　of　romance：　no　woman　can　be　run　away　with　contrary　to　her　own　inclination：　then　kneel　down　each　morning；　and　request　kind　heaven　to　keep　you　free　from　temptation；　or；　should　it　please　to　suffer　you　to　be　tried；　pray　for　fortitude　to　resist　the　impulse　of　inclination　when　it　runs　counter　to　the　precepts　of　religion　and　virtue。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　VII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　NATURAL　SENSE　OF　PROPRIETY　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　INHERENT　IN　THE　FEMALE　BOSOM。　〃I　CANNOT　think　we　have　done　exactly　right　in　going　out　this　evening；　Mademoiselle；〃　said　Charlotte；　seating　herself　when　she　entered　her　apartment：　　〃nay；　I　am　sure　it　was　not　right；　for　I　expected　to　be　very　happy；　but　was　sadly　disappointed。〃　〃It　was　your　own　fault；　then；〃　replied　Mademoiselle：　〃for　I　am　sure　my　cousin　omitted　nothing　that　could　serve　to　render　the　evening　agreeable。〃　〃True；〃　said　Charlotte：　　〃but　I　thought　the　gentlemen　were　very　free　in　their　manner：　　I　wonder　you　would　suffer　them　to　behave　as　they　did。〃　〃Prithee；　don't　be　such　a　foolish　little　prude；〃　said　the　artful　woman；　affecting　anger：　　〃I　invited　you　to　go　in　hopes　it　would　divert　you；　and　be　an　agreeable　change　of　scene；　however；　if　your　delicacy　was　hurt　by　the　behaviour　of　the　gentlemen；　you　need　not　go　again；　so　there　let　it　rest。　　〃　〃I　do　not　intend　to　go　again；〃　said　Charlotte；　gravely　taking　off　her　bonnet；　and　beginning　to　prepare　for　bed：　　〃I　am　sure；　if　Madame　Du　Pont　knew　we　had　be