charlotte temple-第21节
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ccumulated woes that pour in upon me； but oh！ my dear Madam； for the love of heaven suffer me not to expire in the street； and when I am at peace； as soon I shall be； extend your compassion to my helpless offspring； should it please heaven that it should survive its unhappy mother。 A gleam of joy breaks in on my benighted soul while I reflect that you cannot； will not refuse your protection to the heart…broken。 CHARLOTTE。〃 When Charlotte had finished this letter； late as it was in the afternoon； and though the snow began to fall very fast； she tied up a few necessaries which she had prepared against her expected confinement； and terrified lest she should be again exposed to the insults of her barbarous landlady； more dreadful to her wounded spirit than either storm or darkness； she set forward for New…York。 It may be asked by those； who； in a work of this kind； love to cavil at every trifling omission； whether Charlotte did not possess any valuable of which she could have disposed； and by that means have supported herself till Mrs。 Beauchamp's return； when she would have been certain of receiving every tender attention which compassion and friendship could dictate： but let me entreat these wise； penetrating gentlemen to reflect； that when Charlotte left England； it was in such haste that there was no time to purchase any thing more than what was wanted for immediate use on the voyage； and after her arrival at New…York； Montraville's affection soon began to decline； so that her whole wardrobe consisted of only necessaries； and as to baubles； with which fond lovers often load their mistresses； she possessed not one； except a plain gold locket of small value； which contained a lock of her mother's hair； and which the greatest extremity of want could not have forced her to part with。 I hope； Sir； your prejudices are now removed in regard to the probability of my story？ Oh they are。 Well then； with your leave； I will proceed。 The distance from the house which our suffering heroine occupied； to New…York； was not very great； yet the snow fen so fast； and the cold so intense； that； being unable from her situation to walk quick； she found herself almost sinking with cold and fatigue before she reached the town； her garments； which were merely suitable to the summer season； being an undress robe of plain white muslin； were wet through； and a thin black cloak and bonnet； very improper habiliments for such a climate； but poorly defended her from the cold。 In this situation she reached the city； and enquired of a foot soldier whom she met； the way to Colonel Crayton's。 〃Bless you； my sweet lady；〃 said the soldier with a voice and look of compassion； 〃I will shew you the way with all my heart； but if you are going to make a petition to Madam Crayton it is all to no purpose I assure you： if you please I will conduct you to Mr。 Franklin's； though Miss Julia is married and gone now； yet the old gentleman is very good。 〃 〃Julia Franklin；〃 said Charlotte； 〃is she not married to Montraville？〃 〃Yes；〃 replied the soldier； 〃and may God bless them； for a better officer never lived； he is so good to us all； and as to Miss Julia； all the poor folk almost worshipped her。〃 〃Gracious heaven；〃 cried Charlotte； 〃is Montraville unjust then to none but me。 〃 The soldier now shewed her Colonel Crayton's door； and； with a beating heart； she knocked for admission。 CHAPTER XXXI。 SUBJECT CONTINUED。 WHEN the door was opened； Charlotte； in a voice rendered scarcely articulate； through cold and the extreme agitation of her mind； demanded whether Mrs。 Crayton was at home。 The servant hesitated： he knew that his lady was engaged at a game of picquet with her dear Corydon； nor could he think she would like to be disturbed by a person whose appearance spoke her of so little consequence as Charlotte； yet there was something in her countenance that rather interested him in her favour； and he said his lady was engaged； but if she had any particular message he would deliver it。 〃Take up this letter；〃 said Charlotte： 〃tell her the unhappy writer of it waits in her hall for an answer。〃 The tremulous accent； the tearful eye； must have moved any heart not composed of adamant。 The man took the letter from the poor suppliant； and hastily ascended the stair case。 〃A letter； Madam；〃 said he； presenting it to his lady： 〃an immediate answer is required。 〃 Mrs。 Crayton glanced her eye carelessly over the contents。 〃What stuff is this；〃 cried she haughtily； 〃have not I told you a thousand times that I will not be plagued with beggars； and petitions from people one knows nothing about？ Go tell the woman I can't do any thing in it。 I'm sorry； but one can't relieve every body。〃 The servant bowed； and heavily returned with this chilling message to Charlotte。 〃Surely；〃 said she； 〃Mrs。 Crayton has not read my letter。 Go； my good friend； pray go back to her； tell her it is Charlotte Temple who requests beneath her hospitable roof to find shelter from the inclemency of the season。〃 〃Prithee； don't plague me； man；〃 cried Mrs。 Crayton impatiently； as the servant advanced something in behalf of the unhappy girl。 〃I tell you I don't know her。〃 〃Not know me；〃 cried Charlotte； rushing into the room； （for she had followed the man up stairs） 〃not know me； not remember the ruined Charlotte Temple； who； but for you； perhaps might still have been innocent； still have been happy。 Oh！ La Rue； this is beyond every thing I could have believed possible。〃 〃Upon my honour； Miss；〃 replied the unfeeling woman with the utmost effrontery； 〃this is a most unaccountable address： it is beyond my comprehension。 John；〃 continued she； turning to the servant； 〃the young woman is certainly out of her senses： do pray take her away； she terrifies me to death。 〃 〃Oh God；〃 cried Charlotte； clasping her hands in an agony； 〃this is too much； what will become of me？ but I will not leave you； they shall not tear me from you； here on my knees I conjure you to save me from perishing in the streets； if you really have forgot me； oh for charity's sweet sake this night let me be sheltered from the winter's piercing cold。〃 The kneeling figure of Charlotte in her affecting situation might have moved the heart of a stoic to compassion； but Mrs。 Crayton remained inflexible。 In vain did Charlotte recount the time they had known each other at Chichester； in vain mention their being in the same ship； in vain were the names of Montraville and Belcour mentioned。 Mrs。 Crayton could only say she was sorry for her imprudence； but could not think of having her own reputation endangered by encouraging a woman of that kind in her own house； besides she did not know what trouble and expense she might bring upon her husband by giving shelter to a woman in her situation。 〃I can at least die here；〃 said Charlotte； 〃I feel I cannot long survive this dreadful conflict。 Father of mercy； here let me finish my existence。〃 Her agonizing sensations overpowered her； and she fell senseless on the floor。 〃Take her away；〃 said Mrs。 Crayton； 〃she will really frighten me into hysterics； take her away I say this instant。〃 〃And where must I take the poor creature？〃 said the servant with a voice and look of compassion。 〃Any where；〃 cried she hastily； 〃only don't let me ever see her again。 I declare she has flurried me so I shan't be myself again this fortnight。〃 John； assisted by his fellow…servant； raised and carried her down stairs。 〃Poor soul；〃 said he； 〃you shall not lay in the street this night。 I have a bed and a poor little hovel； where my wife and her little ones rest them； but they shall watch to night； and you shall be sheltered from danger。〃 They placed her in a chair； and the benevolent man； assisted by one of his comrades； carried her to the place where his wife and children lived。 A surgeon was sent for： he bled her； she gave signs of returning life； and before the dawn gave birth to a female infant。 After this event she lay for some hours in a kind of stupor； and if at any time she spoke； it was with a quickness and incoherence that plainly evinced the total deprivation of her reason。 CHAPTER XXXII。 REASONS WHY AND WHEREFORE。 THE reader of sensibility may perhaps be astonished to find Mrs。 Crayton could so positively deny any knowledge of Charlotte； it is therefore but just that her conduct should in some measure be accounted for。 She had ever been fully sensible of the superiority of Charlotte's sense and virtue； she was conscious that she had never swerved from rectitude； had it not been for her bad precepts and worse example。 These were things as yet unknown to her husband； and she wished not to have that part of her conduct exposed to him； as she had great reason to fear she had already lost considerable part of that power she once maintained over him。 She 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 unguarded nature of Charlotte might discover to the Colonel the part she
