charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第4章
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good action。
Temple was a young man； his feelings warm and impetuous；
unacquainted with the world； his heart had not been rendered callous by
being convinced of its fraud and hypocrisy。 He pitied their sufferings；
overlooked their faults； thought every bosom as generous as his own； and
would chearfully have divided his last guinea with an unfortunate fellow
creature。
No wonder； then； that such a man （without waiting a moment for the
interference of Madam Prudence） should resolve to raise money sufficient
for the relief of Eldridge； by mortgaging part of his fortune。
We will not enquire too minutely into the cause which might actuate
him in this instance： suffice it to say； he immediately put the plan in
execution； and in three days from the time he first saw the unfortunate
Lieutenant； he had the superlative felicity of seeing him at liberty； and
receiving an ample reward in the tearful eye and half articulated thanks of
the grateful Lucy。
〃And pray； young man；〃 said his father to him one morning； 〃what are
your designs in visiting thus constantly that old man and his daughter？〃
Temple was at a loss for a reply： he had never asked himself the
question： he hesitated； and his father continued
〃It was not till within these few days that I heard in what manner your
acquaintance first commenced； and cannot suppose any thing but
attachment to the daughter could carry you such imprudent lengths for the
father： it certainly must be her art that drew you in to mortgage part of
your fortune。〃
〃Art； Sir！〃 cried Temple eagerly。 〃Lucy Eldridge is as free from art as
she is from every other error： she is〃
〃Everything that is amiable and lovely；〃 said his father； interrupting
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him ironically： 〃no doubt in your opinion she is a pattern of excellence for
all her sex to follow； but come； Sir； pray tell me what are your designs
towards this paragon。 I hope you do not intend to complete your folly by
marrying her。〃
〃Were my fortune such as would support her according to her merit； I
don't know a woman more formed to insure happiness in the married
state。〃
〃Then prithee； my dear lad；〃 said his father； 〃since your rank and
fortune are so much beneath what your PRINCESS might expect； be so
kind as to turn your eyes on Miss Weatherby； who； having only an estate
of three thousand a year； is more upon a level with you； and whose father
yesterday solicited the mighty honour of your alliance。 I shall leave you to
consider on this offer； and pray remember； that your union with Miss
Weatherby will put it in your power to be more liberally the friend of Lucy
Eldridge。 〃
The old gentleman walked in a stately manner out of the room； and
Temple stood almost petrified with astonishment； contempt； and rage。
CHAPTER V。
SUCH THINGS ARE。
MISS Weatherby was the only child of a wealthy man； almost idolized
by her parents； flattered by her dependants； and never contradicted even
by those who called themselves her friends： I cannot give a better
description than by the following lines。
The lovely maid whose form and face Nature has deck'd with ev'ry
grace； But in whose breast no virtues glow； Whose heart ne'er felt
another's woe； Whose hand ne'er smooth'd the bed of pain； Or eas'd the
captive's galling chain； But like the tulip caught the eye； Born just to be
admir'd and die； When gone； no one regrets its loss； Or scarce remembers
that it was。
Such was Miss Weatherby： her form lovely as nature could make it；
but her mind uncultivated； her heart unfeeling； her passions impetuous；
and her brain almost turned with flattery； dissipation； and pleasure； and
such was the girl； whom a partial grandfather left independent mistress of
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the fortune before mentioned。
She had seen Temple frequently； and fancying she could never be
happy without him； nor once imagining he could refuse a girl of her
beauty and fortune； she prevailed on her fond father to offer the alliance to
the old Earl of D； Mr。 Temple's father。
The Earl had received the offer courteously： he thought it a great
match for Henry； and was too fashionable a man to suppose a wife could
be any impediment to the friendship he professed for Eldridge and his
daughter。
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
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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
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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
h
