charlotte temple(夏洛特·藤布尔)-第32章
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heaping the earth on her remains。 〃Hold； hold； one moment；〃 said he。
〃Close not the grave of the injured Charlotte Temple till I have taken
vengeance on her murderer。〃
〃Rash young man；〃 said Mr。 Temple；〃 〃who art thou that thus
disturbest the last mournful rites of the dead； and rudely breakest in upon
the grief of an afflicted father。〃
〃If thou art the father of Charlotte Temple；〃 said he； gazing at him with
mingled horror and amazement〃if thou art her fatherI am Montraville。〃
Then falling on his knees； he continued〃Here is my bosom。 I bare it to
receive the stroke I merit。 Strikestrike now； and save me from the misery
of reflexion。〃
〃Alas！〃 said Mr。 Temple； 〃if thou wert the seducer of my child； thy
own reflexions be thy punishment。 I wrest not the power from the hand of
omnipotence。 Look on that little heap of earth； there hast thou buried the
only joy of a fond father。 Look at it often； and may thy heart feel such true
sorrow as shall merit the mercy of heaven。〃 He turned from him； and
Montraville starting up from the ground； where he had thrown himself；
and at that instant remembering the perfidy of Belcour； flew like lightning
to his lodgings。 Belcour was intoxicated； Montraville impetuous： they
fought； and the sword of the latter entered the heart of his adversary。 He
fell； and expired almost instantly。 Montraville had received a slight wound；
and overcome with the agitation of his mind and loss of blood； was carried
in a state of insensibility to his distracted wife。 A dangerous illness and
obstinate delirium ensued； during which he raved incessantly for Charlotte：
but a strong constitution； and the tender assiduities of Julia； in time
overcame the disorder。 He recovered； but to the end of his life was subject
to severe fits of melancholy； and while he remained at New…York
frequently retired to the church…yard； where he would weep over the grave；
and regret the untimely fate of the lovely Charlotte Temple。
CHAPTER XXXV。
CONCLUSION。
SHORTLY after the interment of his daughter； Mr。 Temple； with his
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dear little charge and her nurse； set forward for England。 It would be
impossible to do justice to the meeting scene between him； his Lucy； and
her aged father。 Every heart of sensibility can easily conceive their
feelings。 After the first tumult of grief was subsided； Mrs。 Temple gave up
the chief of her time to her grand…child； and as she grew up and improved；
began to almost fancy she again possessed her Charlotte。
It was about ten years after these painful events； that Mr。 and Mrs。
Temple； having buried their father； were obliged to come to London on
particular business； and brought the little Lucy with them。 They had been
walking one evening； when on their return they found a poor wretch
sitting on the steps of the door。 She attempted to rise as they approached；
but from extreme weakness was unable； and after several fruitless efforts
fell back in a fit。 Mr。 Temple was not one of those men who stand to
consider whether by assisting an object in distress they shall not
inconvenience themselves； but instigated by the impulse of a noble feeling
heart； immediately ordered her to be carried into the house； and proper
restoratives applied。
She soon recovered； and fixing her eyes on Mrs。 Temple； cried〃You
know not； Madam； what you do； you know not whom you are relieving； or
you would curse me in the bitterness of your heart。 Come not near me；
Madam； I shall contaminate you。 I am the viper that stung your peace。 I
am the woman who turned the poor Charlotte out to perish in the street。
Heaven have mercy！ I see her now；〃 continued she looking at Lucy； 〃such；
such was the fair bud of innocence that my vile arts blasted ere it was half
blown。 〃
It was in vain that Mr。 and Mrs。 Temple intreated her to be composed
and to take some refreshment。 She only drank half a glass of wine； and
then told them that she had been separated from her husband seven years；
the chief of which she had passed in riot； dissipation； and vice； till；
overtaken by poverty and sickness； she had been reduced to part with
every valuable； and thought only of ending her life in a prison； when a
benevolent friend paid her debts and released her； but that her illness
encreasing； she had no possible means of supporting herself； and her
friends were weary of relieving her。 〃I have fasted；〃 said she； 〃two days；
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and last night lay my aching head on the cold pavement： indeed it was but
just that I should experience those miseries myself which I had unfeelingly
inflicted on others。〃
Greatly as Mr。 Temple had reason to detest Mrs。 Crayton； he could not
behold her in this distress without some emotions of pity。 He gave her
shelter that night beneath his hospitable roof； and the next day got her
admission into an hospital； where having lingered a few weeks； she died； a
striking example that vice； however prosperous in the beginning； in the
end leads only to misery and shame。
F I N I S。
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