charlotte temple-第13章

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ise　was　opened：　　Charlotte　was　not　there。　〃Where　is　my　child？〃　cried　Mrs。　Temple；　in　breathless　agitation。　Mr。　Eldridge　could　not　answer：　　he　took　hold　of　his　daughter's　hand　and　led　her　into　the　house；　and　sinking　on　the　first　chair　he　came　to；　burst　into　tears；　and　sobbed　aloud。　〃She　is　dead；〃　cried　Mrs。　Temple。　　〃Oh　my　dear　Charlotte！〃　and　clasping　her　hands　in　an　agony　of　distress；　fell　into　strong　hysterics。　Mr。　Temple；　who　had　stood　speechless　with　surprize　and　fear；　now　ventured　to　enquire　if　indeed　his　Charlotte　was　no　more。　Mr。　Eldridge　led　him　into　another　apartment；　and　putting　the　fatal　note　into　his　hand；　cried〃Bear　it　like　a　Christian；〃　and　turned　from　him；　endeavouring　to　suppress　his　own　too　visible　emotions。　It　would　be　vain　to　attempt　describing　what　Mr。　Temple　felt　whilst　he　hastily　ran　over　the　dreadful　lines：　when　he　had　finished；　the　paper　dropt　from　his　unnerved　hand。　〃Gracious　heaven！〃　said　he；　〃could　Charlotte　act　thus？〃　Neither　tear　nor　sigh　escaped　him；　and　he　sat　the　image　of　mute　sorrow；　till　roused　from　his　stupor　by　the　repeated　shrieks　of　Mrs。　Temple。　He　rose　hastily；　and　rushing　into　the　apartment　where　she　was；　folded　his　arms　about　her；　and　saying〃Let　us　be　patient；　my　dear　Lucy；〃　nature　relieved　his　almost　bursting　heart　by　a　friendly　gush　of　tears。　Should　any　one；　presuming　on　his　own　philosophic　temper；　look　with　an　eye　of　contempt　on　the　man　who　could　indulge　a　woman's　weakness；　let　him　remember　that　man　was　a　father；　and　he　will　then　pity　the　misery　which　wrung　those　drops　from　a　noble；　generous　heart。　Mrs。　Temple　beginning　to　be　a　little　more　composed；　but　still　imagining　her　child　was　dead；　her　husband；　gently　taking　her　hand；　cried〃You　are　mistaken；　my　love。　　Charlotte　is　not　dead。　　〃　〃Then　she　is　very　ill；　else　why　did　she　not　come？　　But　I　will　go　to　her：　the　chaise　is　still　at　the　door：　　let　me　go　instantly　to　the　dear　girl。　If　I　was　ill；　she　would　fly　to　attend　me；　to　alleviate　my　sufferings；　and　chear　me　with　her　love。〃　〃Be　calm；　my　dearest　Lucy；　and　I　will　tell　you　all；〃　said　Mr。　Temple。　〃You　must　not　go；　indeed　you　must　not；　it　will　be　of　no　use。〃　〃Temple；〃　said　she；　assuming　a　look　of　firmness　and　composure；　〃tell　me　the　truth　I　beseech　you。　　I　cannot　bear　this　dreadful　suspense。　What　misfortune　has　befallen　my　child？　　Let　me　know　the　worst；　and　I　will　endeavour　to　bear　it　as　I　ought。　　〃　〃Lucy；〃　replied　Mr。　Temple；　〃imagine　your　daughter　alive；　and　in　no　danger　of　death：　　what　misfortune　would　you　then　dread？〃　〃There　is　one　misfortune　which　is　worse　than　death。　　But　I　know　my　child　too　well　to　suspect〃　〃Be　not　too　confident；　Lucy。〃　〃Oh　heavens！〃　said　she；　〃what　horrid　images　do　you　start：　is　it　possible　she　should　forget〃　〃She　has　forgot　us　all；　my　love；　she　has　preferred　the　love　of　a　stranger　to　the　affectionate　protection　of　her　friends。　〃Not　eloped？〃　cried　she　eagerly。　Mr。　Temple　was　silent。　〃You　cannot　contradict　it；〃　said　she。　　〃I　see　my　fate　in　those　tearful　eyes。　　Oh　Charlotte！　　Charlotte！　how　ill　have　you　requited　our　tenderness！　　But；　Father　of　Mercies；〃　continued　she；　sinking　on　her　knees；　and　raising　her　streaming　eyes　and　clasped　hands　to　heaven；　〃this　once　vouchsafe　to　hear　a　fond；　a　distracted　mother's　prayer。　Oh　let　thy　bounteous　Providence　watch　over　and　protect　the　dear　thoughtless　girl；　save　her　from　the　miseries　which　I　fear　will　be　her　portion；　and　oh！　of　thine　infinite　mercy；　make　her　not　a　mother；　lest　she　should　one　day　feel　what　I　now　suffer。〃　The　last　words　faultered　on　her　tongue；　and　she　fell　fainting　into　the　arms　of　her　husband；　who　had　involuntarily　dropped　on　his　knees　beside　her。　A　mother's　anguish；　when　disappointed　in　her　tenderest　hopes；　none　but　a　mother　can　conceive。　　Yet；　my　dear　young　readers；　I　would　have　you　read　this　scene　with　attention；　and　reflect　that　you　may　yourselves　one　day　be　mothers。　　Oh　my　friends；　as　you　value　your　eternal　happiness；　wound　not；　by　thoughtless　ingratitude；　the　peace　of　the　mother　who　bore　you：　　remember　the　tenderness；　the　care；　the　unremitting　anxiety　with　which　she　has　attended　to　all　your　wants　and　wishes　from　earliest　infancy　to　the　present　day；　behold　the　mild　ray　of　affectionate　applause　that　beams　from　her　eye　on　the　performance　of　your　duty：　　listen　to　her　reproofs　with　silent　attention；　they　proceed　from　a　heart　anxious　for　your　future　felicity：　you　must　love　her；　nature；　all…powerful　nature；　has　planted　the　seeds　of　filial　affection　in　your　bosoms。　Then　once　more　read　over　the　sorrows　of　poor　Mrs。　Temple；　and　remember；　the　mother　whom　you　so　dearly　love　and　venerate　will　feel　the　same；　when　you；　forgetful　of　the　respect　due　to　your　maker　and　yourself；　forsake　the　paths　of　virtue　for　those　of　vice　and　folly。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　XV。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　EMBARKATION。　IT　was　with　the　utmost　difficulty　that　the　united　efforts　of　Mademoiselle　and　Montraville　could　support　Charlotte's　spirits　during　their　short　ride　from　Chichester　to　Portsmouth；　where　a　boat　waited　to　take　them　immediately　on　board　the　ship　in　which　they　were　to　embark　for　America。　As　soon　as　she　became　tolerably　composed；　she　entreated　pen　and　ink　to　write　to　her　parents。　　This　she　did　in　the　most　affecting；　artless　manner；　entreating　their　pardon　and　blessing；　and　describing　the　dreadful　situation　of　her　mind；　the　conflict　she　suffered　in　endeavouring　to　conquer　this　unfortunate　attachment；　and　concluded　with　saying；　her　only　hope　of　future　comfort　consisted　in　the　（perhaps　delusive）　idea　she　indulged；　of　being　once　more　folded　in　their　protecting　arms；　and　hearing　the　words　of　peace　and　pardon　from　their　lips。　The　tears　streamed　incessantly　while　she　was　writing；　and　she　was　frequently　obliged　to　lay　down　her　pen：　　but　when　the　task　was　completed；　and　she　had　committed　the　letter　to　the　care　of　Montraville　to　be　sent　to　the　post　office；　she　became　more　calm；　and　indulging　the　delightful　hope　of　soon　receiving　an　answer　that　would　seal　her　pardon；　she　in　some　measure　assumed　her　usual　chearfulness。　But　Montraville　knew　too　well　the　consequences　that　must　unavoidably　ensue；　should　this　letter　reach　Mr。　Temple：　he　therefore　wisely　resolved　to　walk　on　the　deck；　tear　it　in　pieces；　and　commit　the　fragments　to　the　care　of　Neptune；　who　might　or　might　not；　as　it　suited　his　convenience；　convey　them　on　shore。　All　Charlotte's　hopes　and　wishes　were　now　concentred　in　one；　namely　that　the　fleet　might　be　detained　at　Spithead　till　she　could　receive　a　letter　from　her　friends：　　but　in　this　she　was　disappointed；　for　the　second　morning　after　she　went　on　board；　the　signal　was　made；　the　fleet　weighed　anchor；　and　in　a　few　hours　（the　wind　being　favourable）　they　bid　adieu　to　the　white　cliffs　of　Al…bion。　In　the　mean　time　every　enquiry　that　could　be　thought　of　was　made　by　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Temple；　for　many　days　did　they　indulge　the　fond　hope　that　she　was　merely　gone　off　to　be　married；　and　that　when　the　indissoluble　knot　was　once　tied；　she　would　return　with　the　partner　she　had　chosen；　and　entreat　their　blessing　and　forgiveness。　〃And　shall　we　not　forgive　her？〃　said　Mr。　Temple。　〃Forgive　her！〃　exclaimed　the　mother。　　〃Oh　yes；　whatever　be　our　errors；　is　she　not　our　child？　and　though　bowed　to　the　earth　even　with　shame　and　remorse；　is　it　not　our　duty　to　ra