charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第26节
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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
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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。
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〃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
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unguarded nature of Charlotte might discover to the Colonel the part she
had taken in the unhappy girl's elopement； and she well knew the contrast
between her own and Charlotte's conduct would make the former appear
in no very respectable light。 Had she reflected properly； she would have
afforded the poor girl protection； and by enjoining her silence； ensured it
by acts of repeated kindness； but vice in general blinds its votaries； and
they discover their real characters to the world when they are most
studious to preserve appearances。
Just so it happened with Mrs。 Crayton： her servants made no scruple of
mentioning the cruel conduct of their lady to a poor distressed lunatic who
claimed her protection； every one joined in reprobating her inhumanity；
nay even Corydon thought she might at least have ordered her to be taken
care of； but he dare not even hint it to her； for he lived but in her smiles；
and drew from her lavish fondness large sums to support an extravagance
to which the state of his own finances was very inadequate； it cannot
therefore be supposed that he wished Mrs。 Crayton to be very liberal in her
bounty to the afflicted suppliant； yet vice had not so entirely seared over
his heart； but the sorrows of Charlotte could find a vulnerable part。
Charlotte had now been three days with her humane preservers； but
she was totally insensible of every thing： she raved incessantly for
Montraville and her father： she was not conscious of being a mother； nor
took the least notice of her child except to ask whose it was； and why it
was not carried to its parents。
〃Oh；〃 said she one day； starting up on hearing the infant cry； 〃why；
why will you keep that child here； I am sure you would not if you knew
how hard it was for a mother to be parted from her infant： it is like tearing
the cords of life asunder。 Oh could you see the horrid sight which I now
beholdthere there stands my dear mother； her poor bosom bleeding at
every vein； her gentle； affectionate heart torn in a thousand pieces； and all
for the loss of a ruined； ungrateful child。 Save me save mefrom her
frown。 I dare notindeed I dare not speak to her。〃
Such were the dreadful images that haunted her distracted mind； and
