〃Forgive her！〃 exclaimed the mother。 〃Oh yes； whatever be our errors；
is she not our child？ and though bowed to the earth even with shame and
remorse； is it not our duty to raise the poor penitent； and whisper peace
and comfort to her desponding soul？ would she but return； with rapture
would I fold her to my heart； and bury every remembrance of her faults in
the dear embrace。〃
But still day after day passed on； and Charlotte did not appear； nor
were any tidings to be heard of her： yet each rising morning was
welcomed by some new hopethe evening brought with it disappointment。
At length hope was no more； despair usurped her place； and the mansion
which was once the mansion of peace； became the habitation of pale；
dejected melancholy。
The chearful smile that was wont to adorn the face of Mrs。 Temple was
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fled； and had it not been for the support of unaffected piety； and a
consciousness of having ever set before her child the fairest example； she
must have sunk under this heavy affliction。
〃Since；〃 said she； 〃the severest scrutiny cannot charge me with any
breach of duty to have deserved this severe chastisement； I will bow
before the power who inflicts it with humble resignation to his will； nor
shall the duty of a wife be totally absorbed in the feelings of the mother； I
will endeavour to appear more chearful； and by appearing in some
measure to have conquered my own sorrow； alleviate the sufferings of my
husband； and rouse him from that torpor into which this misfortune has
plunged him。 My father too demands my care and attention： I must not； by
a selfish indulgence of my own grief； forget the interest those two dear
objects take in my happiness or misery： I will wear a smile on my face；
though the thorn rankles in my heart； and if by so doing； I in the smallest
degree contribute to restore their peace of mind； I shall be amply rewarded
for the pain the concealment of my own feelings may occasion。
Thus argued this excellent woman： and in the execution of so laudable
a resolution we shall leave her； to follow the fortunes of the hapless victim
of imprudence and evil counsellors。
CHAPTER XVI。
NECESSARY DIGRESSION。
ON board of the ship in which Charlotte and Mademoiselle were
embarked； was an officer of large unincumbered fortune and elevated rank；
and whom I shall call Crayton。
He was one of those men； who； having travelled in their youth； pretend
to have contracted a peculiar fondness for every thing foreign； and to hold
in contempt the productions of their own country； and this affected
partiality extended even to the women。
With him therefore the blushing modesty and unaffected simplicity of
Charlotte passed unnoticed； but the forward pertness of La Rue； the
freedom of her conversation； the elegance of her person； mixed with a
certain engaging JE NE SAIS QUOI； perfectly enchanted him。
The reader no doubt has already developed the character of La Rue：
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designing； artful； and selfish； she had accepted the devoirs of Belcour
because she was heartily weary of the retired life she led at the school；
wished to be released from what she deemed a slavery； and to return to
that vortex of folly and dissipation which had once plunged her into the
deepest misery； but her plan she flattered herself was now better formed：
she resolved to put herself under the protection of no man till she had first
secured a settlement； but the clandestine manner in which she left
Madame Du Pont's prevented her putting this plan in execution； though
Belcour solemnly protested he would make her a handsome settlement the
moment they arrived at Portsmouth。 This he afterwards contrived to evade
by a pretended hurry of business； La Rue readily conceiving he never
meant to fulfil his promise； determined to change her battery； and attack
the heart of Colonel Crayton。 She soon discovered the partiality he
entertained for her nation； and having imposed on him a feigned tale of
distress； representing Belcour as a villain who had seduced her from her
friends under promise of marriage； and afterwards betrayed her；
pretending great remorse for the errors she had committed； and declaring
whatever her affection for Belcour might have been； it was now entirely
extinguished； and she wished for nothing more than an opportunity to
leave a course of life which her soul abhorred； but she had no friends to
apply to； they had all renounced her； and guilt and misery would
undoubtedly be her future portion through life。
Crayton was possessed of many amiable qualities； though the peculiar
trait in his character； which we have already mentioned； in a great measure
threw a shade over them。 He was beloved for his humanity and
benevolence by all who knew him； but he was easy and unsuspicious
himself； and became a dupe to the artifice of others。
He was； when very young； united to an amiable Parisian lady； and
perhaps it was his affection for her that laid the foundation for the
partiality he ever retained for the whole nation。 He had by her one
daughter； who entered into the world but a few hours before her mother
left it。 This lady was universally beloved and admired； being endowed
with all the virtues of her mother； without the weakness of the father： she
was married to Major Beauchamp； and was at this time in the same fleet
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with her father； attending her husband to New…York。
Crayton was melted by the affected contrition and distress of La Rue：
he would converse with her for hours； read to her； play cards with her；
listen to all her complaints； and promise to protect her to the utmost of his
power。 La Rue easily saw his character； her sole aim was to awaken a
passion in his bosom that might turn out to her advantage； and in this aim
she was but too successful； for before the voyage was finished； the
infatuated Colonel gave her from under his hand a promise of marriage on
their arrival at New…York； under forfeiture of five thousand pounds。
And how did our poor Charlotte pass her time during a tedious and
tempestuous passage？ naturally delicate； the fatigue and sickness which
she endured rendered her so weak as to be almost entirely confined to her
bed： yet the kindness and attention of Montraville in some measure
contributed to alleviate her sufferings； and the hope of hearing from her
friends soon after her arrival； kept up her spirits； and cheered many a
gloomy hour。
But during the voyage a great revolution took place not only in the
fortune of La Rue but in the bosom of Belcour： whilst in pursuit of his
amour with Mademoiselle； he had attended little to the interesting；
inobtrusive charms of Charlotte； but when； cloyed by possession； and
disgusted with the art and dissimulation of one； he beheld the simplicity
and gentleness of the other； the contrast became too striking not to fill him
at once with surprise and admiration。 He frequently conversed with
Charlotte； he found her sensible； well informed； but diffident and
unassuming。 The languor which the fatigue of her body and perturbation
of her mind spread over her delicate features； served only in his opinion to
render her more lovely： he knew that Montraville did not design to marry
her； and he formed a resolution to endeavour to gain her himself whenever
Montraville should leave her。
Let not the reader imagine Belcour's designs were honourable。 Alas！
when once a woman has forgot the respect due to herself； by yielding to
the solicitations of illicit love； they lose all their consequence； even in the
eyes of the man whose art has betrayed them； and for whose sake they
have sacrificed every valuable consideration。
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The heedless Fair； who stoops to guilty joys；
A man may pitybut he must despise。 Nay； every libertine will think
he has a right to insult her with his licentious passion； and should the
unhappy creature shrink from the insolent overture； he will sneeringly
taunt her with pretence of modesty。
CHAPTER XVII。
A WEDDING。
ON the day before their arrival at New…Y
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