charlotte temple-第3节
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nvenient 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 the truly brave soul is tremblingly alive to the feelings of humanity。〃 〃True；〃 replied the old man； （something like satisfaction darting across his features） 〃and painful as these feelings are； I would not exchange them for that torpor which the stoic mistakes for philosophy。 How many exquisite delights should I have passed by unnoticed； but for these keen sensations； this quick sense of happiness or misery？ Then let us； my friend； take the cup of life as it is presented to us； tempered by the hand of a wise Providence； be thankful for the good； be patient under the evil； and presume not to enquire why the latter predominates。〃 〃This is true philosophy；〃 said Temple。 〃'Tis the only way to reconcile ourselves to the cross events of life；〃 replied he。 〃But I forget myself。 I will not longer intrude on your patience； but proceed in my melancholy tale。 〃The very evening that I was taken to prison； my son arrived from Ireland； where he had been some time with his regiment。 From the distracted expressions of his mother and sister； he learnt by whom I had been arrested； and； late as it was； flew on the wings of wounded affection； to the house of his false friend； and earnestly enquired the cause of this cruel conduct。 With all the calmness of a cool deliberate villain； he avowed his passion for Lucy； declared her situation in life would not permit him to marry her； but offered to release me immediately； and make any settlement on her； if George would persuade her to live； as he impiously termed it； a life of honour。 〃Fired at the insult offered to a man and a soldier； my boy struck the villain； and a challenge ensued。 He then went to a coffee…house in the neighbourhood and wrote a long affectionate letter to me； blaming himself severely for having introduced Lewis into the family； or permitted him to confer an obligation； which had brought inevitable ruin on us all。 He begged me； whatever might be the event of the ensuing morning； not to suffer regret or unavailing sorrow for his fate； to encrease the anguish of my heart； which he greatly feared was already insupportable。 〃This letter was delivered to me early in the morning。 It would be vain to attempt describing my feelings on the perusal of it； suffice it to say； that a merciful Providence interposed； and I was for three weeks insensible to miseries almost beyond the strength of human nature to support。 〃A fever and strong delirium seized me； and my life was despaired of。 At length； nature； overpowered with fatigue； gave way to the salutary power of rest； and a quiet slumber of some hours restored me to reason； though the extreme weakness of my frame prevented my feeling my distress so acutely as I otherways should。 〃The first object that struck me on awaking； was Lucy sitting by my bedside； her pale countenance and sable dress prevented my enquiries for poor George： for the letter I had received from him； was the first thing that occurred to my memory。 By degrees the rest returned： I recollected being arrested； but could no ways account for being in this apartment； whither they had conveyed me during my illness。 〃I was so weak as to be almost unable to speak。 I pressed Lucy's hand； and looked earnestly round the apartment in search of another dear object。 〃Where is your mother？〃 said I； faintly。 〃The poor girl could not answer： she shook her head in expressive silence； and throwing herself on the bed； folded her arms about me； and burst into tears。 〃What！ both gone？〃 said I。 〃Both；〃 she replied； endeavouring to restrain her emotions： 〃but they are happy； no doubt。〃 Here Mr。 Eldridge paused： the recollection of the scene was too painful to permit him to proceed。 CHAPTER IV。 CHANGE OF FORTUNE。 〃IT was some days；〃 continued Mr。 Eldridge； recovering himself； 〃before I could venture to enquire the particulars of what had happened during my illness： at length I assumed courage to ask my dear girl how long her mother and brother had been dead： she told me； that the morning after my arrest； George came home early to enquire after his mother's health； staid with them but a few minutes； seemed greatly agitated at parting； but gave them strict charge to keep up their spirits； and hope every thing would turn out for the best。 In about two hours after； as they were sitting at breakfast； and endeavouring to strike out some plan to attain my liberty； they heard a loud rap at the door； which Lucy running to open； she met the bleeding body of her brother； borne in by two men who had lifted him from a litter； on which they had brought him from the place where he fought。 Her poor mother； weakened by illness and the struggles of the preceding night； was not able to support this shock； gasping for breath； her looks wild and haggard； she reached the apartment where they had carried her dying son。 She knelt by the bed side； and taking his cold hand； 'my poor boy；' said she； 'I will not be parted from thee： husband！ son！ both at once lost。 Father of mercies； spare me！' She fell into a strong convulsion； and expired in about two hours。 In the mean time； a surgeon had dressed George's wounds； but they were in such a situation as to bar the smallest hopes of recovery。 He never was sensible from the time he was brought home； and died that evening in the arms of his sister。 〃Late as it was when this event took place； my affectionate Lucy insisted on coming to me。 'What must he feel；' said she； 'at our apparent neglect； and how shall I inform him of the afflictions with which it has pleased heaven to visit us？' 〃She left the care of the dear departed ones to some neighbours who had kindly come in to comfort and assist her； and on entering the house where I was confined； found me in the situation I have mentioned。 〃How she supported herself in these trying moments； I know not： heaven； no doubt； was with her； and her anxiety to preserve the life of one parent in some measure abated her affliction for the loss of the other。 〃My circumstances were greatly embarrassed； my acquaintance few； and those few utterly unable to assist me。 When my wife and son were committed to their kindred earth； my creditors seized my house and furniture； which not being sufficient to discharge all their demands； detainers were lodged against me。 No friend stepped forward to my relief； from the grave of her mother； my beloved Lucy followed an almost dying father to this melancholy place。 〃Here we have been nearly a year and a half。 My half…pay I have given up to satisfy my creditors； and my child supports me by her industry： sometimes by fine needlework； sometimes by painting。 She leaves me every night； and goes to a lodging near the bridge； but returns in the morning； to chear me with her smiles； and bless me by her duteous affection。 A lady once offered her an asylum in her family； but she would not leave me。 'We are all the world to each other；' said she。 'I thank God； I have health and spirits to improve the talents with which nature has endowed me； and I trust if I employ them in the support of a beloved parent； I shall not be thought an unprofitable servant。 While he lives； I pray for strength to pursue my employment； and when it pleases heaven to take one of us； may it give the survivor resignation to bear the separation as we ought： till then I will never leave him。' 〃 〃But where is this inhuman persecutor？〃 said Temple。 〃He has been abroad ever since；〃 replied the old man； 〃but he
