charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第7章
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before Mr。 Eldridge。
CHAPTER IX。
WE KNOW NOT WHAT A DAY MAY BRING FORTH。
VARIOUS were the sensations which agitated the mind of Charlotte；
during the day preceding the evening in which she was to meet
Montraville。 Several times did she almost resolve to go to her governess；
show her the letter； and be guided by her advice： but Charlotte had taken
one step in the ways of imprudence； and when that is once done； there are
always innumerable obstacles to prevent the erring person returning to the
path of rectitude： yet these obstacles； however forcible they may appear in
general； exist chiefly in imagination。
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Charlotte feared the anger of her governess： she loved her mother； and
the very idea of incurring her displeasure； gave her the greatest uneasiness：
but there was a more forcible reason still remaining： should she show the
letter to Madame Du Pont； she must confess the means by which it came
into her possession； and what would be the consequence？ Mademoiselle
would be turned out of doors。
〃I must not be ungrateful；〃 said she。 〃La Rue is very kind to me；
besides I can； when I see Montraville； inform him of the impropriety of
our continuing to see or correspond with each other； and request him to
come no more to Chichester。〃
However prudent Charlotte might be in these resolutions； she certainly
did not take a proper method to confirm herself in them。 Several times in
the course of the day； she indulged herself in reading over the letter； and
each time she read it； the contents sunk deeper in her heart。 As evening
drew near； she caught herself frequently consulting her watch。 〃I wish this
foolish meeting was over；〃 said she； by way of apology to her own heart；
〃I wish it was over； for when I have seen him； and convinced him my
resolution is not to be shaken； I shall feel my mind much easier。〃
The appointed hour arrived。 Charlotte and Mademoiselle eluded the
eye of vigilance； and Montraville； who had waited their coming with
impatience； received them with rapturous and unbounded
acknowledgments for their condescension： he had wisely brought Belcour
with him to entertain Mademoiselle； while he enjoyed an uninterrupted
conversation with Charlotte。
Belcour was a man whose character might be comprised in a few
words； and as he will make some figure in the ensuing pages； I shall here
describe him。 He possessed a genteel fortune； and had a liberal education；
dissipated； thoughtless； and capricious； he paid little regard to the moral
duties； and less to religious ones： eager in the pursuit of pleasure； he
minded not the miseries he inflicted on others； provided his own wishes；
however extravagant； were gratified。 Self； darling self； was the idol he
worshipped； and to that he would have sacrificed the interest and
happiness of all mankind。 Such was the friend of Montraville： will not the
reader be ready to imagine； that the man who could regard such a
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character； must be actuated by the same feelings； follow the same pursuits；
and be equally unworthy with the person to whom he thus gave his
confidence？
But Montraville was a different character： generous in his disposition；
liberal in his opinions； and good…natured almost to a fault； yet eager and
impetuous in the pursuit of a favorite object； he staid not to reflect on the
consequence which might follow the attainment of his wishes； with a mind
ever open to conviction； had he been so fortunate as to possess a friend
who would have pointed out the cruelty of endeavouring to gain the heart
of an innocent artless girl； when he knew it was utterly impossible for him
to marry her； and when the gratification of his passion would be
unavoidable infamy and misery to her； and a cause of never…ceasing
remorse to himself： had these dreadful consequences been placed before
him in a proper light； the humanity of his nature would have urged him to
give up the pursuit： but Belcour was not this friend； he rather encouraged
the growing passion of Montraville； and being pleased with the vivacity of
Mademoiselle； resolved to leave no argument untried； which he thought
might prevail on her to be the companion of their intended voyage； and he
made no doubt but her example； added to the rhetoric of Montraville；
would persuade Charlotte to go with them。
Charlotte had； when she went out to meet Montraville； flattered herself
that her resolution was not to be shaken； and that； conscious of the
impropriety of her conduct in having a clandestine intercourse with a
stranger； she would never repeat the indiscretion。
But alas！ poor Charlotte； she knew not the deceitfulness of her own
heart； or she would have avoided the trial of her stability。
Montraville was tender； eloquent； ardent； and yet respectful。 〃Shall I
not see you once more；〃 said he； 〃before I leave England？ will you not
bless me by an assurance； that when we are divided by a vast expanse of
sea I shall not be forgotten？〃
Charlotte sighed。
〃Why that sigh； my dear Charlotte？ could I flatter myself that a fear
for my safety； or a wish for my welfare occasioned it； how happy would it
make me。〃
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〃I shall ever wish you well； Montraville；〃 said she； 〃but we must meet
no more。〃 〃Oh say not so； my lovely girl： reflect； that when I leave my
native land； perhaps a few short weeks may terminate my existence； the
perils of the oceanthe dangers of war〃
〃I can hear no more；〃 said Charlotte in a tremulous voice。 〃I must
leave you。〃
〃Say you will see me once again。〃
〃I dare not；〃 said she。
〃Only for one half hour to…morrow evening： 'tis my last request。 I shall
never trouble you again； Charlotte。〃
〃I know not what to say；〃 cried Charlotte； struggling to draw her hands
from him： 〃let me leave you now。 〃
〃And you will come to…morrow；〃 said Montraville。
〃Perhaps I may；〃 said she。
〃Adieu then。 I will live upon that hope till we meet again。〃
He kissed her hand。 She sighed an adieu； and catching hold of
Mademoiselle's arm； hastily entered the garden gate。
CHAPTER X。
WHEN WE HAVE EXCITED CURIOSITY； IT IS BUT AN ACT
OF GOOD NATURE TO GRATIFY IT。
MONTRAVILLE was the youngest son of a gentleman of fortune；
whose family being numerous； he was obliged to bring up his sons to
genteel professions； by the exercise of which they might hope to raise
themselves into notice。
〃My daughters；〃 said he； 〃have been educated like gentlewomen； and
should I die before they are settled； they must have some provision made；
to place them above the snares and temptations which vice ever holds out
to the elegant； accomplished female； when oppressed by the frowns of
poverty and the sting of dependance： my boys； with only moderate
incomes； when placed in the church； at the bar； or in the field； may exert
their talents； make themselves friends； and raise their fortunes on the basis
of merit。〃
When Montraville chose the profession of arms； his father presented
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him with a commission； and made him a handsome provision for his
private purse。 〃Now； my boy；〃 said he； 'go！ seek glory in the field of battle。
You have received from me all I shall ever have it in my power to bestow：
it is certain I have interest to gain you promotion； but be assured that
interest shall never be exerted； unless by your future conduct you deserve
it。 Remember； therefore； your success in life depends entirely on yourself。
There is one thing I think it my duty to caution you against； the
precipitancy with which young men frequently rush into matrimonial
engagements； and by their thoughtlessness draw many a deserving woman
into scenes of poverty and distress。 A soldier has no business to think of a
wife till his rank is such as to place him above the fear of bringing into the
world a train of helpless innocents； heirs only to penury and affliction。 If；
indeed； a woman； whose fortune is sufficient to preserve you in that state
of independence I would teach you to prize； should generously bestow
herself on a young soldier； whose chief hope of future prosperity depended
on his success in the field if such a woman should offerevery barrier is
removed； and I should rejoice in an union which would promise so much
felicity。 But mark me； boy； if； on the contrary； you rush into a precipitate
union with a girl of little or no fortune； take the poor creature from a
comfortable home and kind friends； and plunge her into all the evils a
narrow income and increasing family can inflict； I will leave you to enjoy
the blessed fruits of your rashness； for by all that is sacred； neither my
interest or fortune shall ever be exerted in your favour。 I am serious；〃
continued he； 〃therefore imprint this conversation on your memory； and let
it influence your future conduct。 Your happiness will always be dear to me；
and I wish to warn you of a rock on which the peace of many an honest
fellow has been wrecked； for believe me； the difficulties and dangers of
the longest winter campaign are much easier to be borne； than the pangs
that would seize your heart； when you beheld the woman of your choice；
the children of your affection； involved in penury and distress； and
reflected that it was
