charlotte temple-第19章
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o New…York。 His first business was to seek Montraville； and endeavour to convince him that what had happened would ultimately tend to his happiness： he found him in his apartment； solitary； pensive； and wrapped in disagreeable reflexions。 〃Why how now； whining； pining lover？〃 said he； clapping him on the shoulder。 Montraville started； a momentary flush of resentment crossed his cheek； but instantly gave place to a death…like paleness； occasioned by painful remembrance remembrance awakened by that monitor； whom； though we may in vain endeavour； we can never entirely silence。 〃Belcour；〃 said he； 〃you have injured me in a tender point。〃 〃Prithee； Jack；〃 replied Belcour； 〃do not make a serious matter of it： how could I refuse the girl's advances？ and thank heaven she is not your wife。〃 〃True；〃 said Montraville； 〃but she was innocent when I first knew her。 It was I seduced her； Belcour。 Had it not been for me； she had still been virtuous and happy in the affection and protection of her family。〃 〃Pshaw；〃 replied Belcour； laughing； 〃if you had not taken advantage of her easy nature； some other would； and where is the difference； pray？〃 〃I wish I had never seen her；〃 cried he passionately； and starting from his seat。 〃Oh that cursed French woman；〃 added he with vehemence； 〃had it not been for her； I might have been happy〃 He paused。 〃With Julia Franklin；〃 said Belcour。 The name； like a sudden spark of electric fire； seemed for a moment to suspend his faculties for a moment he was transfixed； but recovering； he caught Belcour's hand； and cried'Stop！ stop！ I beseech you； name not the lovely Julia and the wretched Montraville in the same breath。 I am a seducer； a mean； ungenerous seducer of unsuspecting innocence。 I dare not hope that purity like her's would stoop to unite itself with black； premeditated guilt： yet by heavens I swear； Belcour； I thought I loved the lost； abandoned Charlotte till I saw Julia I thought I never could forsake her； but the heart is deceitful； and I now can plainly discriminate between the impulse of a youthful passion； and the pure flame of disinterested affection。〃 At that instant Julia Franklin passed the window； leaning on her uncle's arm。 She curtseyed as she passed； and； with the bewitching smile of modest chearfulness； cried〃Do you bury yourselves in the house this fine evening； gents？〃 There was something in the voice！ the manner！ the look！ that was altogether irresistible。 〃Perhaps she wishes my company；〃 said Montraville mentally； as he snatched up his hat： 〃if I thought she loved me； I would confess my errors； and trust to her generosity to pity and pardon me。〃 He soon overtook her； and offering her his arm； they sauntered to pleasant but unfrequented walks。 Belcour drew Mr。 Franklin on one side and entered into a political discourse： they walked faster than the young people； and Belcour by some means contrived entirely to lose sight of them。 It was a fine evening in the beginning of autumn； the last remains of day…light faintly streaked the western sky； while the moon； with pale and virgin lustre in the room of gorgeous gold and purple； ornamented the canopy of heaven with silver； fleecy clouds； which now and then half hid her lovely face； and； by partly concealing； heightened every beauty； the zephyrs whispered softly through the trees； which now began to shed their leafy honours； a solemn silence reigned： and to a happy mind an evening such as this would give serenity； and calm； unruffled pleasure； but to Montraville； while it soothed the turbulence of his passions； it brought increase of melancholy reflections。 Julia was leaning on his arm： he took her hand in his； and pressing it tenderly； sighed deeply； but continued silent。 Julia was embarrassed； she wished to break a silence so unaccountable； but was unable； she loved Montraville； she saw he was unhappy； and wished to know the cause of his uneasiness； but that innate modesty； which nature has implanted in the female breast； prevented her enquiring。 〃I am bad company； Miss Franklin；〃 said he； at last recollecting himself； 〃but I have met with something to…day that has greatly distressed me； and I cannot shake off the disagreeable impression it has made on my mind。 〃 〃I am sorry；〃 she replied； 〃that you have any cause of inquietude。 I am sure if you were as happy as you deserve； and as all your friends wish you〃 She hesitated。 〃And might l；〃 replied he with some animation； 〃presume to rank the amiable Julia in that number？〃 〃Certainly；〃 said she； 〃the service you have rendered me； the knowledge of your worth； all combine to make me esteem you。〃 〃Esteem； my lovely Julia；〃 said he passionately； 〃is but a poor cold word。 I would if I dared； if I thought I merited your attentionbut no； I must nothonour forbids。 I am beneath your notice； Julia； I am miserable and cannot hope to be otherwise。〃 〃Alas！〃 said Julia； 〃I pity you。〃 〃Oh thou condescending charmer；〃 said he； 'how that sweet word chears my sad heart。 Indeed if you knew all； you would pity； but at the same time I fear you would despise me。〃 Just then they were again joined by Mr。 Franklin and Belcour。 It had interrupted an interesting discourse。 They found it impossible to converse on indifferent subjects； and proceeded home in silence。 At Mr。 Franklin's door Montraville again pressed Julia's hand； and faintly articulating 'good night；〃 retired to his lodgings dispirited and wretched； from a consciousness that he deserved not the affection； with which he plainly saw he was honoured。 CHAPTER XXV。 RECEPTION OF A LETTER。 〃AND where now is our poor Charlotte？〃 said Mr。 Temple one evening； as the cold blasts of autumn whistled rudely over the heath； and the yellow appearance of the distant wood； spoke the near approach of winter。 In vain the chearful fire blazed on the hearth； in vain was he surrounded by all the comforts of life； the parent was still alive in his heart； and when he thought that perhaps his once darling child was ere this exposed to all the miseries of want in a distant land； without a friend to sooth and comfort her； without the benignant look of compassion to chear； or the angelic voice of pity to pour the balm of consolation on her wounded heart； when he thought of this； his whole soul dissolved in tenderness； and while he wiped the tear of anguish from the eye of his patient； uncomplaining Lucy； he struggled to suppress the sympathizing drop that started in his own。 〃Oh； my poor girl；〃 said Mrs。 Temple； 〃how must she be altered； else surely she would have relieved our agonizing minds by one line to say she livedto say she had not quite forgot the parents who almost idolized her。〃 〃Gracious heaven；〃 said Mr。 Temple； starting from his seat； l；who would wish to be a father； to experience the agonizing pangs inflicted on a parent's heart by the ingratitude of a child？〃 Mrs。 Temple wept： her father took her hand； he would have said； 〃be comforted my child；〃 but the words died on his tongue。 The sad silence that ensued was interrupted by a loud rap at the door。 In a moment a servant entered with a letter in his hand。 Mrs。 Temple took it from him： she cast her eyes upon the superscription； she knew the writing。 〃'Tis Charlotte；〃 said she； eagerly breaking the seal； 〃she has not quite forgot us。〃 But before she had half gone through the contents； a sudden sickness seized her； she grew cold and giddy； and puffing it into her husband's hand； she cried〃Read it： I cannot。〃 Mr。 Temple attempted to read it aloud； but frequently paused to give vent to his tears。 〃My poor deluded child；〃 said he； when he had finished。 〃Oh； shall we not forgive the dear penitent？〃 said Mrs。 Temple。 〃We must； we will； my love； she is willing to return； and 'tis our duty to receive her。〃 〃Father of mercy；〃 said Mr。 Eldridge； raising his clasped hands； 〃let me but live once more to see the dear wanderer restored to her afflicted parents； and take me from this world of sorrow whenever it seemeth best to thy wisdom。〃 〃Yes； we will receive her；〃 said Mr。 Temple； 〃we will endeavour to heal her wounded spirit； and speak peace and comfort to her agitated soul。 I will write to her to return immediately。' 〃Oh！〃 said Mrs。 Temple； 〃I would if possible fly to
