charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第2章
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As he was universally known to be the friend of the unfortunate； his
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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
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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；
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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
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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
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the truly brave soul is tremblingly alive to the feelings of humanity。〃
〃True；〃 replied the old man； （something like satisfaction darting across
his features）
