charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第17章
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shoulder。 Montraville started； a momentary flush of resentment crossed his
cheek； but instantly gave place to a death…like paleness； occasioned by
painful remembrance remembrance awakened by that monitor； whom；
though we may in vain endeavour； we can never entirely silence。
〃Belcour；〃 said he； 〃you have injured me in a tender point。〃 〃Prithee；
Jack；〃 replied Belcour； 〃do not make a serious matter of it： how could I
refuse the girl's advances？ and thank heaven she is not your wife。〃
〃True；〃 said Montraville； 〃but she was innocent when I first knew her。
It was I seduced her； Belcour。 Had it not been for me； she had still been
virtuous and happy in the affection and protection of her family。〃
〃Pshaw；〃 replied Belcour； laughing； 〃if you had not taken advantage of
her easy nature； some other would； and where is the difference； pray？〃
〃I wish I had never seen her；〃 cried he passionately； and starting from
his seat。 〃Oh that cursed French woman；〃 added he with vehemence； 〃had
it not been for her； I might have been happy〃 He paused。
〃With Julia Franklin；〃 said Belcour。 The name； like a sudden spark of
electric fire； seemed for a moment to suspend his faculties for a moment
he was transfixed； but recovering； he caught Belcour's hand； and cried
'Stop！ stop！ I beseech you； name not the lovely Julia and the wretched
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Montraville in the same breath。 I am a seducer； a mean； ungenerous
seducer of unsuspecting innocence。 I dare not hope that purity like her's
would stoop to unite itself with black； premeditated guilt： yet by heavens I
swear； Belcour； I thought I loved the lost； abandoned Charlotte till I saw
Julia I thought I never could forsake her； but the heart is deceitful； and I
now can plainly discriminate between the impulse of a youthful passion；
and the pure flame of disinterested affection。〃
At that instant Julia Franklin passed the window； leaning on her uncle's
arm。 She curtseyed as she passed； and； with the bewitching smile of
modest chearfulness； cried〃Do you bury yourselves in the house this fine
evening； gents？〃 There was something in the voice！ the manner！ the look！
that was altogether irresistible。 〃Perhaps she wishes my company；〃 said
Montraville mentally； as he snatched up his hat： 〃if I thought she loved me；
I would confess my errors； and trust to her generosity to pity and pardon
me。〃 He soon overtook her； and offering her his arm； they sauntered to
pleasant but unfrequented walks。 Belcour drew Mr。 Franklin on one side
and entered into a political discourse： they walked faster than the young
people； and Belcour by some means contrived entirely to lose sight of
them。 It was a fine evening in the beginning of autumn； the last remains of
day…light faintly streaked the western sky； while the moon； with pale and
virgin lustre in the room of gorgeous gold and purple； ornamented the
canopy of heaven with silver； fleecy clouds； which now and then half hid
her lovely face； and； by partly concealing； heightened every beauty； the
zephyrs whispered softly through the trees； which now began to shed their
leafy honours； a solemn silence reigned： and to a happy mind an evening
such as this would give serenity； and calm； unruffled pleasure； but to
Montraville； while it soothed the turbulence of his passions； it brought
increase of melancholy reflections。 Julia was leaning on his arm： he took
her hand in his； and pressing it tenderly； sighed deeply； but continued
silent。 Julia was embarrassed； she wished to break a silence so
unaccountable； but was unable； she loved Montraville； she saw he was
unhappy； and wished to know the cause of his uneasiness； but that innate
modesty； which nature has implanted in the female breast； prevented her
enquiring。 〃I am bad company； Miss Franklin；〃 said he； at last recollecting
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himself； 〃but I have met with something to…day that has greatly distressed
me； and I cannot shake off the disagreeable impression it has made on my
mind。 〃
〃I am sorry；〃 she replied； 〃that you have any cause of inquietude。 I am
sure if you were as happy as you deserve； and as all your friends wish you…
…〃 She hesitated。 〃And might l；〃 replied he with some animation； 〃presume
to rank the amiable Julia in that number？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said she； 〃the service you have rendered me； the
knowledge of your worth； all combine to make me esteem you。〃
〃Esteem； my lovely Julia；〃 said he passionately； 〃is but a poor cold
word。 I would if I dared； if I thought I merited your attentionbut no； I
must nothonour forbids。 I am beneath your notice； Julia； I am miserable
and cannot hope to be otherwise。〃 〃Alas！〃 said Julia； 〃I pity you。〃
〃Oh thou condescending charmer；〃 said he； 'how that sweet word
chears my sad heart。 Indeed if you knew all； you would pity； but at the
same time I fear you would despise me。〃
Just then they were again joined by Mr。 Franklin and Belcour。 It had
interrupted an interesting discourse。 They found it impossible to converse
on indifferent subjects； and proceeded home in silence。 At Mr。 Franklin's
door Montraville again pressed Julia's hand； and faintly articulating 'good
night；〃 retired to his lodgings dispirited and wretched； from a
consciousness that he deserved not the affection； with which he plainly
saw he was honoured。
CHAPTER XXV。
RECEPTION OF A LETTER。
〃AND where now is our poor Charlotte？〃 said Mr。 Temple one
evening； as the cold blasts of autumn whistled rudely over the heath； and
the yellow appearance of the distant wood； spoke the near approach of
winter。 In vain the chearful fire blazed on the hearth； in vain was he
surrounded by all the comforts of life； the parent was still alive in his heart；
and when he thought that perhaps his once darling child was ere this
exposed to all the miseries of want in a distant land； without a friend to
sooth and comfort her； without the benignant look of compassion to chear；
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or the angelic voice of pity to pour the balm of consolation on her
wounded heart； when he thought of this； his whole soul dissolved in
tenderness； and while he wiped the tear of anguish from the eye of his
patient； uncomplaining Lucy； he struggled to suppress the sympathizing
drop that started in his own。
〃Oh； my poor girl；〃 said Mrs。 Temple； 〃how must she be altered； else
surely she would have relieved our agonizing minds by one line to say she
livedto say she had not quite forgot the parents who almost idolized her。〃
〃Gracious heaven；〃 said Mr。 Temple； starting from his seat； l；who
would wish to be a father； to experience the agonizing pangs inflicted on a
parent's heart by the ingratitude of a child？〃 Mrs。 Temple wept： her father
took her hand； he would have said； 〃be comforted my child；〃 but the
words died on his tongue。 The sad silence that ensued was interrupted by a
loud rap at the door。 In a moment a servant entered with a letter in his
hand。
Mrs。 Temple took it from him： she cast her eyes upon the
superscription； she knew the writing。 〃'Tis Charlotte；〃 said she； eagerly
breaking the seal； 〃she has not quite forgot us。〃 But before she had half
gone through the contents； a sudden sickness seized her； she grew cold
and giddy； and puffing it into her husband's hand； she cried〃Read it： I
cannot。〃 Mr。 Temple attempted to read it aloud； but frequently paused to
give vent to his tears。 〃My poor deluded child；〃 said he； when he had
finished。
〃Oh； shall we not forgive the dear penitent？〃 said Mrs。 Temple。 〃We
must； we will； my love； she is willing to return； and 'tis our duty to receive
her。〃
〃Father of mercy；〃 said Mr。 Eldridge； raising his clasped hands； 〃let me
but live once more to see the dear wanderer restored to her afflicted
parents； and take me from this world of sorrow whenever it seemeth best
to thy wisdom。〃
〃Yes； we will receive her；〃 said Mr。 Temple； 〃we will endeavour to
heal her wounded spirit； and speak peace and comfort to her agitated soul。
I will write to her to return immediately。'
〃Oh！〃 said Mrs。 Temple； 〃I would if possible fly to her； support and
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chear the dear sufferer in the approaching hour of distress； and tell her
how nearly penitence is allied to virtue。 Cannot we go and conduct her
home； my love？〃 continued she； laying her hand on his arm。 〃My father
will surely forgive our absence if we go to bring home his darling。〃
〃You cannot go； my Lucy；〃 said Mr。 Temple： 〃the delicacy of your
frame would but poorly sustain the fatigue of a long voyage； but I will go
and bring the gentle penitent to your arms： we may still see many years of
happiness。〃
The struggle in the bosom of Mrs。 Temple between maternal and
conjugal tenderness was long and painful。 At length the former triumphed；
and she consented that her husband should set forward to New…York by
the first opportunity： she wrote to her Charlotte in the tenderest； most
consoling manner； and looked forward to the happy hour； when she should
again embrace her； with the most animated hope。
CHAPTER XXVI。
WHAT MIGHT BE EXPECTED。
IN the mean time the passion Montraville had conceived f
