charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第9节
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sea I shall not be forgotten？〃
Charlotte sighed。
〃Why that sigh； my dear Charlotte？ could I flatter myself that a fear
for my safety； or a wish for my welfare occasioned it； how happy would it
make me。〃
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〃I shall ever wish you well； Montraville；〃 said she； 〃but we must meet
no more。〃 〃Oh say not so； my lovely girl： reflect； that when I leave my
native land； perhaps a few short weeks may terminate my existence； the
perils of the oceanthe dangers of war〃
〃I can hear no more；〃 said Charlotte in a tremulous voice。 〃I must
leave you。〃
〃Say you will see me once again。〃
〃I dare not；〃 said she。
〃Only for one half hour to…morrow evening： 'tis my last request。 I shall
never trouble you again； Charlotte。〃
〃I know not what to say；〃 cried Charlotte； struggling to draw her hands
from him： 〃let me leave you now。 〃
〃And you will come to…morrow；〃 said Montraville。
〃Perhaps I may；〃 said she。
〃Adieu then。 I will live upon that hope till we meet again。〃
He kissed her hand。 She sighed an adieu； and catching hold of
Mademoiselle's arm； hastily entered the garden gate。
CHAPTER X。
WHEN WE HAVE EXCITED CURIOSITY； IT IS BUT AN ACT
OF GOOD NATURE TO GRATIFY IT。
MONTRAVILLE was the youngest son of a gentleman of fortune；
whose family being numerous； he was obliged to bring up his sons to
genteel professions； by the exercise of which they might hope to raise
themselves into notice。
〃My daughters；〃 said he； 〃have been educated like gentlewomen； and
should I die before they are settled； they must have some provision made；
to place them above the snares and temptations which vice ever holds out
to the elegant； accomplished female； when oppressed by the frowns of
poverty and the sting of dependance： my boys； with only moderate
incomes； when placed in the church； at the bar； or in the field； may exert
their talents； make themselves friends； and raise their fortunes on the basis
of merit。〃
When Montraville chose the profession of arms； his father presented
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him with a commission； and made him a handsome provision for his
private purse。 〃Now； my boy；〃 said he； 'go！ seek glory in the field of battle。
You have received from me all I shall ever have it in my power to bestow：
it is certain I have interest to gain you promotion； but be assured that
interest shall never be exerted； unless by your future conduct you deserve
it。 Remember； therefore； your success in life depends entirely on yourself。
There is one thing I think it my duty to caution you against； the
precipitancy with which young men frequently rush into matrimonial
engagements； and by their thoughtlessness draw many a deserving woman
into scenes of poverty and distress。 A soldier has no business to think of a
wife till his rank is such as to place him above the fear of bringing into the
world a train of helpless innocents； heirs only to penury and affliction。 If；
indeed； a woman； whose fortune is sufficient to preserve you in that state
of independence I would teach you to prize； should generously bestow
herself on a young soldier； whose chief hope of future prosperity depended
on his success in the field if such a woman should offerevery barrier is
removed； and I should rejoice in an union which would promise so much
felicity。 But mark me； boy； if； on the contrary； you rush into a precipitate
union with a girl of little or no fortune； take the poor creature from a
comfortable home and kind friends； and plunge her into all the evils a
narrow income and increasing family can inflict； I will leave you to enjoy
the blessed fruits of your rashness； for by all that is sacred； neither my
interest or fortune shall ever be exerted in your favour。 I am serious；〃
continued he； 〃therefore imprint this conversation on your memory； and let
it influence your future conduct。 Your happiness will always be dear to me；
and I wish to warn you of a rock on which the peace of many an honest
fellow has been wrecked； for believe me； the difficulties and dangers of
the longest winter campaign are much easier to be borne； than the pangs
that would seize your heart； when you beheld the woman of your choice；
the children of your affection； involved in penury and distress； and
reflected that it was your own folly and precipitancy had been the prime
cause of their sufferings。 〃
As this conversation passed but a few hours before Montraville took
leave of his father； it was deeply impressed on his mind： when； therefore；
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Belcour came with him to the place of assignation with Charlotte； he
directed him to enquire of the French woman what were Miss Temple's
expectations in regard to fortune。
Mademoiselle informed him； that though Charlotte's father possessed a
genteel independence； it was by no means probable that he could give his
daughter more than a thousand pounds； and in case she did not marry to
his liking； it was possible he might not give her a single SOUS； nor did it
appear the least likely； that Mr。 Temple would agree to her union with a
young man on the point of embarking for the feat of war。
Montraville therefore concluded it was impossible he should ever
marry Charlotte Temple； and what end he proposed to himself by
continuing the acquaintance he had commenced with her； he did not at that
moment give himself time to enquire。
CHAPTER XI。
CONFLICT OF LOVE AND DUTY。
ALMOST a week was now gone； and Charlotte continued every
evening to meet Montraville； and in her heart every meeting was resolved
to be the last； but alas！ when Montraville at parting would earnestly intreat
one more interview； that treacherous heart betrayed her； and； forgetful of
its resolution； pleaded the cause of the enemy so powerfully； that Charlotte
was unable to resist。 Another and another meeting succeeded； and so well
did Montraville improve each opportunity； that the heedless girl at length
confessed no idea could be so painful to her as that of never seeing him
again。
〃Then we will never be parted；〃 said he。
〃Ah； Montraville；〃 replied Charlotte； forcing a smile； 〃how can it be
avoided？ My parents would never consent to our union； and even could
they be brought to approve it； how should I bear to be separated from my
kind； my beloved mother？〃
〃Then you love your parents more than you do me； Charlotte？〃
〃I hope I do；〃 said she； blushing and looking down； 〃I hope my
affection for them will ever keep me from infringing the laws of filial
duty。〃
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〃Well； Charlotte；〃 said Montraville gravely； and letting go her hand；
〃since that is the case； I find I have deceived myself with fallacious hopes。
I had flattered my fond heart； that I was dearer to Charlotte than any thing
in the world beside。 I thought that you would for my sake have braved the
dangers of the ocean； that you would； by your affection and smiles； have
softened the hardships of war； and； had it been my fate to fall； that your
tenderness would chear the hour of death； and smooth my passage to
another world。 But farewel； Charlotte！ I see you never loved me。 I shall
now welcome the friendly ball that deprives me of the sense of my
misery。〃
〃Oh stay； unkind Montraville；〃 cried she； catching hold of his arm； as
he pretended to leave her； 〃stay； and to calm your fears； I will here protest
that was it not for the fear of giving pain to the best of parents； and
returning their kindness with ingratitude； I would follow you through
every danger； and； in studying to promote
