charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第22节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
painful to me； and a glance from her eye would call the blush of conscious
guilt into my cheek。
〃I will write a letter to her； which you may deliver when I am gone； as
I shall go to St。 Eustatia the day after my union with Julia； who will
accompany me。〃
Belcour promised to fulfil the request of his friend； though nothing
was farther from his intentions； than the least design of delivering the
letter； or making Charlotte acquainted with the provision Montraville had
made for her； he was bent on the complete ruin of the unhappy girl； and
supposed； by reducing her to an entire dependance on him； to bring her by
degrees to consent to gratify his ungenerous passion。
The evening before the day appointed for the nuptials of Montraville
and Julia； the former refired early to his apartment； and ruminating on the
past scenes of his life； suffered the keenest remorse in the remembrance of
Charlotte's seduction。 〃Poor girl； 〃 said he； 〃I will at least write and bid her
adieu； I will too endeavour to awaken that love of virtue in her bosom
which her unfortunate attachment to me has extinguished。〃 He took up the
pen and began to write； but words were denied him。 How could he address
the woman whom he had seduced； and whom； though he thought
unworthy his tenderness； he was about to bid adieu for ever？ How should
he tell her that he was going to abjure her； to enter into the most
indissoluble ties with another； and that he could not even own the infant
which she bore as his child？ Several letters were begun and destroyed： at
length he completed the following：
TO CHARLOTTE。
〃Though I have taken up my pen to address you； my poor injured girl；
I feel I am inadequate to the task； yet； however painful the endeavour； I
could not resolve upon leaving you for ever without one kind line to bid
you adieu； to tell you how my heart bleeds at the remembrance of what
74
… Page 75…
CHARLOTTE TEMPLE
you was； before you saw the hated Montraville。 Even now imagination
paints the scene； when； torn by contending passions； when； struggling
between love and duty； you fainted in my arms； and I lifted you into the
chaise： I see the agony of your mind； when； recovering； you found
yourself on the road to Portsmouth： but how； my gentle girl； how could
you； when so justly impressed with the value of virtue； how could you；
when loving as I thought you loved me； yield to the solicitations of
Belcour？
〃Oh Charlotte； conscience tells me it was I； villain that I am； who first
taught you the allurements of guilty pleasure； it was I who dragged you
from the calm repose which innocence and virtue ever enjoy； and can I；
dare I tell you； it was not love prompted to the horrid deed？ No； thou dear；
fallen angel； believe your repentant Montraville； when he tells you the
man who truly loves will never betray the object of his affection。 Adieu；
Charlotte： could you still find charms in a life of unoffend…ing innocence；
return to your parents； you shall never want the means of support both for
yourself and child。 Oh！ gracious heaven！ may that child be entirely free
from the vices of its father and the weakness of its mother。
〃To…morrowbut no； I cannot tell you what to…morrow will produce；
Belcour will inform you： he also has cash for you； which I beg you will
ask for whenever you may want it。 Once more adieu： believe me could I
hear you was returned to your friends； and enjoying that tranquillity of
which I have robbed you； I should be as completely happy as even you； in
your fondest hours； could wish me； but till then a gloom will obscure the
brightest prospects of MONTRAVILLE。〃
After he had sealed this letter he threw himself on the bed； and
enjoyed a few hours repose。 Early in the morning Belcour tapped at his
door： he arose hastily； and prepared to meet his Julia at the altar。
〃This is the letter to Charlotte；〃 said he； giving it to Belcour： 〃take it to
her when we are gone to Eustatia； and I conjure you； my dear friend； not
to use any sophistical arguments to prevent her return to virtue； but should
she incline that way； encourage her in the thought； and assist her to put her
design in execution。
75
… Page 76…
CHARLOTTE TEMPLE
CHAPTER XXVII。
Pensive she mourn'd； and hung her languid head； Like a fair lily
overcharg'd with dew。
CHARLOTTE had now been left almost three months a prey to her
own melancholy reflexionssad companions indeed； nor did any one
break in upon her solitude but Belcour； who once or twice called to
enquire after her health； and tell her he had in vain endeavoured to bring
Montraville to hear reason； and once； but only once； was her mind cheared
by the receipt of an affectionate letter from Mrs。 Beauchamp。 Often had
she wrote to her perfidious seducer； and with the most persuasive
eloquence endeavoured to convince him of her innocence； but these letters
were never suffered to reach the hands of Montraville； or they must；
though on the very eve of marriage； have prevented his deserting the
wretched girl。 Real anguish of heart had in a great measure faded her
charms； her cheeks were pale from want of rest； and her eyes； by frequent；
indeed almost continued weeping； were sunk and heavy。 Sometimes a
gleam of hope would play about her heart when she thought of her
parents〃They cannot surely；〃 she would say； 〃refuse to forgive me； or
should they deny their pardon to me； they win not hate my innocent infant
on account of its mother's errors。〃 How often did the poor mourner wish
for the consoling presence of the benevolent Mrs。 Beauchamp。
〃If she were here；〃 she would cry； 〃she would certainly comfort me；
and sooth the distraction of my soul。 〃
She was sitting one afternoon； wrapped in these melancholy reflexions；
when she was interrupted by the entrance of Belcour。 Great as the
alteration was which incessant sorrow had made on her person； she was
still interesting； still charming； and the unhallowed flame； which had
urged Belcour to plant dissension between her and Montraville； still raged
in his bosom： he was determined； if possible； to make her his mistress； nay；
he had even conceived the diabolical scheme of taking her to New…York；
and making her appear in every public place where it was likely she
should meet Montraville； that he might be a witness to his unmanly
triumph。
76
… Page 77…
CHARLOTTE TEMPLE
When he entered the room where Charlotte was sitting； he assumed the
look of tender； consolatory friendship。 〃And how does my lovely
Charlotte？〃 said he； taking her hand： 〃I fear you are not so well as I could
wish。〃
〃I am not well； Mr。 Belcour；〃 said she； 〃very far from it； but the pains
and infirmities of the body I could easily bear； nay； submit to them with
patience； were they not aggravated by the most insupportable anguish of
my mind。〃
〃You are not happy； Charlotte；〃 said he； with a look of well…dissembled
sorrow。
〃Alas！〃 replied she mournfully； shaking her head； 〃how can I be happy；
deserted and forsaken as I am； without a friend of my own sex to whom I
can unburthen my full heart； nay； my fidelity suspected by the very man
for whom I have sacrificed every thing valuable in life； for whom I have
made myself a poor despised creature； an outcast from society； an object
only of contempt and pity。〃
〃You think too meanly of yourself； Miss Temple： there is no one who
would dare to treat you with contempt： au who have the pleasure of
knowing you must admire and esteem。 You are lonely here； my dear girl；
give me leave to conduct you to New…York； where the agreeable society of
some ladies； to whom I will introduce you； will dispel these sad thoughts；
and I shall again see returning chearfulness animate those lovely f
