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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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                                      CHARLOTTE TEMPLE 



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 TEMPLE 



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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                                       CHARLOTTE TEMPLE 



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 

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