charlotte temple-第29章

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；　but　the　arrival　of　the　doctor　put　an　end　to　these　delusive　hopes：　he　said　nature　was　making　her　last　effort；　and　a　few　hours　would　most　probably　consign　the　unhappy　girl　to　her　kindred　dust。　Being　asked　how　she　found　herself；　she　replied〃Why　better；　much　better；　doctor。　　I　hope　now　I　have　but　little　more　to　suffer。　I　had　last　night　a　few　hours　sleep；　and　when　I　awoke　recovered　the　full　power　of　recollection。　　I　am　quite　sensible　of　my　weakness；　I　feel　I　have　but　little　longer　to　combat　with　the　shafts　of　affliction。　I　have　an　humble　confidence　in　the　mercy　of　him　who　died　to　save　the　world；　and　trust　that　my　sufferings　in　this　state　of　mortality；　joined　to　my　unfeigned　repentance；　through　his　mercy；　have　blotted　my　offences　from　the　sight　of　my　offended　maker。　I　have　but　one　caremy　poor　infant！　　Father　of　mercy；〃　continued　she；　raising　her　eyes；　〃of　thy　infinite　goodness；　grant　that　the　sins　of　the　parent　be　not　visited　on　the　unof…fending　child。　May　those　who　taught　me　to　despise　thy　laws　be　forgiven；　lay　not　my　offences　to　their　charge；　I　beseech　thee；　and　oh！　shower　the　choicest　of　thy　blessings　on　those　whose　pity　has　soothed　the　afflicted　heart；　and　made　easy　even　the　bed　of　pain　and　sickness。〃　She　was　exhausted　by　this　fervent　address　to　the　throne　of　mercy；　and　though　her　lips　still　moved　her　voice　became　inarticulate：　she　lay　for　some　time　as　it　were　in　a　doze；　and　then　recovering；　faintly　pressed　Mrs。　Beauchamp's　hand；　and　requested　that　a　clergyman　might　be　sent　for。　On　his　arrival　she　joined　fervently　in　the　pious　office；　frequently　mentioning　her　ingratitude　to　her　parents　as　what　lay　most　heavy　at　her　heart。　　When　she　had　performed　the　last　solemn　duty；　and　was　preparing　to　lie　down；　a　little　bustle　on　the　outside　door　occasioned　Mrs。　Beauchamp　to　open　it；　and　enquire　the　cause。　A　man　in　appearance　about　forty；　presented　himself；　and　asked　for　Mrs。　Beauchamp。　〃That　is　my　name；　Sir；〃　said　she。　〃Oh　then；　my　dear　Madam；〃　cried　he；　〃tell　me　where　I　may　find　my　poor；　ruined；　but　repentant　child。〃　Mrs。　Beauchamp　was　surprised　and　affected；　she　knew　not　what　to　say；　she　foresaw　the　agony　this　interview　would　occasion　Mr。　Temple；　who　had　just　arrived　in　search　of　his　Charlotte；　and　yet　was　sensible　that　the　pardon　and　blessing　of　her　father　would　soften　even　the　agonies　of　death　to　the　daughter。　She　hesitated。　　〃Tell　me；　Madam；〃　cried　he　wildly；　〃tell　me；　I　beseech　thee；　does　she　live？　shall　I　see　my　darling　once　again？　Perhaps　she　is　in　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　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　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；