CHARLOTTE TEMPLE(夏洛特·藤布尔)

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CHARLOTTE TEMPLE

BY SUSANNA HASWELL ROWSON

CHARLOTTE TEMPLE

PREFACE.

FOR the perusal of the young and thoughtless of the fair sex, this Tale

of Truth is designed; and I could wish my fair readers to consider it as not

merely the effusion of Fancy, but as a reality. The circumstances on which

I have founded this novel were related to me some little time since by an

old lady who had personally known Charlotte, though she concealed the

real names of the characters, and likewise the place where the unfortunate

scenes were acted: yet as it was impossible to offer a relation to the public

in such an imperfect state, I have thrown over the whole a slight veil of

fiction, and substituted names and places according to my own fancy. The

principal characters in this little tale are now consigned to the silent tomb:

it can therefore hurt the feelings of no one; and may, I flatter myself, be of

service to some who are so unfortunate as to have neither friends to advise,

or understanding to direct them, through the various and unexpected evils

that attend a young and unprotected woman in her first entrance into life.

While the tear of compassion still trembled in my eye for the fate of

the unhappy Charlotte, I may have children of my own, said I, to whom

this recital may be of use, and if to your own children, said Benevolence,

why not to the many daughters of Misfortune who, deprived of natural

friends, or spoilt by a mistaken education, are thrown on an unfeeling

world without the least power to defend themselves from the snares not

only of the other sex, but from the more dangerous arts of the profligate of

their own.

Sensible as I am that a novel writer, at a time when such a variety of

works are ushered into the world under that name, stands

6 PREFACE.

but a poor chance for fame in the annals of literature, but conscious

that I wrote with a mind anxious for the happiness of that sex whose

morals and conduct have so powerful an influence on mankind in general;

and convinced that I have not wrote a line that conveys a wrong idea to the

head or a corrupt wish to the heart, I shall rest satisfied in the purity of my

own intentions, and if I merit not applause, I feel that I dread not censure.

CHARLOTTE TEMPLE

If the following tale should save one hapless fair one from the errors

which ruined poor Charlotte, or rescue from impending misery the heart of

one anxious parent, I shall feel a much higher gratification in reflecting on

this trifling performance, than could possibly result from the applause

which might attend the most elegant finished piece of literature whose

tendency might deprave the heart or mislead the understanding.

CHARLOTTE TEMPLE

VOLUME I

CHAPTER I.

A BOARDING SCHOOL.

"ARE you for a walk," said Montraville to his companion, as they

arose from table; "are you for a walk? or shall we order the chaise and

proceed to Portsmouth?" Belcour preferred the former; and they sauntered

out to view the town, and to make remarks on the inhabitants, as they

returned from church.

Montraville was a Lieutenant in the army: Belcour was his brother

officer: they had been to take leave of their friends previous to their

departure for America, and were now returning to Portsmouth, where the

troops waited orders for embarkation. They had stopped at Chichester to

dine; and knowing they had sufficient time to reach the place of

destination before dark, and yet allow them a walk, had resolved, it being

Sunday afternoon, to take a survey of the Chichester ladies as they

returned from their devotions.

They had gratified their curiosity, and were preparing to return to the

inn without honouring any of the belles with particular notice, when

Madame Du Pont, at the head of her school, descended from the church.

Such an assemblage of youth and innocence naturally attracted the young

soldiers: they stopped; and, as the little cavalcade passed, almost

involuntarily pulled off their hats. A tall, elegant girl looked at Montraville

and blushed: he instantly recollected the features of Charlotte Temple,

whom he had once seen and danced with at a ball at Portsmouth. At that

time he thought on her only as a very lovely child, she being then only

thirteen; but the improvement two years had made in her person, and the

blush of recollection which suffused her cheeks as she passed, awakened

in his bosom new and pleasing ideas. Vanity led him to think that pleasure

at again beholding him might have occasioned the emotion he had

witnessed, and the same vanity led him to wish to see her again.

CHARLOTTE TEMPLE

"She is the sweetest girl in the world," said he, as he entered the inn.

Belcour stared. "Did you not notice her?" continued Montraville: "she had

on a blue bonnet, and with a pair of lovely eyes of the same colour, has

contrived to make me feel devilish odd about the heart."

"Pho," said Belcour, "a musket ball from our friends, the Americans,

may in less than two months make you feel worse."

"I never think of the future," replied Montraville; "but am determined

to make the most of the present, and would willingly compound with any

kind Familiar who would inform me who the girl is, and how I might be

likely to obtain an interview. "

But no kind Familiar at that time appearing, and the chaise which they

had ordered, driving up to the door, Montraville and his companion were

obliged to take leave of Chichester and its fair inhabitant, and proceed on

their journey.

But Charlotte had made too great an impression on his mind to be

easily eradicated: having therefore spent three whole days in thinking on

her and in endeavouring to form some plan for seeing her, he determined

to set off for Chichester, and trust to chance either to favour or frustrate his

designs. Arriving at the verge of the town, he dismounted, and sending the

servant forward with the horses, proceeded toward the place, where, in the

midst of an extensive pleasure ground, stood the mansion which contained

the lovely Charlotte Temple. Montraville leaned on a broken gate, and

looked earnestly at the house. The wall which surrounded it was high, and

perhaps the Argus's who guarded the Hesperian fruit within, were more

watchful than those famed of old.

"'Tis a romantic attempt," said he; "and should I even succeed in

seeing and conversing with her, it can be productive of no good: I must of

necessity leave England in a few days, and probably may never return;

why then should I endeavour to engage the affections of this lovely girl,

only to leave her a prey to a thousand inquietudes, of which at present she

has no idea? I will return to Portsmouth and think no more about her."

The evening now was closed; a serene stillness reigned; and the chaste

Queen of Night with her silver crescent faintly illuminated the hemisphere.

The mind of Montraville was hushed into composure by the serenity of the

CHARLOTTE TEMPLE

surrounding objects. "I will think on her no more," said he, and turned

with an intention to leave the place; but as he turned, he saw the gate

which led to the pleasure grounds open, and two women come out, who

walked arm-in-arm across the field.

"I will at least see who these are," said he. He overtook them, and

giving them the compliments of the evening, begged leave to see them

into the more frequented parts of the town: but how was he delighted,

when, waiting for an answer, he discovered, under the concealment of a

large bonnet, the face of Charlotte Temple.

He soon found means to ingratiate himself with her companion, who

was a French teacher at the school, and, at parting, slipped a letter he had

purposely written, into Charlotte's hand, and five guineas into that of

Mademoiselle, who promised she would endeavour to bring her young

charge into the field again the next evening.

CHAPTER II.

DOMESTIC CONCERNS.

MR.Temple was the youngest son of a nobleman whose fortune was

by no means adequate to the antiquity, grandeur, and I may add, pride of

the family. He saw his elder brother made completely wretched by

marrying a disagreeable woman, whose fortune helped to prop the sinking

dignity of the house; and he beheld his sisters legally prostituted to old,

decrepid men, whose titles gave them consequence in the eyes of the

world, and whose affluence rendered them splendidly miserable. "I will

not sacrifice internal happiness for outward shew," said he: "I will seek

Content; and, if I find her in a cottage, will embrace her with as much

cordiality as I should if seated on a throne."

Mr. Temple possessed a small estate of about five hundred pounds a

year; and with that he resolved to preserve independence, to marry where

the feelings of his heart should direct him, and to confine his expenses

within the limits of his income. He had a heart open to every generous

feeling of humanity, and a hand ready to dispense to those who wanted

part of the blessings he enjoyed himself.

As he was universally known to be the friend of the unfortunate, his

CHARLOTTE TEMPLE

advice and bounty was frequently solicited; nor was it seldom that he

sought out indigent merit, and raised it from obscurity, confining his own

expenses within a very narrow compass.

"You are a benevolent fellow," said a young officer to him one day;

"and I have a great mind to give you a fine subject to exercise the

goodness of your heart upon."

"You cannot oblige me more," said Temple, "than to point out any way

by which I can be serviceable to my fellow creatures."

"Come along then," said the young man, "we will go and visit a man

who is not in so good a lodging as he deserves; and, were it not that he has

an angel with him, who comforts and supports him, he must long since

have sunk under his misfortunes." The young man's heart was too full to

proceed; and Temple, unwilling to irritate his feelings by making further

enquiries, followed him in silence, til they arrived at the Fleet prison.

The officer enquired for Captain Eldridge: a person led them up

several pair of dirty stairs, and pointing to a door which led to a miserable,

small apartment, said that was the Captain's room, and retired.

The officer, whose name was Blakeney, tapped at the door, and was

bid to enter by a voice melodiously soft. He opened the door, and

discovered to Temple a scene which rivetted him to the spot with

astonishment.

The apartment, though small, and bearing strong marks of poverty,

was neat in the extreme. In an arm-chair, his head reclined upon his hand,

his eyes fixed on a book which lay open before him, sat an aged man in a

Lieutenant's uniform, which, though threadbare, would sooner call a blush

of shame into the face of those who could neglect real merit, than cause

the hectic of confusion to glow on the cheeks of him who wore it.

Beside him sat a lovely creature busied in painting a fan mount. She

was fair as the lily, but sorrow had nipped the rose in her cheek before it

was half blown. Her eyes were blue; and her hair, which was light brown,

was slightly confined under a plain muslin cap, tied round with a black

ribbon; a white linen gown and plain lawn handkerchief composed the

remainder of her dress; and in this simple attire, she was more irresistibly

charming to such a heart as Temple's, than she would have been, if

CHARLOTTE TEMPLE

adorned with all the splendor of a courtly belle.

When they entered, the old man arose from his seat, and shaking

Blakeney by the hand with great cordiality, offered Temple his chair; and

there being but three in the room, seated himself on the side of his little

bed with evident composure.

"This is a strange place," said he to Temple, "to receive visitors of

distinction in; but we must fit our feelings to our station. While I am not

ashamed to own the cause which brought me here, why should I blush at

my situation? Our misfortunes are not our faults; and were it not for that

poor girl--"

Here the philosopher was lost in the father. He rose hastily from his

seat, and walking toward the window, wiped off a tear which he was afraid

would tarnish the cheek of a sailor.

Temple cast his eye on Miss Eldridge: a pellucid drop had stolen from

her eyes, and fallen upon a rose she was painting. It blotted and

discoloured the flower. " 'Tis emblematic," said he mentally: "the rose of

youth and health soon fades when watered by the tear of affliction."

"My friend Blakeney," said he, addressing the old man, "told me I

could be of service to you: be so kind then, dear Sir, as to point out some

way in which I can relieve the anxiety of your heart and increase the

pleasures of my own."

"My good young man," said Eldridge, "you know not what you offer.

While deprived of my liberty I cannot be free from anxiety on my own

account; but that is a trifling concern; my anxious thoughts extend to one

more dear a thousand times than life: I am a poor weak old man, and must

expect in a few years to sink into silence and oblivion; but when I am gone,

who will protect that fair bud of innocence from the blasts of adversity, or

from the cruel hand of insult and dishonour. "

"Oh, my father!" cried Miss Eldridge, tenderly taking his hand, "be not

anxious on that account; for daily are my prayers offered to heaven that

our lives may terminate at the same instant, and one grave receive us both;

for why should I live when deprived of my only friend."

Temple was moved even to tears. "You will both live many years,"

said he, "and I hope see much happiness. Cheerly, my friend, cheerly;

CHARLOTTE TEMPLE

these passing clouds of adversity will serve only to make the sunshine of

prosperity more pleasing. But we are losing time: you might ere this have

told me who were your creditors, what were their demands, and other

particulars necessary to your liberation."

"My story is short," said Mr. Eldridge, "but there are some particulars

which will wring my heart barely to remember; yet to one whose offers of

friendship appear so open and disinterested, I will relate every

circumstance that led to my present, painful situation. But my child,"

continued he, addressing his daughter, "let me prevail on you to take this

opportunity, while my friends are with me, to enjoy the benefit of air and

exercise.

Go, my love; leave me now; to-morrow at your usual hour I will

expect you. "

Miss Eldridge impressed on his cheek the kiss of filial affection, and

obeyed.

CHAPTER III.

UNEXPECTED MISFORTUNES.

"MY life," said Mr. Eldridge, "till within these few years was marked

by no particular circumstance deserving notice. I early embraced the life

of a sailor, and have served my King with unremitted ardour for many

years. At the age of twenty-five I married an amiable woman; one son, and

the girl who just now left us, were the fruits of our union. My boy had

genius and spirit. I straitened my little income to give him a liberal

education, but the rapid progress he made in his studies amply

compensated for the inconvenience. At the academy where he received his

education he commenced an acquaintance with a Mr. Lewis, a young man

of affluent fortune: as they grew up their intimacy ripened into friendship,

and they became almost inseparable companions.

"George chose the profession of a soldier. I had neither friends or

money to procure him a commission, and had wished him to embrace a

nautical life: but this was repugnant to his wishes, and I ceased to urge

him on the subject.

"The friendship subsisting between Lewis and my son was of such a

CHARLOTTE TEMPLE

nature as gave him free access to our family; and so specious was his

manner that we hesitated not to state to him all our little difficulties in

regard to George's future views. He listened to us with attention, and

offered to advance any sum necessary for his first setting out.

"I embraced the offer, and gave him my note for the payment of it, but

he would not suffer me to mention any stipulated time, as he said I might

do it whenever most convenient to myself. About this time my dear Lucy

returned from school, and I soon began to imagine Lewis looked at her

with eyes of affection. I gave my child a caution to beware of him, and to

look on her mother as her fe,,end. She was unaffectedly artless; and when,

as I suspected, Lewis made professions of love, she confided in her

parents, and assured us her heart was perfectly unbiassed in his favour,

and she would chearfully submit to our direction.

"I took an early opportunity of questioning him concerning his

intentions towards my child: he gave an equivocal answer, and I forbade

him the house.

"The next day he sent and demanded payment of his money. It was not

in my power to comply with the demand. I requested three days to

endeavour to raise it, determining in that time to mortgage my half pay,

and live on a small annuity which my wife possessed, rather than be under

an obligation to so worthless a man: but this short time was not allowed

me; for that evening, as I was sitting down to supper, unsuspicious of

danger, an officer entered, and tore me from the embraces of my family.

"My wife had been for some time in a declining state of health: ruin at

once so unexpected and inevitable was a stroke she was not prepared to

bear, and I saw her faint into the arms of our servant, as I left my own

habitation for the comfortless walls of a prison. My poor Lucy, distracted

with her fears for us both, sunk on the floor and endeavoured to detain me

by her feeble efforts, but in vain; they forced open her arms; she shrieked,

and fell prostrate. But pardon me. The horrors of that night unman me. I

cannot proceed."

He rose from his seat, and walked several times across the room: at

length, attaining more composure, he cried--"What a mere infant I am!

Why, Sir, I never felt thus in the day of battle." "No," said Temple; "but

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CHARLOTTETEMPLE1CHARLOTTETEMPLEBYSUSANNAHASWELLROWSONCHARLOTTETEMPLE2PREFACE.FORtheperusaloftheyoungandthoughtlessofthefairsex,thisTaleofTruthisdesigned;andIcouldwishmyfairreaderstoconsideritasnotmerelytheeffusionofFancy,butasareality.ThecircumstancesonwhichIhavefoundedthisnovelwererelatedtomesomeli...

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