charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第3章
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〃Oh； my father！〃 cried Miss Eldridge； tenderly taking his hand； 〃be not
anxious on that account； for daily are my prayers offered to heaven that
our lives may terminate at the same instant； and one grave receive us both；
for why should I live when deprived of my only friend。〃
Temple was moved even to tears。 〃You will both live many years；〃
said he； 〃and I hope see much happiness。 Cheerly； my friend； cheerly；
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these passing clouds of adversity will serve only to make the sunshine of
prosperity more pleasing。 But we are losing time： you might ere this have
told me who were your creditors； what were their demands； and other
particulars necessary to your liberation。〃
〃My story is short；〃 said Mr。 Eldridge； 〃but there are some particulars
which will wring my heart barely to remember； yet to one whose offers of
friendship appear so open and disinterested； I will relate every
circumstance that led to my present； painful situation。 But my child；〃
continued he； addressing his daughter； 〃let me prevail on you to take this
opportunity； while my friends are with me； to enjoy the benefit of air and
exercise。
Go； my love； leave me now； to…morrow at your usual hour I will
expect you。 〃
Miss Eldridge impressed on his cheek the kiss of filial affection； and
obeyed。
CHAPTER III。
UNEXPECTED MISFORTUNES。
〃MY life；〃 said Mr。 Eldridge； 〃till within these few years was marked
by no particular circumstance deserving notice。 I early embraced the life
of a sailor； and have served my King with unremitted ardour for many
years。 At the age of twenty…five I married an amiable woman； one son； and
the girl who just now left us； were the fruits of our union。 My boy had
genius and spirit。 I straitened my little income to give him a liberal
education； but the rapid progress he made in his studies amply
compensated for the inconvenience。 At the academy where he received his
education he commenced an acquaintance with a Mr。 Lewis； a young man
of affluent fortune： as they grew up their intimacy ripened into friendship；
and they became almost inseparable companions。
〃George chose the profession of a soldier。 I had neither friends or
money to procure him a commission； and had wished him to embrace a
nautical life： but this was repugnant to his wishes； and I ceased to urge
him on the subject。
〃The friendship subsisting between Lewis and my son was of such a
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nature as gave him free access to our family； and so specious was his
manner that we hesitated not to state to him all our little difficulties in
regard to George's future views。 He listened to us with attention； and
offered to advance any sum necessary for his first setting out。
〃I embraced the offer； and gave him my note for the payment of it； but
he would not suffer me to mention any stipulated time； as he said I might
do it whenever most convenient to myself。 About this time my dear Lucy
returned from school； and I soon began to imagine Lewis looked at her
with eyes of affection。 I gave my child a caution to beware of him； and to
look on her mother as her fe；；end。 She was unaffectedly artless； and when；
as I suspected； Lewis made professions of love； she confided in her
parents； and assured us her heart was perfectly unbiassed in his favour；
and she would chearfully submit to our direction。
〃I took an early opportunity of questioning him concerning his
intentions towards my child： he gave an equivocal answer； and I forbade
him the house。
〃The next day he sent and demanded payment of his money。 It was not
in my power to comply with the demand。 I requested three days to
endeavour to raise it； determining in that time to mortgage my half pay；
and live on a small annuity which my wife possessed； rather than be under
an obligation to so worthless a man： but this short time was not allowed
me； for that evening； as I was sitting down to supper； unsuspicious of
danger； an officer entered； and tore me from the embraces of my family。
〃My wife had been for some time in a declining state of health： ruin at
once so unexpected and inevitable was a stroke she was not prepared to
bear； and I saw her faint into the arms of our servant； as I left my own
habitation for the comfortless walls of a prison。 My poor Lucy； distracted
with her fears for us both； sunk on the floor and endeavoured to detain me
by her feeble efforts； but in vain； they forced open her arms； she shrieked；
and fell prostrate。 But pardon me。 The horrors of that night unman me。 I
cannot proceed。〃
He rose from his seat； and walked several times across the room： at
length； attaining more composure； he cried〃What a mere infant I am！
Why； Sir； I never felt thus in the day of battle。〃 〃No；〃 said Temple； 〃but
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the truly brave soul is tremblingly alive to the feelings of humanity。〃
〃True；〃 replied the old man； （something like satisfaction darting across
his features） 〃and painful as these feelings are； I would not exchange them
for that torpor which the stoic mistakes for philosophy。 How many
exquisite delights should I have passed by unnoticed； but for these keen
sensations； this quick sense of happiness or misery？ Then let us； my friend；
take the cup of life as it is presented to us； tempered by the hand of a wise
Providence； be thankful for the good； be patient under the evil； and
presume not to enquire why the latter predominates。〃
〃This is true philosophy；〃 said Temple。
〃'Tis the only way to reconcile ourselves to the cross events of life；〃
replied he。 〃But I forget myself。 I will not longer intrude on your patience；
but proceed in my melancholy tale。
〃The very evening that I was taken to prison； my son arrived from
Ireland； where he had been some time with his regiment。 From the
distracted expressions of his mother and sister； he learnt by whom I had
been arrested； and； late as it was； flew on the wings of wounded affection；
to the house of his false friend； and earnestly enquired the cause of this
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 br
