charlotte temple-第6章
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ntraville。 Any reader who has the least knowledge of the world； will easily imagine the letter was made up of encomiums on her beauty； and vows of everlasting love and constancy； nor will he be surprised that a heart open to every gentle； generous sentiment； should feel itself warmed by gratitude for a man who professed to feel so much for her； nor is it improbable but her mind might revert to the agreeable person and martial appearance of Montraville。 In affairs of love； a young heart is never in more danger than when attempted by a handsome young soldier。 A man of an indifferent appearance； will； when arrayed in a military habit； shew to advantage； but when beauty of person； elegance of manner； and an easy method of paying compliments； are united to the scarlet coat； smart cockade； and military sash； ah！ well…a…day for the poor girl who gazes on him： she is in imminent danger； but if she listens to him with pleasure； 'tis all over with her； and from that moment she has neither eyes nor ears for any other object。 Now； my dear sober matron； （if a sober matron should deign to turn over these pages； before she trusts them to the eye of a darling daughter；） let me intreat you not to put on a grave face； and throw down the book in a passion and declare 'tis enough to turn the heads of half the girls in England； I do solemnly protest； my dear madam； I mean no more by what I have here advanced； than to ridicule those romantic girls； who foolishly imagine a red coat and silver epaulet constitute the fine gentleman； and should that fine gentleman make half a dozen fine speeches to them； they will imagine themselves so much in love as to fancy it a meritorious action to jump out of a two pair of stairs window； abandon their friends； and trust entirely to the honour of a man； who perhaps hardly knows the meaning of the word； and if he does； will be too much the modern man of refinement； to practice it in their favour。 Gracious heaven！ when I think on the miseries that must rend the heart of a doating parent； when he sees the darling of his age at first seduced from his protection； and afterwards abandoned； by the very wretch whose promises of love decoyed her from the paternal roof when he sees her poor and wretched； her bosom tom between remorse for her crime and love for her vile betrayerwhen fancy paints to me the good old man stooping to raise the weeping penitent； while every tear from her eye is numbered by drops from his bleeding heart； my bosom glows with honest indignation； and I wish for power to extirpate those monsters of seduction from the earth。 Oh my dear girlsfor to such only am I writinglisten not to the voice of love； unless sanctioned by paternal approbation： be assured； it is now past the days of romance： no woman can be run away with contrary to her own inclination： then kneel down each morning； and request kind heaven to keep you free from temptation； or； should it please to suffer you to be tried； pray for fortitude to resist the impulse of inclination when it runs counter to the precepts of religion and virtue。 CHAPTER VII。 NATURAL SENSE OF PROPRIETY INHERENT IN THE FEMALE BOSOM。 〃I CANNOT think we have done exactly right in going out this evening； Mademoiselle；〃 said Charlotte； seating herself when she entered her apartment： 〃nay； I am sure it was not right； for I expected to be very happy； but was sadly disappointed。〃 〃It was your own fault； then；〃 replied Mademoiselle： 〃for I am sure my cousin omitted nothing that could serve to render the evening agreeable。〃 〃True；〃 said Charlotte： 〃but I thought the gentlemen were very free in their manner： I wonder you would suffer them to behave as they did。〃 〃Prithee； don't be such a foolish little prude；〃 said the artful woman； affecting anger： 〃I invited you to go in hopes it would divert you； and be an agreeable change of scene； however； if your delicacy was hurt by the behaviour of the gentlemen； you need not go again； so there let it rest。 〃 〃I do not intend to go again；〃 said Charlotte； gravely taking off her bonnet； and beginning to prepare for bed： 〃I am sure； if Madame Du Pont knew we had been out to…night； she would be very angry； and it is ten to one but she hears of it by some means or other。〃 〃Nay； Miss；〃 said La Rue； 〃perhaps your mighty sense of propriety may lead you to tell her yourself： and in order to avoid the censure you would incur； should she hear of it by accident； throw the blame on me： but I confess I deserve it： it will be a very kind return for that partiality which led me to prefer you before any of the rest of the ladies； but perhaps it will give you pleasure；〃 continued she； letting fall some hypocritical tears； 〃to see me deprived of bread； and for an action which by the most rigid could only be esteemed an inadvertency； lose my place and character； and be driven again into the world； where I have already suffered all the evils attendant on poverty。 〃 This was touching Charlotte in the most vulnerable part： she rose from her seat； and taking Mademoiselle's hand〃You know； my dear La Rue；〃 said she； 〃I love you too well； to do anything that would injure you in my governess's opinion： I am only sorry we went out this evening。〃 〃I don't believe it； Charlotte；〃 said she； assuming a little vivacity； 〃for if you had not gone out； you would not have seen the gentleman who met us crossing the field； and I rather think you were pleased with his conversation。〃 〃I had seen him once before；〃 replied Charlotte； 〃and thought him an agreeable man； and you know one is always pleased to see a person with whom one has passed several chearful hours。 〃But；〃 said she pausing； and drawing the letter from her pocket； while a gentle suffusion of vermillion tinged her neck and face； 〃he gave me this letter； what shall I do with it？〃 〃Read it； to be sure；〃 returned Mademoiselle。 〃I am afraid I ought not；〃 said Charlotte： 〃my mother has often told me； I should never read a letter given me by a young man； without first giving it to her。 〃 〃Lord bless you； my dear girl；〃 cried the teacher smiling； 〃have you a mind to be in leading strings all your life time。 Prithee open the letter； read it； and judge for yourself； if you show it your mother； the consequence will be； you will be taken from school； and a strict guard kept over you； so you will stand no chance of ever seeing the smart young officer again。〃 〃I should not like to leave school yet；〃 replied Charlotte； 〃till I have attained a greater proficiency in my Italian and music。 But you can； if you please； Mademoiselle； take the letter back to Montraville； and tell him I wish him well； but cannot； with any propriety； enter into a clandestine correspondence with him。〃 She laid the letter on the table； and began to undress herself。 〃Well；〃 said La Rue； 〃I vow you are an unaccountable girl： have you no curiosity to see the inside now？ for my part I could no more let a letter addressed to me lie unopened so long； than I could work miracles： he writes a good hand；〃 continued she； turning the letter； to look at the superscription。 〃'Tis well enough；〃 said Charlotte； drawing it towards her。 〃He is a genteel young fellow；〃 said La Rue carelessly； folding up her apron at the same time； 〃but I think he is marked with the small pox。〃 〃Oh you are greatly mistaken；〃 said Charlotte eagerly； 〃he has a remarkable clear skin and fine complexion。〃 〃His eyes； if I could judge by what I saw；〃 said La Rue； 〃are grey and want expression。〃 〃By no means；〃 replied Charlotte； 〃they are the most expressive eyes I ever saw。〃 〃Well； child； whether they are grey or black is of no consequence： you have determined not to read his letter； so it is likely you will never either see or hear from him again。〃 Charlotte took up the letter； and Mademoiselle continued 〃He is most probably going to America； and if ever you should hear any account of him； it may possibly be that he is killed； and though he loved you ever so fervently； though his last breath should be spent in a prayer for your happiness； it can be nothing to you： you can feel nothing for the fate of the man； whose letters you will not open； and whose sufferings you will not alleviate； by permitting him to think you would remembe
