charlotte temple-第4章

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　cruel　conduct。　　With　all　the　calmness　of　a　cool　deliberate　villain；　he　avowed　his　passion　for　Lucy；　declared　her　situation　in　life　would　not　permit　him　to　marry　her；　but　offered　to　release　me　immediately；　and　make　any　settlement　on　her；　if　George　would　persuade　her　to　live；　as　he　impiously　termed　it；　a　life　of　honour。　〃Fired　at　the　insult　offered　to　a　man　and　a　soldier；　my　boy　struck　the　villain；　and　a　challenge　ensued。　　He　then　went　to　a　coffee…house　in　the　neighbourhood　and　wrote　a　long　affectionate　letter　to　me；　blaming　himself　severely　for　having　introduced　Lewis　into　the　family；　or　permitted　him　to　confer　an　obligation；　which　had　brought　inevitable　ruin　on　us　all。　　He　begged　me；　whatever　might　be　the　event　of　the　ensuing　morning；　not　to　suffer　regret　or　unavailing　sorrow　for　his　fate；　to　encrease　the　anguish　of　my　heart；　which　he　greatly　feared　was　already　insupportable。　〃This　letter　was　delivered　to　me　early　in　the　morning。　It　would　be　vain　to　attempt　describing　my　feelings　on　the　perusal　of　it；　suffice　it　to　say；　that　a　merciful　Providence　interposed；　and　I　was　for　three　weeks　insensible　to　miseries　almost　beyond　the　strength　of　human　nature　to　support。　〃A　fever　and　strong　delirium　seized　me；　and　my　life　was　despaired　of。　At　length；　nature；　overpowered　with　fatigue；　gave　way　to　the　salutary　power　of　rest；　and　a　quiet　slumber　of　some　hours　restored　me　to　reason；　though　the　extreme　weakness　of　my　frame　prevented　my　feeling　my　distress　so　acutely　as　I　otherways　should。　〃The　first　object　that　struck　me　on　awaking；　was　Lucy　sitting　by　my　bedside；　her　pale　countenance　and　sable　dress　prevented　my　enquiries　for　poor　George：　　for　the　letter　I　had　received　from　him；　was　the　first　thing　that　occurred　to　my　memory。　By　degrees　the　rest　returned：　　I　recollected　being　arrested；　but　could　no　ways　account　for　being　in　this　apartment；　whither　they　had　conveyed　me　during　my　illness。　〃I　was　so　weak　as　to　be　almost　unable　to　speak。　　I　pressed　Lucy's　hand；　and　looked　earnestly　round　the　apartment　in　search　of　another　dear　object。　〃Where　is　your　mother？〃　said　I；　faintly。　〃The　poor　girl　could　not　answer：　　she　shook　her　head　in　expressive　silence；　and　throwing　herself　on　the　bed；　folded　her　arms　about　me；　and　burst　into　tears。　〃What！　both　gone？〃　said　I。　〃Both；〃　she　replied；　endeavouring　to　restrain　her　emotions：　〃but　they　are　happy；　no　doubt。〃　Here　Mr。　Eldridge　paused：　　the　recollection　of　the　scene　was　too　painful　to　permit　him　to　proceed。　CHAPTER　IV。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHANGE　OF　FORTUNE。　〃IT　was　some　days；〃　continued　Mr。　Eldridge；　recovering　himself；　〃before　I　could　venture　to　enquire　the　particulars　of　what　had　happened　during　my　illness：　　at　length　I　assumed　courage　to　ask　my　dear　girl　how　long　her　mother　and　brother　had　been　dead：　she　told　me；　that　the　morning　after　my　arrest；　George　came　home　early　to　enquire　after　his　mother's　health；　staid　with　them　but　a　few　minutes；　seemed　greatly　agitated　at　parting；　but　gave　them　strict　charge　to　keep　up　their　spirits；　and　hope　every　thing　would　turn　out　for　the　best。　In　about　two　hours　after；　as　they　were　sitting　at　breakfast；　and　endeavouring　to　strike　out　some　plan　to　attain　my　liberty；　they　heard　a　loud　rap　at　the　door；　which　Lucy　running　to　open；　she　met　the　bleeding　body　of　her　brother；　borne　in　by　two　men　who　had　lifted　him　from　a　litter；　on　which　they　had　brought　him　from　the　place　where　he　fought。　　Her　poor　mother；　weakened　by　illness　and　the　struggles　of　the　preceding　night；　was　not　able　to　support　this　shock；　gasping　for　breath；　her　looks　wild　and　haggard；　she　reached　the　apartment　where　they　had　carried　her　dying　son。　She　knelt　by　the　bed　side；　and　taking　his　cold　hand；　'my　poor　boy；'　said　she；　'I　will　not　be　parted　from　thee：　husband！　son！　both　at　once　lost。　　Father　of　mercies；　spare　me！'　She　fell　into　a　strong　convulsion；　and　expired　in　about　two　hours。　In　the　mean　time；　a　surgeon　had　dressed　George's　wounds；　but　they　were　in　such　a　situation　as　to　bar　the　smallest　hopes　of　recovery。　He　never　was　sensible　from　the　time　he　was　brought　home；　and　died　that　evening　in　the　arms　of　his　sister。　〃Late　as　it　was　when　this　event　took　place；　my　affectionate　Lucy　insisted　on　coming　to　me。　　'What　must　he　feel；'　said　she；　'at　our　apparent　neglect；　and　how　shall　I　inform　him　of　the　afflictions　with　which　it　has　pleased　heaven　to　visit　us？'　〃She　left　the　care　of　the　dear　departed　ones　to　some　neighbours　who　had　kindly　come　in　to　comfort　and　assist　her；　and　on　entering　the　house　where　I　was　confined；　found　me　in　the　situation　I　have　mentioned。　〃How　she　supported　herself　in　these　trying　moments；　I　know　not：　heaven；　no　doubt；　was　with　her；　and　her　anxiety　to　preserve　the　life　of　one　parent　in　some　measure　abated　her　affliction　for　the　loss　of　the　other。　〃My　circumstances　were　greatly　embarrassed；　my　acquaintance　few；　and　those　few　utterly　unable　to　assist　me。　　When　my　wife　and　son　were　committed　to　their　kindred　earth；　my　creditors　seized　my　house　and　furniture；　which　not　being　sufficient　to　discharge　all　their　demands；　detainers　were　lodged　against　me。　　No　friend　stepped　forward　to　my　relief；　from　the　grave　of　her　mother；　my　beloved　Lucy　followed　an　almost　dying　father　to　this　melancholy　place。　〃Here　we　have　been　nearly　a　year　and　a　half。　　My　half…pay　I　have　given　up　to　satisfy　my　creditors；　and　my　child　supports　me　by　her　industry：　sometimes　by　fine　needlework；　sometimes　by　painting。　She　leaves　me　every　night；　and　goes　to　a　lodging　near　the　bridge；　but　returns　in　the　morning；　to　chear　me　with　her　smiles；　and　bless　me　by　her　duteous　affection。　　A　lady　once　offered　her　an　asylum　in　her　family；　but　she　would　not　leave　me。　'We　are　all　the　world　to　each　other；'　said　she。　　'I　thank　God；　I　have　health　and　spirits　to　improve　the　talents　with　which　nature　has　endowed　me；　and　I　trust　if　I　employ　them　in　the　support　of　a　beloved　parent；　I　shall　not　be　thought　an　unprofitable　servant。　While　he　lives；　I　pray　for　strength　to　pursue　my　employment；　and　when　it　pleases　heaven　to　take　one　of　us；　may　it　give　the　survivor　resignation　to　bear　the　separation　as　we　ought：　till　then　I　will　never　leave　him。'　　〃　〃But　where　is　this　inhuman　persecutor？〃　said　Temple。　〃He　has　been　abroad　ever　since；〃　replied　the　old　man；　〃but　he　has　left　orders　with　his　lawyer　never　to　give　up　the　note　till　the　utmost　farthing　is　paid。〃　〃And　how　much　is　the　amount　of　your　debts　in　all？〃　said　Temple。　〃Five　hundred　pounds；〃　he　replied。　Temple　started：　　it　was　more　than　he　expected。　　〃But　something　must　be　done；〃　said　he：　　〃that　sweet　maid　must　not　wear　out　her　life　in　a　prison。　　I　will　see　you　again　to…morrow；　my　friend；〃　said　he；　shaking　Eldridge's　hand：　　〃keep　up　your　spirits：　light　and　shade　are　not　more　happily　blended　than　are　the　pleasures　and　pains　of　life；　and　the　horrors　of　the　one　serve　only　to　increase　the　splendor　of　the　other。〃　〃You　never　lost　a　wife　and　son；〃　said　Eldridge。　〃No；〃　replied　he；　〃but　I　can　feel　for　those　that　have。〃　Eldridge　pressed　his　hand　as　they　went　toward　the　door；　and　they　parted　in　silence。　When　they　got　without　the　walls　of　the　prison；　Temple　thanked　his　friend　Blakeney　for　introducing　him　to　so　worthy　a　character；　and　telling　him　he　had　a　particular　engagement　in　the　city；　wished　him　a　good　evening。　〃And　what　is　to