charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第16章
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but receive your blessing and forgiveness before I died； it would smooth
my passage to the peaceful grave； and be a blessed foretaste of a happy
eternity。 I beseech you； curse me not； my adored parents； but let a tear of
pity and pardon fall to the memory of your lost CHARLOTTE。
CHAPTER XXIII。
A MAN MAY SMILE； AND SMILE； AND BE A VILLAIN。
WHILE Charlotte was enjoying some small degree of comfort in the
consoling friendship of Mrs。 Beauchamp； Montraville was advancing
rapidly in his affection towards Miss Franklin。 Julia was an amiable girl；
she saw only the fair side of his character； she possessed an independent
fortune； and resolved to be happy with the man of her heart； though his
rank and fortune were by no means so exalted as she had a right to expect；
she saw the passion which Montraville struggled to conceal； she wondered
at his timidity； but imagined the distance fortune had placed between them
occasioned his backwardness； and made every advance which strict
prudence and a becoming modesty would permit。 Montraville saw with
pleasure he was not indifferent to her； but a spark of honour which
animated his bosom would not suffer him to take advantage of her
partiality。 He was well acquainted with Charlotte's situation； and he
thought there would be a double cruelty in forsaking her at such a time；
and to marry Miss Franklin； while honour； humanity； every sacred law；
obliged him still to protect and support Charlotte； was a baseness which
his soul shuddered at。
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He communicated his uneasiness to Belcour： it was the very thing this
pretended friend had wished。 〃And do you really；〃 said he； laughing；
〃hesitate at marrying the lovely Julia； and becoming master of her fortune；
because a little foolish； fond girl chose to leave her friends； and run away
with you to America。 Dear Montraville； act more like a man of sense； this
whining； pining Charlotte； who occasions you so much uneasiness； would
have eloped with somebody else if she had not with you。〃
〃Would to heaven；〃 said Montraville； 〃I had never seen her； my regard
for her was but the momentary passion of desire； but I feel I shall love and
revere Julia Franklin as long as I live； yet to leave poor Charlotte in her
present situation would be cruel beyond description。〃
〃Oh my good sentimental friend；〃 said Belcour； 〃do you imagine no
body has a right to provide for the brat but yourself。〃
Montraville started。 〃Sure；〃 said he； 〃you cannot mean to insinuate that
Charlotte is false。〃
〃I don't insinuate it；〃 said Belcour； 〃I know it。〃
Montraville turned pale as ashes。 〃Then there is no faith in woman；〃
said he。
〃While I thought you attached to her；〃 said Belcour with an air of
indifference； 〃I never wished to make you uneasy by mentioning her
perfidy； but as I know you love and are beloved by Miss Franklin； I was
determined not to let these foolish scruples of honour step between you
and happiness； or your tenderness for the peace of a perfidious girl prevent
your uniting yourself to a woman of honour。〃
〃Good heavens！〃 said Montraville； 〃what poignant reflections does a
man endure who sees a lovely woman plunged in infamy； and is conscious
he was her first seducer； but are you certain of what you say； Belcour？〃
〃So far；〃 replied he； 〃that I myself have received advances from her
which I would not take advantage of out of regard to you： but hang it；
think no more about her。 I dined at Franklin's to…day； and Julia bid me seek
and bring you to tea： so come along； my lad； make good use of
opportunity； and seize the gifts of fortune while they are within your
reach。〃 Montraville was too much agitated to pass a happy evening even in
the company of Julia Franklin： he determined to visit Charlotte early the
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next morning； tax her with her falsehood； and take an everlasting leave of
her； but when the morning came； he was commanded on duty； and for six
weeks was prevented from putting his design in execution。 At length he
found an hour to spare； and walked out to spend it with Charlotte： it was
near four o'clock in the afternoon when he arrived at her cottage； she was
not in the parlour； and without calling the servant he walked up stairs；
thinking to find her in her bed room。 He opened the door； and the first
object that met his eyes was Charlotte asleep on the bed； and Belcour by
her side。
〃Death and distraction；〃 said he； stamping； 〃this is too much。 Rise；
villain； and defend yourself。〃 Belcour sprang from the bed。 The noise
awoke Charlotte； terrified at the furious appearance of Montraville； and
seeing Belcour with him in the chamber； she caught hold of his arm as he
stood by the bed…side； and eagerly asked what was the matter。
〃Treacherous； infamous girl；〃 said he； 〃can you ask？ How came he
here？〃 pointing to Belcour。
〃As heaven is my witness；〃 replied she weeping； 'I do not know。 I have
not seen him for these three weeks。〃
〃Then you confess he sometimes visits you？〃
〃He came sometimes by your desire。〃
〃'Tis false； I never desired him to come； and you know I did not： but
mark me； Charlotte； from this instant our connexion is at an end。 Let
Belcour； or any other of your favoured lovers； take you and provide for
you； I have done with you for ever。〃
He was then going to leave her； but starting wildly from the bed； she
threw herself on her knees before him； protesting her innocence and
entreating him not to leave her。 〃Oh Montraville；〃 said she； 〃kill me； for
pity's sake kill me； but do not doubt my fidelity。 Do not leave me in this
horrid situation； for the sake of your unborn child； oh！ spurn not the
wretched mother from you。 〃
〃Charlotte；〃 said he； with a firm voice； 〃I shall take care that neither
you nor your child want any thing in the approaching painful hour； but we
meet no more。〃 He then endeavoured to raise her from the ground； but in
vain； she clung about his knees； entreating him to believe her innocent；
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and conjuring Belcour to clear up the dreadful mystery。
Belcour cast on Montraville a smile of contempt： it irritated him
almost to madness； he broke from the feeble arms of the distressed girl；
she shrieked and fell prostrate on the floor。
Montraville instantly left the house and returned hastily to the city。
CHAPTER XXIV。
MYSTERY DEVELOPED。
UNFORTUNATELY for Charlotte； about three weeks before this
unhappy rencontre； Captain Beauchamp； being ordered to Rhode…Island；
his lady had accompanied him； so that Charlotte was deprived of her
friendly advice and consoling society。 The afternoon on which Montraville
had visited her she had found herself languid and fatigued； and after
making a very slight dinner had lain down to endeavour to recruit her
exhausted spirits； and； contrary to her expectations； had fallen asleep。 She
had not long been lain down； when Belcour arrived； for he took every
opportunity of visiting her； and striving to awaken her resentment against
Montraville。 He enquired of the servant where her mistress was； and being
told she was asleep； took up a book to amuse himself： having sat a few
minutes； he by chance cast his eyes towards the road； and saw Montraville
approaching； he instantly conceived the diabolical scheme of ruining the
unhappy Charlotte in his opinion for ever； he therefore stole softly up
stairs； and laying himself by her side with the greatest precaution； for fear
she should awake； was in that situation discovered by his credulous friend。
When Montraville spurned the weeping Charlotte from him； and left
her almost distracted with terror and despair； Belcour raised her from the
floor； and leading her down stairs； assumed the part of a tender； consoling
friend； she listened to the arguments he advanced with apparent
composure； but this was only the calm of a moment： the remembrance of
Montraville's recent cruelty again rushed upon her mind： she pushed him
from her with some violence； and crying〃Leave me； Sir； I beseech you
leave me； for much I fear you have been the cause of my fidelity being
suspected； go； leave me to the accumulated miseries my own imprudence
has brought upon me。〃
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She then left him with precipitation； and retiring to her own apartment；
threw herself on the bed； and gave vent to an agony of grief which it is
impossible to describe。
It now occurred to Belcour that she might possibly write to
Montraville； and endeavour to convince him of her innocence： he was well
aware of her pathetic remonstrances； and； sensible of the tenderness of
Montraville's heart； resolved to prevent any letters ever reaching him： he
therefore called the servant； and； by the powerful persuasion of a bribe；
prevailed with her to promise whatever letters her mistress might write
should be sent to him。 He then left a polite； tender note for Charlotte； and
returned to New…York。 His first business was to seek Montraville； and
endeavour to convince him that what had happened would ultimately tend
to his happiness： he found him in his apartment； solitary； pensive； and
wrapped in disagreeable reflexions。
〃Why how now； whining； pining lover？〃 said he； clapping him on the
shoulder。 Montraville started； a momentary flush of resent
