charlotte temple-第8节
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ink 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 your own folly and precipitancy had been the prime cause of their sufferings。 〃 As this conversation passed but a few hours before Montraville took leave of his father； it was deeply impressed on his mind： when； therefore； Belcour came with him to the place of assignation with Charlotte； he directed him to enquire of the French woman what were Miss Temple's expectations in regard to fortune。 Mademoiselle informed him； that though Charlotte's father possessed a genteel independence； it was by no means probable that he could give his daughter more than a thousand pounds； and in case she did not marry to his liking； it was possible he might not give her a single SOUS； nor did it appear the least likely； that Mr。 Temple would agree to her union with a young man on the point of embarking for the feat of war。 Montraville therefore concluded it was impossible he should ever marry Charlotte Temple； and what end he proposed to himself by continuing the acquaintance he had commenced with her； he did not at that moment give himself time to enquire。 CHAPTER XI。 CONFLICT OF LOVE AND DUTY。 ALMOST a week was now gone； and Charlotte continued every evening to meet Montraville； and in her heart every meeting was resolved to be the last； but alas！ when Montraville at parting would earnestly intreat one more interview； that treacherous heart betrayed her； and； forgetful of its resolution； pleaded the cause of the enemy so powerfully； that Charlotte was unable to resist。 Another and another meeting succeeded； and so well did Montraville improve each opportunity； that the heedless girl at length confessed no idea could be so painful to her as that of never seeing him again。 〃Then we will never be parted；〃 said he。 〃Ah； Montraville；〃 replied Charlotte； forcing a smile； 〃how can it be avoided？ My parents would never consent to our union； and even could they be brought to approve it； how should I bear to be separated from my kind； my beloved mother？〃 〃Then you love your parents more than you do me； Charlotte？〃 〃I hope I do；〃 said she； blushing and looking down； 〃I hope my affection for them will ever keep me from infringing the laws of filial duty。〃 〃Well； Charlotte；〃 said Montraville gravely； and letting go her hand； 〃since that is the case； I find I have deceived myself with fallacious hopes。 I had flattered my fond heart； that I was dearer to Charlotte than any thing in the world beside。 I thought that you would for my sake have braved the dangers of the ocean； that you would； by your affection and smiles； have softened the hardships of war； and； had it been my fate to fall； that your tenderness would chear the hour of death； and smooth my passage to another world。 But farewel； Charlotte！ I see you never loved me。 I shall now welcome the friendly ball that deprives me of the sense of my misery。〃 〃Oh stay； unkind Montraville；〃 cried she； catching hold of his arm； as he pretended to leave her； 〃stay； and to calm your fears； I will here protest that was it not for the fear of giving pain to the best of parents； and returning their kindness with ingratitude； I would follow you through every danger； and； in studying to promote your happiness； insure my own。 But I cannot break my mother's heart； Montraville； I must not bring the grey hairs of my doating grand…father with sorrow to the grave； or make my beloved father perhaps curse the hour that gave me birth。〃 She covered her face with her hands； and burst into tears。 〃All these distressing scenes； my dear Charlotte；〃 cried Montraville； 〃are merely the chimeras of a disturbed fancy。 Your parents might perhaps grieve at first； but when they heard from your own hand that you was with a man of honour； and that it was to insure your felicity by an union with him； to which you feared they would never have given their assent； that you left their protection； they will； be assured； forgive an error which love alone occasioned； and when we return from America； receive you with open arms and tears of joy。〃 Belcour and Mademoiselle heard this last speech； and conceiving it a proper time to throw in their advice and persuasions； approached Charlotte； and so well seconded the entreaties of Montraville； that finding Mademoiselle intended going with Belcour； and feeling her own treacherous heart too much inclined to accompany them； the hapless Charlotte； in an evil hour； consented that the next evening they should bring a chaise to the end of the town； and that she would leave her friends； and throw herself entirely on the protection of Montraville。 〃But should you；〃 said she； looking earnestly at him； her eyes full of tears； 〃should you； forgetful of your promises； and repenting the engagements you here voluntarily enter into； forsake and leave me on a foreign shore〃 〃Judge not so meanly of me；〃 said he。 〃The moment we reach our place of destination； Hymen shall sanctify our love； and when I shall forget your goodness； may heaven forget me。〃 〃Ah；〃 said Charlotte； leaning on Mademoiselle's arm as they walked up the garden together； 〃I have forgot all that I ought to have remembered； in consenting to this intended elopement。〃 〃You are a strange girl；〃 said Mademoiselle： 〃you never know your own mind two minutes at a time。 just now you declared Montraville's happiness was what you prized most in the world； and now I suppose you repent having insured that happiness by agreeing to accompany him abroad。〃 〃Indeed I do repent；〃 replied Charlotte； 〃from my soul： but while discretion points out the impropriety of my conduct； inclination urges me on to ruin。〃 〃Ruin！ fiddlestick！〃 said Mademoiselle； 〃am I not going with you？ and do I feel any of these qualms？〃 〃You do not renounce a tender father and mother；〃 said Charlotte。 〃But I hazard my dear reputation；〃 replied Mademoiselle； bridling。 〃True；〃 replied Charlotte； 〃but you do not feel what I do。〃 She then bade her good night： but sleep was a stranger to her eyes； and the tear of anguish watered her pillow。 CHAPTER XII。 Nature's last； best gift： Creature in whom excell'd； whatever could To sight or thought be nam'd！ Holy； divine！ good； amiable； and sweet！ How thou art fall'n！ WHEN Charlotte left her restless bed； her languid eye and pale cheek discovered to Madame Du Pont the little repose she had tasted。 〃My dear child；〃 said the affectionate governess； 〃what is the cause of the languor so apparent in your frame？ Are you not well？〃 〃Yes； my dear Madam； very well；〃 replied Charlotte； attempting to smile； 〃but I know not how it was； I could not sleep last night； and my spirits are depressed this morning。〃 〃Come chear up； my love；〃 said the governess； 〃I believe I have brought a cordial to revive them。 I have just received a letter from your good mama； and here is one for yourself。〃 Charlotte hastily took the letter： it contained these words 〃As to…morrow is the anniversary of the happy day that gave my beloved girl to the anxious wishes of a maternal heart； I have requested your governess to let you come home and spend it with us； and as I know you to be a good affectionate child； and make it your study to improve in those branches of education which you know will give most pleasure to your delighted parents； as a reward for your diligence and attention I have prepared an agreeable surprise for your reception。 Your grand…father； eager to embrace the darling of his aged heart； will come in the chaise for you； so hold yourself in readiness to attend him by nine o'clock。 Your dear father joins in every tender wish for your health and future felicity； which warms the heart of my dear Charlotte's affectionate mother； L。 TEMPLE。〃
