charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第22章
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trembled whilst Charlotte was in the house； lest the Colonel should return；
she perfectly well remembered how much he seemed interested in her
favour whilst on their passage from England； and made no doubt； but；
should he see her in her present distress； he would offer her an asylum；
and protect her to the utmost of his power。 In that case she feared the
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unguarded nature of Charlotte might discover to the Colonel the part she
had taken in the unhappy girl's elopement； and she well knew the contrast
between her own and Charlotte's conduct would make the former appear
in no very respectable light。 Had she reflected properly； she would have
afforded the poor girl protection； and by enjoining her silence； ensured it
by acts of repeated kindness； but vice in general blinds its votaries； and
they discover their real characters to the world when they are most
studious to preserve appearances。
Just so it happened with Mrs。 Crayton： her servants made no scruple of
mentioning the cruel conduct of their lady to a poor distressed lunatic who
claimed her protection； every one joined in reprobating her inhumanity；
nay even Corydon thought she might at least have ordered her to be taken
care of； but he dare not even hint it to her； for he lived but in her smiles；
and drew from her lavish fondness large sums to support an extravagance
to which the state of his own finances was very inadequate； it cannot
therefore be supposed that he wished Mrs。 Crayton to be very liberal in her
bounty to the afflicted suppliant； yet vice had not so entirely seared over
his heart； but the sorrows of Charlotte could find a vulnerable part。
Charlotte had now been three days with her humane preservers； but
she was totally insensible of every thing： she raved incessantly for
Montraville and her father： she was not conscious of being a mother； nor
took the least notice of her child except to ask whose it was； and why it
was not carried to its parents。
〃Oh；〃 said she one day； starting up on hearing the infant cry； 〃why；
why will you keep that child here； I am sure you would not if you knew
how hard it was for a mother to be parted from her infant： it is like tearing
the cords of life asunder。 Oh could you see the horrid sight which I now
beholdthere there stands my dear mother； her poor bosom bleeding at
every vein； her gentle； affectionate heart torn in a thousand pieces； and all
for the loss of a ruined； ungrateful child。 Save me save mefrom her
frown。 I dare notindeed I dare not speak to her。〃
Such were the dreadful images that haunted her distracted mind； and
nature was sinking fast under the dreadful malady which medicine had no
power to remove。 The surgeon who attended her was a humane man； he
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exerted his utmost abilities to save her； but he saw she was in want of
many necessaries and comforts； which the poverty of her hospitable host
rendered him unable to provide： he therefore determined to make her
situation known to some of the officers' ladies； and endeavour to make a
collection for her relief。
When he returned home； after making this resolution； he found a
message from Mrs。 Beauchamp； who had just arrived from Rhode…Island；
requesting he would call and see one of her children； who was very unwell。
〃I do not know；〃 said he； as he was hastening to obey the summons； 〃I do
not know a woman to whom I could apply with more hope of success than
Mrs。 Beauchamp。 I will endeavour to interest her in this poor girl's behalf；
she wants the soothing balm of friendly consolation： we may perhaps save
her； we will try at least。〃
〃And where is she；〃 cried Mrs。 Beauchamp when he had prescribed
something for the child； and told his little pathetic tale； 〃where is she； Sir？
we will go to her immediately。 Heaven forbid that I should be deaf to the
calls of humanity。 Come we will go this instant。〃 Then seizing the doctor's
arm； they sought the habitation that contained the dying Charlotte。
CHAPTER XXXIII。
WHICH PEOPLE VOID OF FEELING NEED NOT READ。
WHEN Mrs。 Beauchamp entered the apartment of the poor sufferer；
she started back with horror。 On a wretched bed； without hangings and but
poorly supplied with covering； lay the emaciated figure of what still
retained the semblance of a lovely woman； though sickness had so altered
her features that Mrs。 Beauchamp had not the least recollection of her
person。 In one comer of the room stood a woman washing； and； shivering
over a small fire； two healthy but half naked children； the infant was
asleep beside its mother； and； on a chair by the bed side； stood a porrenger
and wooden spoon； containing a little gruel； and a tea…cup with about two
spoonfulls of wine in it。 Mrs。 Beauchamp had never before beheld such a
scene of poverty； she shuddered involuntarily； and exclaiming〃heaven
preserve us！〃 leaned on the back of a chair ready to sink to the earth。 The
doctor repented having so precipitately brought her into this affecting
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scene； but there was no time for apologies： Charlotte caught the sound of
her voice； and starting almost out of bed； exclaimed〃Angel of peace and
mercy； art thou come to deliver me？ Oh； I know you are； for whenever you
was near me I felt eased of half my sorrows； but you don't know me； nor
can I； with all the recollection I am mistress of； remember your name just
now； but I know that benevolent countenance； and the softness of that
voice which has so often comforted the wretched Charlotte。 〃
Mrs。 Beauchamp had； during the time Charlotte was speaking； seated
herself on the bed and taken one of her hands； she looked at her attentively；
and at the name of Charlotte she perfectly conceived the whole shocking
affair。 A faint sickness came over her。 〃Gracious heaven；〃 said she； 〃is this
possible？〃 and bursting into tears； she reclined the burning head of
Charlotte on her own bosom； and folding her arms about her； wept over
her in silence。 〃Oh；〃 said Charlotte； 〃you are very good to weep thus for
me： it is a long time since I shed a tear for myself： my head and heart are
both on fire； but these tears of your's seem to cool and refresh it。 Oh now I
remember you said you would send a letter to my poor father： do you
think he ever received it？ or perhaps you have brought me an answer： why
don't you speak； Madam？ Does he say I may go home？ Well he is very
good； I shall soon be ready。〃
She then made an effort to get out of bed； but being prevented； her
frenzy again returned； and she raved with the greatest wildness and
incoherence。 Mrs。 Beauchamp； finding it was impossible for her to be
removed； contented herself with ordering the apartment to be made more
comfortable； and procuring a proper nurse for both mother and child； and
having learnt the particulars of Charlotte's fruitless application to Mrs。
Crayton from honest John； she amply rewarded him for his benevolence；
and returned home with a heart oppressed with many painful sensations；
but yet rendered easy by the reflexion that she had performed her duty
towards a distressed fellow…creature。
Early the next morning she again visited Charlotte； and found her
tolerably composed； she called her by name； thanked her for her goodness；
and when her child was brought to her； pressed it in her arms； wept over it；
and called it the offspring of disobedience。 Mrs。 Beauchamp was delighted
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to see her so much amended； and began to hope she might recover； and；
spite of her former errors； become an useful and respectable member of
society； but the arrival of the doctor put an end to these delusive hopes： he
said nature was making her last effort； and a few hours would most
probably consign the unhappy girl to her kindred dust。
Being asked how she found herself； she replied〃Why better； much
better； doctor。 I hope now I have but little more to suffer。 I had last night a
few hours sleep； and when I awoke recovered the full power of
recollection。 I am quite sensible of my weakness； I feel I have but little
longer to combat with the shafts of affliction。 I have an humble confidence
in the mercy of him who died to save the world； and trust that my
sufferings in this state of mortality； joined to my unfeigned repentance；
through his mercy； have blotted my offences from the sight of my
offended maker。 I have but one caremy poor infant！ Father of mercy；〃
continued she； raising her eyes； 〃of thy infinite goodness； grant that the
sins of the parent be not visited on the unof…fending child。 May those who
taught me to despise thy laws be forgiven； lay not my offences to their
charge； I beseech thee； and oh！ shower the choicest of thy blessings on
those whose pity has soothed the afflicted heart； and made easy even the
bed of pain and sickness。〃
She was exhausted by this fervent address to the throne of mercy； and
though her lips still moved her voice became inarticulate： she lay for some
time as it were in a doze； and then recovering； faintly pressed Mrs。
Beauchamp's hand； and requested that a clergyman might be sent for。
On his arrival she joined fervently in the pious office； frequently
mentioning her ingratitude to her parents as what lay most heavy at her
heart。 When she had performed the last solemn duty； and was preparing to
