charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第8节
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Is poverty your portion？she will lighten your labours； preside at your
frugal board； and watch your quiet slumbers。
Is your state mediocrity？she will heighten every blessing you enjoy；
by informing you how grateful you should be to that bountiful Providence
who might have placed you in the most abject situation； and； by teaching
you to weigh your blessings against your deserts； show you how much
more you receive than you have a right to expect。
Are you possessed of affluence？what an inexhaustible fund of
happiness will she lay before you！ To relieve the distressed； redress the
injured； in short； to perform all the good works of peace and mercy。
Content； my dear friends； will blunt even the arrows of adversity； so
that they cannot materially harm you。 She will dwell in the humblest
cottage； she will attend you even to a prison。 Her parent is Religion； her
sisters； Patience and Hope。 She will pass with you through life； smoothing
the rough paths and tread to earth those thorns which every one must meet
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with as they journey onward to the appointed goal。 She will soften the
pains of sickness； continue with you even in the cold gloomy hour of death；
and； cheating you with the smiles of her heaven…born sister； Hope； lead
you triumphant to a blissfull eternity。
I confess I have rambled strangely from my story： but what of that？ if I
have been so lucky as to find the road to happiness； why should I be such
a niggard as to omit so good an opportunity of pointing out the way to
others。 The very basis of true peace of mind is a benevolent wish to see all
the world as happy as one's Self； and from my soul do I pity the selfish
churl； who； remembering the little bickerings of anger； envy； and fifty
other disagreeables to which frail mortality is subject； would wish to
revenge the affront which pride whispers him he has received。 For my
own part； I can safely declare； there is not a human being in the universe；
whose prosperity I should not rejoice in； and to whose happiness I would
not contribute to the utmost limit of my power： and may my offences be
no more remembered in the day of general retribution； than as from my
soul I forgive every offence or injury received from a fellow creature。
Merciful heaven！ who would exchange the rapture of such a reflexion
for all the gaudy tinsel which the world calls pleasure！
But to return。Content dwelt in Mrs。 Temple's bosom； and spread a
charming animation over her countenance； as her husband led her in； to
lay the plan she had formed （for the celebration of Charlotte's birth day；）
before Mr。 Eldridge。
CHAPTER IX。
WE KNOW NOT WHAT A DAY MAY BRING FORTH。
VARIOUS were the sensations which agitated the mind of Charlotte；
during the day preceding the evening in which she was to meet
Montraville。 Several times did she almost resolve to go to her governess；
show her the letter； and be guided by her advice： but Charlotte had taken
one step in the ways of imprudence； and when that is once done； there are
always innumerable obstacles to prevent the erring person returning to the
path of rectitude： yet these obstacles； however forcible they may appear in
general； exist chiefly in imagination。
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Charlotte feared the anger of her governess： she loved her mother； and
the very idea of incurring her displeasure； gave her the greatest uneasiness：
but there was a more forcible reason still remaining： should she show the
letter to Madame Du Pont； she must confess the means by which it came
into her possession； and what would be the consequence？ Mademoiselle
would be turned out of doors。
〃I must not be ungrateful；〃 said she。 〃La Rue is very kind to me；
besides I can； when I see Montraville； inform him of the impropriety of
our continuing to see or correspond with each other； and request him to
come no more to Chichester。〃
However prudent Charlotte might be in these resolutions； she certainly
did not take a proper method to confirm herself in them。 Several times in
the course of the day； she indulged herself in reading over the letter； and
each time she read it； the contents sunk deeper in her heart。 As evening
drew near； she caught herself frequently consulting her watch。 〃I wish this
foolish meeting was over；〃 said she； by way of apology to her own heart；
〃I wish it was over； for when I have seen him； and convinced him my
resolution is not to be shaken； I shall feel my mind much easier。〃
The appointed hour arrived。 Charlotte and Mademoiselle eluded the
eye of vigilance； and Montraville； who had waited their coming with
impatience； received them with rapturous and unbounded
acknowledgments for their condescension： he had wisely brought Belcour
with him to entertain Mademoiselle； while he enjoyed an uninterrupted
conversation with Charlotte。
Belcour was a man whose character might be comprised in a few
words； and as he will make some figure in the ensuing pages； I shall here
describe him。 He possessed a genteel fortune； and had a liberal education；
dissipated； thoughtless； and capricious； he paid little regard to the moral
duties； and less to religious ones： eager in the pursuit of pleasure； he
minded not the miseries he inflicted on others； provided his own wishes；
however extravagant； were gratified。 Self； darling self； was the idol he
worshipped； and to that he would have sacrificed the interest and
happiness of all mankind。 Such was the friend of Montraville： will not the
reader be ready to imagine； that the man who could regard such a
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character； must be actuated by the same feelings； follow the same pursuits；
and be equally unworthy with the person to whom he thus gave his
confidence？
But Montraville was a different character： generous in his disposition；
liberal in his opinions； and good…natured almost to a fault； yet eager and
impetuous in the pursuit of a favorite object； he staid not to reflect on the
consequence which might follow the attainment of his wishes； with a mind
ever open to conviction； had he been so fortunate as to possess a friend
who would have pointed out the cruelty of endeavouring to gain the heart
of an innocent artless girl； when he knew it was utterly impossible for him
to marry her； and when the gratification of his passion would be
unavoidable infamy and misery to her； and a cause of never…ceasing
remorse to himself： had these dreadful consequences been placed before
him in a proper light； the humanity of his nature would have urged him to
give up the pursuit： but Belcour was not this friend； he rather encouraged
the growing passion of Montraville； and being pleased with the vivacity of
Mademoiselle； resolved to leave no argument untried； which he thought
might prevail on her to be the companion of their intended voyage； and he
made no doubt but her example； added to the rhetoric of Montraville；
would persuade Charlotte to go with them。
Charlotte had； when she went out to meet Montraville； flattered herself
that her resolution was not to be shaken； and that； conscious of the
impropriety of her conduct in having a clandestine intercourse with a
stranger； she would never repeat the indiscretion。
But alas！ poor Charlotte； she knew not the deceitfulness of her own
heart； or she would have avoided the trial of her stability。
Montraville was tender； eloquent； ardent； and yet respectful。 〃Shall I
not see you once more；〃 said he； 〃before I leave England？ will you not
bless me by an assurance； that when we are divided by a vast expanse of
sea I shall not be forgotten？〃
Charlotte sighed。
〃Why that sigh； my dear Charl
