charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第3章
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〃True；〃 replied the old man； （something like satisfaction darting across
his features） 〃and painful as these feelings are； I would not exchange them
for that torpor which the stoic mistakes for philosophy。 How many
exquisite delights should I have passed by unnoticed； but for these keen
sensations； this quick sense of happiness or misery？ Then let us； my friend；
take the cup of life as it is presented to us； tempered by the hand of a wise
Providence； be thankful for the good； be patient under the evil； and
presume not to enquire why the latter predominates。〃
〃This is true philosophy；〃 said Temple。
〃'Tis the only way to reconcile ourselves to the cross events of life；〃
replied he。 〃But I forget myself。 I will not longer intrude on your patience；
but proceed in my melancholy tale。
〃The very evening that I was taken to prison； my son arrived from
Ireland； where he had been some time with his regiment。 From the
distracted expressions of his mother and sister； he learnt by whom I had
been arrested； and； late as it was； flew on the wings of wounded affection；
to the house of his false friend； and earnestly enquired the cause of this
cruel conduct。 With all the calmness of a cool deliberate villain； he
avowed his passion for Lucy； declared her situation in life would not
permit him to marry her； but offered to release me immediately； and make
any settlement on her； if George would persuade her to live； as he
impiously termed it； a life of honour。
〃Fired at the insult offered to a man and a soldier； my boy struck the
villain； and a challenge ensued。 He then went to a coffee…house in the
neighbourhood and wrote a long affectionate letter to me； blaming himself
severely for having introduced Lewis into the family； or permitted him to
confer an obligation； which had brought inevitable ruin on us all。 He
begged me； whatever might be the event of the ensuing morning； not to
suffer regret or unavailing sorrow for his fate； to encrease the anguish of
my heart； which he greatly feared was already insupportable。
〃This letter was delivered to me early in the morning。 It would be vain
to attempt describing my feelings on the perusal of it； suffice it to say； that
a merciful Providence interposed； and I was for three weeks insensible to
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miseries almost beyond the strength of human nature to support。
〃A fever and strong delirium seized me； and my life was despaired of。
At length； nature； overpowered with fatigue； gave way to the salutary
power of rest； and a quiet slumber of some hours restored me to reason；
though the extreme weakness of my frame prevented my feeling my
distress so acutely as I otherways should。
〃The first object that struck me on awaking； was Lucy sitting by my
bedside； her pale countenance and sable dress prevented my enquiries for
poor George： for the letter I had received from him； was the first thing that
occurred to my memory。 By degrees the rest returned： I recollected being
arrested； but could no ways account for being in this apartment； whither
they had conveyed me during my illness。
〃I was so weak as to be almost unable to speak。 I pressed Lucy's hand；
and looked earnestly round the apartment in search of another dear object。
〃Where is your mother？〃 said I； faintly。
〃The poor girl could not answer： she shook her head in expressive
silence； and throwing herself on the bed； folded her arms about me； and
burst into tears。
〃What！ both gone？〃 said I。
〃Both；〃 she replied； endeavouring to restrain her emotions： 〃but they
are happy； no doubt。〃
Here Mr。 Eldridge paused： the recollection of the scene was too
painful to permit him to proceed。
CHAPTER IV。
CHANGE OF FORTUNE。
〃IT was some days；〃 continued Mr。 Eldridge； recovering himself；
〃before I could venture to enquire the particulars of what had happened
during my illness： at length I assumed courage to ask my dear girl how
long her mother and brother had been dead： she told me； that the morning
after my arrest； George came home early to enquire after his mother's
health； staid with them but a few minutes； seemed greatly agitated at
parting； but gave them strict charge to keep up their spirits； and hope every
thing would turn out for the best。 In about two hours after； as they were
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sitting at breakfast； and endeavouring to strike out some plan to attain my
liberty； they heard a loud rap at the door； which Lucy running to open； she
met the bleeding body of her brother； borne in by two men who had lifted
him from a litter； on which they had brought him from the place where he
fought。 Her poor mother； weakened by illness and the struggles of the
preceding night； was not able to support this shock； gasping for breath； her
looks wild and haggard； she reached the apartment where they had carried
her dying son。 She knelt by the bed side； and taking his cold hand； 'my
poor boy；' said she； 'I will not be parted from thee： husband！ son！ both at
once lost。 Father of mercies； spare me！' She fell into a strong convulsion；
and expired in about two hours。 In the mean time； a surgeon had dressed
George's wounds； but they were in such a situation as to bar the smallest
hopes of recovery。 He never was sensible from the time he was brought
home； and died that evening in the arms of his sister。
〃Late as it was when this event took place； my affectionate Lucy
insisted on coming to me。 'What must he feel；' said she； 'at our apparent
neglect； and how shall I inform him of the afflictions with which it has
pleased heaven to visit us？'
〃She left the care of the dear departed ones to some neighbours who
had kindly come in to comfort and assist her； and on entering the house
where I was confined； found me in the situation I have mentioned。
〃How she supported herself in these trying moments； I know not：
heaven； no doubt； was with her； and her anxiety to preserve the life of one
parent in some measure abated her affliction for the loss of the other。
〃My circumstances were greatly embarrassed； my acquaintance few；
and those few utterly unable to assist me。 When my wife and son were
committed to their kindred earth； my creditors seized my house and
furniture； which not being sufficient to discharge all their demands；
detainers were lodged against me。 No friend stepped forward to my relief；
from the grave of her mother； my beloved Lucy followed an almost dying
father to this melancholy place。
〃Here we have been nearly a year and a half。 My half…pay I have given
up to satisfy my creditors； and my child supports me by her industry：
sometimes by fine needlework； sometimes by painting。 She leaves me
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every night； and goes to a lodging near the bridge； but returns in the
morning； to chear me with her smiles； and bless me by her duteous
affection。 A lady once offered her an asylum in her family； but she would
not leave me。 'We are all the world to each other；' said she。 'I thank God； I
have health and spirits to improve the talents with which nature has
endowed me； and I trust if I employ them in the support of a beloved
parent； I shall not be thought an unprofitable servant。 While he lives； I
pray for strength to pursue my employment； and when it pleases heaven to
take one of us； may it give the survivor resignation to bear the separation
as we ought： till then I will never leave him。' 〃
〃But where is this inhuman persecutor？〃 said Temple。
〃He has been abroad ever since；〃 replied the old man； 〃but he has left
orders with his lawyer never to give up the note till the utmost farthing is
paid。〃
〃And how much is the amount of your debts in all？〃 said Temple。
〃Five hundred pounds；〃 he replied。
Temple started： it was more than he expected。 〃But something must be
done；〃 said he： 〃that sweet maid must not wear out her life in a prison。 I
will see you again to…morrow； my friend；〃 said he； shaking Eldridge's hand：
〃keep up your spirits： light and shade are not more happily blended than
are the pleasures and pains of life； and the horrors of the one serve only to
increase the splendor of the other。〃
〃You never lost a wife and son；〃 said Eldridge。
〃No；〃 replied he； 〃but I can feel for those that have。〃 Eldridge pressed
his hand as they went toward the door； and they parted in silence。
When they got without the walls of the prison； Temple thanked his
friend Blakeney for introducing him to so worthy a character； and telling
him he had a particular engagement in the city； wished him a good
evening。
〃And what is to be done for this distressed man；〃 said Temple； as he
walked up Ludgate Hill。 〃Would to heaven I had a fortune that would
enable me instantly to discharge his debt： what exquisite transport； to see
the expressive eyes of Lucy beaming at once with pleasure for her father's
deliverance； and gratitude for her deliverer： but is not my fortune
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affluence；〃 continued he； 〃nay superfluous wealth； when compared to the
extreme indigence of Eldridge； and what have I done to deserve ease and
plenty； while a brave worthy officer starves in a prison？ Three hundred a
year is surely sufficient for all my wants and wishes： at any rate Eldridge
must be relieved。〃
When the heart has will； the hands can soon find means to execute a
good action。
Temple was a young man； his feelings
