charlotte temple-第12章

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　affection；　soothed　my　soul　to　peace；　and　this　dear　Charlotte　has　twined　herself　round　my　heart；　and　opened　such　new　scenes　of　delight　to　my　view；　that　I　almost　forget　I　have　ever　been　unhappy。〃　When　the　chaise　stopped；　he　alighted　with　the　alacrity　of　youth；　so　much　do　the　emotions　of　the　soul　influence　the　body。　It　was　half　past　eight　o'clock；　the　ladies　were　assembled　in　the　school　room；　and　Madame　Du　Pont　was　preparing　to　offer　the　morning　sacrifice　of　prayer　and　praise；　when　it　was　discovered；　that　Mademoiselle　and　Charlotte　were　missing。　〃She　is　busy；　no　doubt；〃　said　the　governess；　〃in　preparing　Charlotte　for　her　little　excursion；　but　pleasure　should　never　make　us　forget　our　duty　to　our　Creator。　　Go；　one　of　you；　and　bid　them　both　attend　prayers。　　〃　The　lady　who　went　to　summon　them；　soon　returned；　and　informed　the　governess；　that　the　room　was　locked；　and　that　she　had　knocked　repeatedly；　but　obtained　no　answer。　〃Good　heaven！〃　cried　Madame　Du　Pont；　〃this　is　very　strange：〃　and　turning　pale　with　terror；　she　went　hastily　to　the　door；　and　ordered　it　to　be　forced　open。　　The　apartment　instantly　discovered；　that　no　person　had　been　in　it　the　preceding　night；　the　beds　appearing　as　though　just　made。　　The　house　was　instantly　a　scene　of　confusion：　the　garden；　the　pleasure　grounds　were　searched　to　no　purpose；　every　apartment　rang　with　the　names　of　Miss　Temple　and　Mademoiselle；　but　they　were　too　distant　to　hear；　and　every　face　wore　the　marks　of　disappointment。　Mr。　Eldridge　was　sitting　in　the　parlour；　eagerly　expecting　his　grand…daughter　to　descend；　ready　equipped　for　her　journey：　he　heard　the　confusion　that　reigned　in　the　house；　he　heard　the　name　of　Charlotte　frequently　repeated。　　〃What　can　be　the　matter？〃　said　he；　rising　and　opening　the　door：　　〃I　fear　some　accident　has　befallen　my　dear　girl。〃　The　governess　entered。　　The　visible　agitation　of　her　countenance　discovered　that　something　extraordinary　had　happened。　〃Where　is　Charlotte？〃　said　he；　〃Why　does　not　my　child　come　to　welcome　her　doating　parent？〃　〃Be　composed；　my　dear　Sir；〃　said　Madame　Du　Pont；　〃do　not　frighten　yourself　unnecessarily。　　She　is　not　in　the　house　at　present；　but　as　Mademoiselle　is　undoubtedly　with　her；　she　will　speedily　return　in　safety；　and　I　hope　they　will　both　be　able　to　account　for　this　unseasonable　absence　in　such　a　manner　as　shall　remove　our　present　uneasiness。〃　〃Madam；〃　cried　the　old　man；　with　an　angry　look；　〃has　my　child　been　accustomed　to　go　out　without　leave；　with　no　other　company　or　protector　than　that　French　woman。　　Pardon　me；　Madam；　I　mean　no　reflections　on　your　country；　but　I　never　did　like　Mademoiselle　La　Rue；　I　think　she　was　a　very　improper　person　to　be　entrusted　with　the　care　of　such　a　girl　as　Charlotte　Temple；　or　to　be　suffered　to　take　her　from　under　your　immediate　protection。〃　〃You　wrong　me；　Mr。　Eldridge；〃　replied　she；　〃if　you　suppose　I　have　ever　permitted　your　grand…daughter　to　go　out　unless　with　the　other　ladies。　I　would　to　heaven　I　could　form　any　probable　conjecture　concerning　her　absence　this　morning；　but　it　is　a　mystery　which　her　return　can　alone　unravel。〃　　Servants　were　now　dispatched　to　every　place　where　there　was　the　least　hope　of　hearing　any　tidings　of　the　fugitives；　but　in　vain。　Dreadful　were　the　hours　of　horrid　suspense　which　Mr。　Eldridge　passed　till　twelve　o'clock；　when　that　suspense　was　reduced　to　a　shocking　certainty；　and　every　spark　of　hope　which　till　then　they　had　indulged；　was　in　a　moment　extinguished。　Mr。　Eldridge　was　preparing；　with　a　heavy　heart；　to　return　to　his　anxiously…expecting　children；　when　Madame　Du　Pont　received　the　following　note　without　either　name　or　date。　〃Miss　Temple　is　well；　and　wishes　to　relieve　the　anxiety　of　her　parents；　by　letting　them　know　she　has　voluntarily　put　herself　under　the　protection　of　a　man　whose　future　study　shall　be　to　make　her　happy。　Pursuit　is　needless；　the　measures　taken　to　avoid　discovery　are　too　effectual　to　be　eluded。　　When　she　thinks　her　friends　are　reconciled　to　this　precipitate　step；　they　may　perhaps　be　informed　of　her　place　of　residence。　　Mademoiselle　is　with　her。〃　As　Madame　Du　Pont　read　these　cruel　lines；　she　turned　pale　as　ashes；　her　limbs　trembled；　and　she　was　forced　to　call　for　a　glass　of　water。　She　loved　Charlotte　truly；　and　when　she　reflected　on　the　innocence　and　gentleness　of　her　disposition；　she　concluded　that　it　must　have　been　the　advice　and　machinations　of　La　Rue；　which　led　her　to　this　imprudent　action；　she　recollected　her　agitation　at　the　receipt　of　her　mother's　letter；　and　saw　in　it　the　conflict　of　her　mind。　〃Does　that　letter　relate　to　Charlotte？〃　said　Mr。　Eldridge；　having　waited　some　time　in　expectation　of　Madame　Du　Pont's　speaking。　〃It　does；〃　said　she。　　〃Charlotte　is　well；　but　cannot　return　today。〃　〃Not　return；　Madam？　where　is　she？　who　will　detain　her　from　her　fond；　expecting　parents？〃　〃You　distract　me　with　these　questions；　Mr。　Eldridge。　　Indeed　I　know　not　where　she　is；　or　who　has　seduced　her　from　her　duty。〃　The　whole　truth　now　rushed　at　once　upon　Mr。　Eldridge's　mind。　〃She　has　eloped　then；〃　said　he。　　〃My　child　is　betrayed；　the　darling；　the　comfort　of　my　aged　heart；　is　lost。　　Oh　would　to　heaven　I　had　died　but　yesterday。〃　A　violent　gush　of　grief　in　some　measure　relieved　him；　and；　after　several　vain　attempts；　he　at　length　assumed　sufficient　composure　to　read　the　note。　〃And　how　shall　I　return　to　my　children？〃　said　he：　　〃how　approach　that　mansion；　so　late　the　habitation　of　peace？　　Alas！　my　dear　Lucy；　how　will　you　support　these　heart…rending　tidings？　or　how　shall　I　be　enabled　to　console　you；　who　need　so　much　consolation　myself？〃　The　old　man　returned　to　the　chaise；　but　the　light　step　and　chearful　countenance　were　no　more；　sorrow　filled　his　heart；　and　guided　his　motions；　he　seated　himself　in　the　chaise；　his　venerable　head　reclined　upon　his　bosom；　his　hands　were　folded；　his　eye　fixed　on　vacancy；　and　the　large　drops　of　sorrow　rolled　silently　down　his　cheeks。　There　was　a　mixture　of　anguish　and　resignation　depicted　in　his　countenance；　as　if　he　would　say；　henceforth　who　shall　dare　to　boast　his　happiness；　or　even　in　idea　contemplate　his　treasure；　lest；　in　the　very　moment　his　heart　is　exulting　in　its　own　felicity；　the　object　which　constitutes　that　felicity　should　be　torn　from　him。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XIV。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MATERNAL　SORROW。　SLOW　and　heavy　passed　the　time　while　the　carriage　was　conveying　Mr。　Eldridge　home；　and　yet　when　he　came　in　sight　of　the　house；　he　wished　a　longer　reprieve　from　the　dreadful　task　of　informing　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Temple　of　their　daughter's　elopement。　It　is　easy　to　judge　the　anxiety　of　these　affectionate　parents；　when　they　found　the　return　of　their　father　delayed　so　much　beyond　the　expected　time。　　They　were　now　met　in　the　dining　parlour；　and　several　of　the　young　people　who　had　been　invited　were　already　arrived。　Each　different　part　of　the　company　was　employed　in　the　same　manner；　looking　out　at　the　windows　which　faced　the　road。　　At　length　the　long…expected　chaise　appeared。　　Mrs。　Temple　ran　out　to　receive　and　welcome　her　darling：　　her　young　companions　flocked　round　the　door；　each　one　eager　to　give　her　joy　on　the　return　of　her　birth…day。　The　door　of　the　chaise　was　opened：　　Charlotte　was　not　there。　〃Where　is　my　child？〃　cried　Mrs。　Temple；　in　breathless　agit