charlotte temple-第12章
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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 raise the poor penitent； and whisper peace and comfort to her desponding soul？ would she but return； with rapture would I fold her to my heart； and bury every remembrance of her faults in the dear embrace。〃 But still day after day passed on； and Charlotte did not appear； nor were any tidings to be heard of her： yet each rising morning was welcomed by some new hopethe evening brought with it disappointment。 At length hope was no more； despair usurped her place； and the mansion which was once the mansion of peace； became the habitation of pale； dejected melancholy。 The chearful smile that was wont to adorn the face of Mrs。 Temple was fled； and had it not been for the support of unaffected piety； and a consciousness of having ever set before her child the fairest example； she must have sunk under this heavy affliction。 〃Since；〃 said she； 〃the severest scrutiny cannot charge me with any breach of duty to have deserved this severe chastisement； I will bow before the power who inflicts it with humble resignation to his will； nor shall the duty of a wife be totally absorbed in the feelings of the mother； I will endeavour to appear more chearful； and by appearing in some measure to have conquered my own sorrow； alleviate the sufferings of my husband； and rouse him from that torpor into which this misfortune has plunged him。 My father too demands my care and attention： I must not； by a selfish indulgence of my own grief； forget the interest those two dear objects take in my happiness or misery： I will wear a smile on my face； though the thorn rankles in my heart； and if by so doing； I in the smallest degree contribute to restore their peace of mind； I shall be amply rewarded for the pain the concealment of my own feelings may occasion。 Thus argued this excellent woman： and in the execution of so laudable a resolution we shall leave her； to follow the fortunes of the hapless victim of imprudence and evil counsellors。 CHAPTER XVI。 NECESSARY DIGRESSION。 ON board of the ship in which Charlotte and Mademoiselle were embarked； was an officer of large unincumbered fortune and elevated rank； and whom I shall call Crayton。 He was one of those men； who； having travelled in their youth； pretend to have contracted a peculiar fondness for every thing foreign； and to hold in contempt the productions of their own country； and this affected partiality extended even to the women。 With him therefore the blushing modesty and unaffected simplicity of Charlotte passed unnoticed； but the forward pertness of La Rue； the freedom of her conversation； the elegance of her person； mixed with a certain engaging JE NE SAIS QUOI； perfectly enchanted him。 The reader no doubt has already developed the character of La Rue： designing； artful； and selfish； she had accepted the devoirs of Belcour because she was heartily weary of the retired life she led at the school； wished to be released from what she deemed a slavery； and to return to that vortex of folly and dissipation which had once plunged her into the deepest misery； but her plan she flattered herself was now better formed： she resolved to put herself under the protection of no man till she had first secured a settlement； but the clandestine manner in which she left Madame Du Pont's prevented her putting this plan in execution； though Belcour solemnly protested he would make her a handsome settlement the moment they arrived at Portsmouth。 This he afterwards contrived to evade by a pretended hurry of business； La Rue readily conceiving he never meant to fulfil his promise； determined to change her battery； and attack the heart of Colonel Crayton。 She soon discovered the partiality he entertained for her nation； and having imposed on him a feigned tale of distress； representing Belcour as a villain who had seduced her from her friends under promise of marriage； and afterwards betrayed her； pretending great remorse for the errors she had committed； and declaring whatever her affection for Belcour might have been； it was now entirely extinguished； and she wished for nothing more than an opportunity to leave a course of life which her soul abhorred； but she had no friends to apply to； they had all renounced her； and guilt and misery would undoubtedly be her future portion through life。 Crayton was possessed of many amiable qualities； though the peculiar trait in his character； which we have already mentioned； in a great measure threw a shade over them。 He was beloved for his humanity and benevolence by all who knew him； but he was easy and unsuspicious himself； and became a dupe to the artifice of others。 He was； when very young； united to an amiable Parisian lady； and perhaps it was his affection for her that laid the foundation for the partiality he ever retained for the whole nation。 He had by her one daughter； who entered into the world but a few hours before her mother left it。 This lady was universally beloved and admired； being endowed with all the virtues of her mother； without the weakness of the father： she was married to Major Beauchamp； and was at this t
