charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第28节
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this house。 Lead； lead me to her； that I may bless her； and then lie down
and die。〃
The ardent manner in which he uttered these words occasioned him to
raise his voice。 It caught the ear of Charlotte： she knew the beloved sound：
and uttering a loud shriek； she sprang forward as Mr。 Temple entered the
room。 〃My adored father。〃 〃My long lost child。〃 Nature could support no
more； and they both sunk lifeless into the arms of the attendants。
Charlotte was again put into bed； and a few moments restored Mr。
Temple： but to describe the agony of his sufferings is past the power of
any one； who； though they may readily conceive； cannot delineate the
dreadful scene。 Every eye gave testimony of what each heart felt but all
were silent。
When Charlotte recovered； she found herself supported in her father's
arms。 She cast on him a most expressive look； but was unable to speak。 A
reviving cordial was administered。 She then asked in a low voice； for her
child： it was brought to her： she put it in her father's arms。 〃Protect her；〃
said she； 〃and bless your dying〃
Unable to finish the sentence； she sunk back on her pillow： her
countenance was serenely composed； she regarded her father as he pressed
the infant to his breast with a steadfast look； a sudden beam of joy passed
across her languid features； she raised her eyes to heavenand then closed
them for ever。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
RETRIBUTION。
IN the mean time Montraville having received orders to return to New…
York； arrived； and having still some remains of compassionate tenderness
for the woman whom he regarded as brought to shame by himself； he went
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out in search of Belcour； to enquire whether she was safe； and whether the
child lived。 He found him immersed in dissipation； and could gain no
other intelligence than that Charlotte had left him； and that he knew not
what was become of her。
〃I cannot believe it possible；〃 said Montraville； 〃that a mind once so
pure as Charlotte Temple's； should so suddenly become the mansion of
vice。 Beware； Belcour；〃 continued he； 〃beware if you have dared to
behave either unjust or dishonourably to that poor girl； your life shall pay
the forfeit：I will revenge her cause。〃
He immediately went into the country； to the house where he had left
Charlotte。 It was desolate。 After much enquiry he at length found the
servant girl who had lived with her。 From her he learnt the misery
Charlotte had endured from the complicated evils of illness； poverty； and a
broken heart； and that she had set out on foot for New…York； on a cold
winter's evening； but she could inform him no further。
Tortured almost to madness by this shocking account； he returned to
the city； but； before he reached it； the evening was drawing to a close。 In
entering the town he was obliged to pass several little huts； the residence
of poor women who supported themselves by washing the cloaths of the
officers and soldiers。 It was nearly dark： he heard from a neighbouring
steeple a solemn toll that seemed to say some poor mortal was going to
their last mansion： the sound struck on the heart of Montraville； and he
involuntarily stopped； when； from one of the houses； he saw the
appearance of a funeral。 Almost unknowing what he did； he followed at a
small distance； and as they let the coffin into the grave； he enquired of a
soldier who stood by； and had just brushed off a tear that did honour to his
heart； who it was that was just buried。 〃An please your honour；〃 said the
man； 〃 'tis a poor girl that was brought from her friends by a cruel man；
who left her when she was big with child； and married another。〃
Montraville stood motionless； and the man proceeded〃I met her myself
not a fortnight since one night all wet and cold in the streets； she went to
Madam Crayton's； but she would not take her in； and so the poor thing
went raving mad。〃 Montraville could bear no more； he struck his hands
against his forehead with violence； and exclaiming 〃poor murdered
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Charlotte！〃 ran with precipitation towards the place where they were
heaping the earth on her remains。 〃Hold； hold； one moment；〃 said he。
〃Close not the grave of the injured Charlotte Temple till I have taken
vengeance on her murderer。〃
〃Rash young man；〃 said Mr。 Temple；〃 〃who art thou that thus
disturbest the last mournful rites of the dead； and rudely breakest in upon
the grief of an afflicted father。〃
〃If thou art the father of Charlotte Temple；〃 said he； gazing at him with
mingled horror and amazement〃if thou art her fatherI am Montraville。〃
Then falling on his knees； he continued〃Here is my bosom。 I bare it to
receive the stroke I merit。 Strikestrike now； and save me from the misery
of reflexion。〃
〃Alas！〃 said Mr。 Temple； 〃if thou wert the seducer of my child； thy
own reflexions be thy punishment。 I wrest not the power from the hand of
omnipotence。 Look on that little heap of earth； there hast thou buried the
only joy of a fond father。 Look at it often； and may thy heart feel such true
sorrow as shall merit the mercy of heaven。〃 He turned from him； and
Montraville starting up from the ground； where he had thrown himself；
and at that instant remembering the perfidy of Belcour； flew like lightning
to his lodgings。 Belcour was intoxicated； Montraville impetuous： they
fought； and the sword of the latter entered the heart of his adversary。 He
fell； and expired almost instantly。 Montraville had received a slight wound；
and overcome with the agitation of his mind and loss of blood； was carried
in a state of insensibility to his distracted wife。 A dangerous illness and
obstinate delirium ensued； during which he raved incessantly for Charlotte：
but a strong constitution； and the tender assiduities of Julia； in time
overcame the disorder。 He recovered； but to the end of his life was subject
to severe fits of melancholy； and while he remained at New…York
frequently retired to the church…yard； where he would weep over the grave；
and regret the untimely fate of the lovely Charlotte Temple。
CHAPTER XXXV。
CONCLUSION。
SHORTLY after the interment of his daughter； Mr。 Temple； with his
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dear little charge and her nurse； set forward for England。 It would be
impossible to do justice to the meeting scene between him； his Lucy； and
her aged father。 Every heart of sensibility can easily conceive their
feelings。 After the first tumult of grief was subsided； Mrs。 Temple gave up
the chief of her time to her grand…child； and as she grew up and improved；
began to almost fancy she again possessed her Charlotte。
It was about ten years after these painful events； that Mr。 and Mrs。
Temple； having buried their father； were obliged to come to London on
particular business； and brought the little Lucy with them。 They had been
walking one evening； when on their return they found a poor wretch
sitting on the steps of the door。 She attempted to rise as they approached；
but from extreme weakness was unable； and after several fruitless efforts
fell back in a fit。 Mr。 Temple was not one of those men who stand to
consider whether by assisting an object in distress they shall not
inconvenience themselves； but instigated by the impulse of a noble feeling
heart； immediately ordered her to be carried into the house； and proper
restoratives applied。
She soon recovered； and fixing her eyes on Mrs。 Temple； cried〃You
know not； Madam； what you do； you know not whom you are relieving； or
you would
