charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第25节
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day what will this world come to； honest women are nothing now…a…days；
while the harlotings are set up for fine ladies； and look upon us no more
nor the dirt they walk upon： but let me tell you； my fine spoken Ma'am； I
must have my money； so seeing as how you can't pay it； why you must
troop； and leave all your fine gimcracks and fal der ralls behind you。 I
don't ask for no more nor my right； and nobody shall dare for to go for to
hinder me of it。〃
〃Oh heavens；〃 cried Charlotte； clasping her hands； 'what will become
of me？〃
〃Come on ye！〃 retorted the unfeeling wretch： 〃why go to the barracks
and work for a morsel of bread； wash and mend the soldiers cloaths； an
cook their victuals； and not expect to live in idleness on honest people's
means。 Oh I wish I could see the day when all such cattle were obliged to
work hard and eat little； it's only what they deserve。 〃
〃Father of mercy；〃 cried Charlotte； 〃I acknowledge thy correction just；
but prepare me； I beseech thee； for the portion of misery thou may'st
please to lay upon me。〃
〃Well；〃 said the woman； 〃I shall go an tell my husband as how you
can't pay； and so d'ye see； Ma'am； get ready to be packing away this very
night； for you should not stay another night in this house； though I was
sure you would lay in the street。'
Charlotte bowed her head in silence； but the anguish of her heart was
too great to permit her to articulate a single word。
CHAPTER XXX。
And what is friendship but a name； A charm that lulls to sleep； A
shade that follows wealth and fame； But leaves the wretch to weep。
WHEN Charlotte was left to herself； she began to think what course
she must take； or to whom she could apply； to prevent her perishing for
want； or perhaps that very night falling a victim to the inclemency of the
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season。 After many perplexed thoughts； she at last determined to set out
for New…York； and enquire out Mrs。 Crayton； from whom she had no
doubt but she should obtain immediate relief as soon as her distress was
made known； she had no sooner formed this resolution than she resolved
immediately to put it in execution： she therefore wrote the following little
billet to Mrs。 Crayton； thinking if she should have company with her it
would be better to send it in than to request to see her。 TO MRS。
CRAYTON。 〃MADAM；
〃When we left our native land； that dear； happy land which now
contains all that is dear to the wretched Charlotte； our prospects were the
same； we both； pardon me； Madam； if I say； we both too easily followed
the impulse of our treacherous hearts； and trusted our happiness on a
tempestuous ocean； where mine has been wrecked and lost for ever； you
have been more fortunateyou are united to a man of honour and
humanity； united by the most sacred ties； respected； esteemed； and
admired； and surrounded by innumerable blessings of which I am
bereaved； enjoying those pleasures which have fled my bosom never to
return； alas！ sorrow and deep regret have taken their place。 Behold me；
Madam； a poor forsaken wanderer； who has no where to lay her weary
head； wherewith to supply the wants of nature； or to shield her from the
inclemency of the weather。 To you I sue； to you I look for pity and relief。 I
ask not to be received as an intimate or an equal； only for charity's sweet
sake receive me into your hospitable mansion； allot me the meanest
apartment in it； and let me breath out my soul in prayers for your
happiness； I cannot； I feel I cannot long bear up under the accumulated
woes that pour in upon me； but oh！ my dear Madam； for the love of
heaven suffer me not to expire in the street； and when I am at peace； as
soon I shall be； extend your compassion to my helpless offspring； should it
please heaven that it should survive its unhappy mother。 A gleam of joy
breaks in on my benighted soul while I reflect that you cannot； will not
refuse your protection to the heart…broken。 CHARLOTTE。〃
When Charlotte had finished this letter； late as it was in the afternoon；
and though the snow began to fall very fast； she tied up a few necessaries
which she had prepared against her expected confinement； and terrified
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lest she should be again exposed to the insults of her barbarous landlady；
more dreadful to her wounded spirit than either storm or darkness； she set
forward for New…York。
It may be asked by those； who； in a work of this kind； love to cavil at
every trifling omission； whether Charlotte did not possess any valuable of
which she could have disposed； and by that means have supported herself
till Mrs。 Beauchamp's return； when she would have been certain of
receiving every tender attention which compassion and friendship could
dictate： but let me entreat these wise； penetrating gentlemen to reflect； that
when Charlotte left England； it was in such haste that there was no time to
purchase any thing more than what was wanted for immediate use on the
voyage； and after her arrival at New…York； Montraville's affection soon
began to decline； so that her whole wardrobe consisted of only necessaries；
and as to baubles； with which fond lovers often load their mistresses； she
possessed not one； except a plain gold locket of small value； which
contained a lock of her mother's hair； and which the greatest extremity of
want could not have forced her to part with。
I hope； Sir； your prejudices are now removed in regard to the
probability of my story？ Oh they are。 Well then； with your leave； I will
proceed。
The distance from the house which our suffering heroine occupied； to
New…York； was not very great； yet the snow fen so fast； and the cold so
intense； that； being unable from her situation to walk quick； she found
herself almost sinking with cold and fatigue before she reached the town；
her garments； which were merely suitable to the summer season； being an
undress robe of plain white muslin； were wet through； and a thin black
cloak and bonnet； very improper habiliments for such a climate； but poorly
defended her from the cold。 In this situation she reached the city； and
enquired of a foot soldier whom she met； the way to Colonel Crayton's。
〃Bless you； my sweet lady；〃 said the soldier with a voice and look of
compassion； 〃I will shew you the way with all my heart； but if you are
going to make a petition to Madam Crayton it is all to no purpose I assure
you： if you please I will conduct you to Mr。 Franklin's； though Miss Julia
is married and gone now； yet the old gentleman is very good。 〃
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〃Julia Franklin；〃 said Charlotte； 〃is she not married to Montraville？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the soldier； 〃and may God bless them； for a better
officer never lived； he is so good to us all； and as to Miss Julia； all the
poor folk almost worshipped her。〃
〃Gracious heaven；〃 cried Charlotte； 〃is Montraville unjust then to none
but me。 〃
The soldier now shewed her Colonel Crayton's door； and； with a
beating heart； she knocked for admission。
CHAPTER XXXI。
SUBJECT CONTINUED。
WHEN the door was opened； Charlotte； in a voice rendered scarcely
articulate； through cold and the extreme agitation of her mind； demanded
whether Mrs。 Crayton was at home。 The servant hesitated： he knew that
his lady was engaged at a game of picquet with her dear Corydon； nor
could he think she would like to be disturbed by a person whose
appearance spoke her of so little consequence as Charlotte； yet there was
something in her countenance that rather interested him in her favour； and
he said his lady was
