charlotte temple-第22章
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mpanies。 What then is the moral you would inculcate？ Would you wish us to think that a deviation from virtue； if covered by art and hypocrisy； is not an object of detestation； but on the contrary shall raise us to fame and honour？ while the hapless girl who falls a victim to her too great sensibility； shall be loaded with ignominy and shame？〃 No； my fair querist； I mean no such thing。 Remember the endeavours of the wicked are often suffered to prosper； that in the end their fall may be attended with more bitterness of heart； while the cup of affliction is poured out for wise and salutary ends； and they who are compelled to drain it even to the bitter dregs； often find comfort at the bottom； the tear of penitence blots their offences from the book of fate； and they rise from the heavy； painful trial； purified and fit for a mansion in the kingdom of eternity。 Yes； my young friends； the tear of compassion shall fall for the fate of Charlotte； while the name of La Rue shall be detested and despised。 For Charlotte； the soul melts with sympathy； for La Rue； it feels nothing but horror and contempt。 But perhaps your gay hearts would rather follow the fortunate Mrs。 Crayton through the scenes of pleasure and dissipation in which she was engaged； than listen to the complaints and miseries of Charlotte。 I will for once oblige you； I will for once follow her to midnight revels； balls； and scenes of gaiety； for in such was she constantly engaged。 I have said her person was lovely； let us add that she was surrounded by splendor and affluence； and he must know but little of the world who can wonder； （however faulty such a woman's conduct；） at her being followed by the men； and her company courted by the women： in short Mrs。 Crayton was the universal favourite： she set the fashions； she was toasted by all the gentlemen； and copied by all the ladies。 Colonel Crayton was a domestic man。 Could he be happy with such a woman？ impossible！ Remonstrance was vain： he might as well have preached to the winds； as endeavour to persuade her from any action； however ridiculous； on which she had set her mind： in short； after a little ineffectual struggle； he gave up the attempt； and left her to follow the bent of her own inclinations： what those were； I think the reader must have seen enough of her character to form a just idea。 Among the number who paid their devotions at her shrine； she singled one； a young Ensign of mean birth； indifferent education； and weak intellects。 How such a man came into the army； we hardly know to account for； and how he afterwards rose to posts of honour is likewise strange and wonderful。 But fortune is blind； and so are those too frequently who have the power of dispensing her favours： else why do we see fools and knaves at the very top of the wheel； while patient merit sinks to the extreme of the opposite abyss。 But we may form a thousand conjectures on this subject； and yet never hit on the right。 Let us therefore endeavour to deserve her smiles； and whether we succeed or not； we shall feel more innate satisfaction； than thousands of those who bask in the sunshine of her favour unworthily。 But to return to Mrs。 Crayton： this young man； whom I shall distinguish by the name of Corydon； was the reigning favourite of her heart。 He escorted her to the play； danced with her at every ball； and when indisposition prevented her going out； it was he alone who was permitted to chear the gloomy solitude to which she was obliged to confine herself。 Did she ever think of poor Charlotte？ if she did； my dear Miss； it was only to laugh at the poor girl's want of spirit in consenting to be moped up in the country； while Montraville was enjoying all the pleasures of a gay； dissipated city。 When she heard of his marriage； she smiling said； so there's an end of Madam Charlotte's hopes。 I wonder who will take her now； or what will become of the little affected prude？ But as you have lead to the subject； I think we may as well return to the distressed Charlotte； and not； like the unfeeling Mrs。 Crayton； shut our hearts to the call of humanity。 CHAPTER XXIX。 WE GO FORWARD AGAIN。 THE strength of Charlotte's constitution combatted against her disorder； and she began slowly to recover； though she still laboured under a violent depression of spirits： how must that depression be encreased； when； upon examining her little store； she found herself reduced to one solitary guinea； and that during her illness the attendance of an apothecary and nurse； together with many other unavoidable expences； had involved her in debt； from which she saw no method of extricating herself。 As to the faint hope which she had entertained of hearing from and being relieved by her parents； it now entirely forsook her； for it was above four months since her letter was dispatched； and she had received no answer： she therefore imagined that her conduct had either entirely alienated their affection from her； or broken their hearts； and she must never more hope to receive their blessing。 Never did any human being wish for death with greater fervency or with juster cause； yet she had too just a sense of the duties of the Christian religion to attempt to put a period to her own existence。 〃I have but to be patient a little longer；〃 she would cry； 〃and nature； fatigued and fainting； will throw off this heavy load of mortality； and I shall be released from all my sufferings。 〃 It was one cold stormy day in the latter end of December； as Charlotte sat by a handful of fire； the low state of her finances not allowing her to replenish her stock of fuel； and prudence teaching her to be careful of what she had； when she was surprised by the entrance of a farmer's wife； who； without much ceremony； seated herself； and began this curious harangue。 〃I'm come to see if as how you can pay your rent； because as how we hear Captain Montable is gone away； and it's fifty to one if he b'ant killed afore he comes back again； an then； Miss； or Ma'am； or whatever you may be； as I was saying to my husband； where are we to look for our money。 〃 This was a stroke altogether unexpected by Charlotte： she knew so little of the ways of the world that she had never bestowed a thought on the payment for the rent of the house； she knew indeed that she owed a good deal； but this was never reckoned among the others： she was thunder…struck； she hardly knew what answer to make； yet it was absolutely necessary that she should say something； and judging of the gentleness of every female disposition by her own； she thought the best way to interest the woman in her favour would be to tell her candidly to what a situation she was reduced； and how little probability there was of her ever paying any body。 Alas poor Charlotte； how confined was her knowledge of human nature； or she would have been convinced that the only way to insure the friendship and assistance of your surrounding acquaintance is to convince them you do not require it； for when once the petrifying aspect of distress and penury appear； whose qualities； like Medusa's head； can change to stone all that look upon it； when once this Gorgon claims acquaintance with us； the phantom of friendship； that before courted our notice； will vanish into unsubstantial air； and the whole world before us appear a barren waste。 Pardon me； ye dear spirits of benevolence； whose benign smiles and chearful…giving hand have strewed sweet flowers on many a thorny path through which my wayward fate forced me to pass； think not； that； in condemning the unfeeling texture of the human heart； I forget the spring from whence flow an the comforts I enjoy： oh no！ I look up to you as to bright constellations； gathering new splendours from the surrounding darkness； but ah！ whilst I adore the benignant rays that cheared and illumined my heart； I mourn that their influence cannot extend to all the sons and daughters of affliction。 〃Indeed； Madam；〃 said poor Charlotte in a tremulous accent； 〃I am at a loss what to do。 Montraville placed me here； and promised to defray all my expenses： but he has forgot his promise； he has forsaken me； and I have no friend who has either power or will to relieve me。 Let me hope； as you see my unhapp
