charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第31章
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society； but the arrival of the doctor put an end to these delusive hopes： he
said nature was making her last effort； and a few hours would most
probably consign the unhappy girl to her kindred dust。
Being asked how she found herself； she replied〃Why better； much
better； doctor。 I hope now I have but little more to suffer。 I had last night a
few hours sleep； and when I awoke recovered the full power of
recollection。 I am quite sensible of my weakness； I feel I have but little
longer to combat with the shafts of affliction。 I have an humble confidence
in the mercy of him who died to save the world； and trust that my
sufferings in this state of mortality； joined to my unfeigned repentance；
through his mercy； have blotted my offences from the sight of my
offended maker。 I have but one caremy poor infant！ Father of mercy；〃
continued she； raising her eyes； 〃of thy infinite goodness； grant that the
sins of the parent be not visited on the unof…fending child。 May those who
taught me to despise thy laws be forgiven； lay not my offences to their
charge； I beseech thee； and oh！ shower the choicest of thy blessings on
those whose pity has soothed the afflicted heart； and made easy even the
bed of pain and sickness。〃
She was exhausted by this fervent address to the throne of mercy； and
though her lips still moved her voice became inarticulate： she lay for some
time as it were in a doze； and then recovering； faintly pressed Mrs。
Beauchamp's hand； and requested that a clergyman might be sent for。
On his arrival she joined fervently in the pious office； frequently
mentioning her ingratitude to her parents as what lay most heavy at her
heart。 When she had performed the last solemn duty； and was preparing to
lie down； a little bustle on the outside door occasioned Mrs。 Beauchamp to
open it； and enquire the cause。 A man in appearance about forty； presented
himself； and asked for Mrs。 Beauchamp。
〃That is my name； Sir；〃 said she。
〃Oh then； my dear Madam；〃 cried he； 〃tell me where I may find my
poor； ruined； but repentant child。〃
Mrs。 Beauchamp was surprised and affected； she knew not what to say；
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she foresaw the agony this interview would occasion Mr。 Temple； who had
just arrived in search of his Charlotte； and yet was sensible that the pardon
and blessing of her father would soften even the agonies of death to the
daughter。
She hesitated。 〃Tell me； Madam；〃 cried he wildly； 〃tell me； I beseech
thee； does she live？ shall I see my darling once again？ Perhaps she is in
this house。 Lead； lead me to her； that I may bless her； and then lie down
and die。〃
The ardent manner in which he uttered these words occasioned him to
raise his voice。 It caught the ear of Charlotte： she knew the beloved sound：
and uttering a loud shriek； she sprang forward as Mr。 Temple entered the
room。 〃My adored father。〃 〃My long lost child。〃 Nature could support no
more； and they both sunk lifeless into the arms of the attendants。
Charlotte was again put into bed； and a few moments restored Mr。
Temple： but to describe the agony of his sufferings is past the power of
any one； who； though they may readily conceive； cannot delineate the
dreadful scene。 Every eye gave testimony of what each heart felt but all
were silent。
When Charlotte recovered； she found herself supported in her father's
arms。 She cast on him a most expressive look； but was unable to speak。 A
reviving cordial was administered。 She then asked in a low voice； for her
child： it was brought to her： she put it in her father's arms。 〃Protect her；〃
said she； 〃and bless your dying〃
Unable to finish the sentence； she sunk back on her pillow： her
countenance was serenely composed； she regarded her father as he pressed
the infant to his breast with a steadfast look； a sudden beam of joy passed
across her languid features； she raised her eyes to heavenand then closed
them for ever。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
RETRIBUTION。
IN the mean time Montraville having received orders to return to New…
York； arrived； and having still some remains of compassionate tenderness
for the woman whom he regarded as brought to shame by himself； he went
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out in search of Belcour； to enquire whether she was safe； and whether the
child lived。 He found him immersed in dissipation； and could gain no
other intelligence than that Charlotte had left him； and that he knew not
what was become of her。
〃I cannot believe it possible；〃 said Montraville； 〃that a mind once so
pure as Charlotte Temple's； should so suddenly become the mansion of
vice。 Beware； Belcour；〃 continued he； 〃beware if you have dared to
behave either unjust or dishonourably to that poor girl； your life shall pay
the forfeit：I will revenge her cause。〃
He immediately went into the country； to the house where he had left
Charlotte。 It was desolate。 After much enquiry he at length found the
servant girl who had lived with her。 From her he learnt the misery
Charlotte had endured from the complicated evils of illness； poverty； and a
broken heart； and that she had set out on foot for New…York； on a cold
winter's evening； but she could inform him no further。
Tortured almost to madness by this shocking account； he returned to
the city； but； before he reached it； the evening was drawing to a close。 In
entering the town he was obliged to pass several little huts； the residence
of poor women who supported themselves by washing the cloaths of the
officers and soldiers。 It was nearly dark： he heard from a neighbouring
steeple a solemn toll that seemed to say some poor mortal was going to
their last mansion： the sound struck on the heart of Montraville； and he
involuntarily stopped； when； from one of the houses； he saw the
appearance of a funeral。 Almost unknowing what he did； he followed at a
small distance； and as they let the coffin into the grave； he enquired of a
soldier who stood by； and had just brushed off a tear that did honour to his
heart； who it was that was just buried。 〃An please your honour；〃 said the
man； 〃 'tis a poor girl that was brought from her friends by a cruel man；
who left her when she was big with child； and married another。〃
Montraville stood motionless； and the man proceeded〃I met her myself
not a fortnight since one night all wet and cold in the streets； she went to
Madam Crayton's； but she would not take her in； and so the poor thing
went raving mad。〃 Montraville could bear no more； he struck his hands
against his forehead with violence； and exclaiming 〃poor murdered
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Charlotte！〃 ran with precipitation towards the place where they were
heaping the earth on her remains。 〃Hold； hold； one moment；〃 said he。
〃
