第 27 节
作者:闲来一看      更新:2024-01-16 22:40      字数:9322
  Such were the dreadful images that haunted her distracted mind; and
  nature was sinking fast under the dreadful malady which medicine had no
  power to remove。 The surgeon who attended her was a humane man; he
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  exerted   his   utmost   abilities   to   save   her;   but   he   saw   she   was   in   want   of
  many necessaries and comforts; which the poverty of her hospitable host
  rendered   him   unable   to   provide:   he   therefore   determined   to   make   her
  situation known to some of the officers' ladies; and endeavour to make a
  collection for her relief。
  When      he  returned    home;    after  making     this  resolution;   he   found   a
  message from Mrs。 Beauchamp; who had just arrived from Rhode…Island;
  requesting he would call and see one of her children; who was very unwell。
  〃I do not know;〃 said he; as he was hastening to obey the summons; 〃I do
  not know a woman to whom I could apply with more hope of success than
  Mrs。 Beauchamp。 I will endeavour to interest her in this poor girl's behalf;
  she wants the soothing balm of friendly consolation: we may perhaps save
  her; we will try at least。〃
  〃And   where   is   she;〃   cried   Mrs。   Beauchamp   when   he   had   prescribed
  something for the child; and told his little pathetic tale; 〃where is she; Sir?
  we will go to her immediately。 Heaven forbid that I should be deaf to the
  calls of humanity。 Come we will go this instant。〃 Then seizing the doctor's
  arm; they sought the habitation that contained the dying Charlotte。
  CHAPTER XXXIII。
  WHICH PEOPLE VOID OF FEELING NEED NOT READ。
  WHEN   Mrs。   Beauchamp   entered   the   apartment   of   the   poor   sufferer;
  she started back with horror。 On a wretched bed; without hangings and but
  poorly     supplied    with   covering;    lay  the  emaciated     figure   of  what    still
  retained the semblance of a lovely woman; though sickness had so altered
  her   features   that   Mrs。   Beauchamp   had   not   the   least   recollection   of   her
  person。 In one comer of the room stood a woman washing; and; shivering
  over   a   small   fire;   two   healthy   but   half   naked   children;   the   infant   was
  asleep beside its mother; and; on a chair by the bed side; stood a porrenger
  and wooden spoon; containing a little gruel; and a tea…cup with about two
  spoonfulls of wine in it。 Mrs。 Beauchamp had never before beheld such a
  scene   of   poverty;   she   shuddered   involuntarily;   and   exclaiming〃heaven
  preserve us!〃 leaned on the back of a chair ready to sink to the earth。 The
  doctor   repented   having   so   precipitately   brought   her   into   this   affecting
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  scene; but there was no time for apologies: Charlotte caught the sound of
  her voice; and starting almost out of bed; exclaimed〃Angel of peace and
  mercy; art thou come to deliver me? Oh; I know you are; for whenever you
  was near me I felt eased of half my sorrows; but you don't know me; nor
  can I; with all the recollection I am mistress of; remember your name just
  now;   but   I   know   that   benevolent   countenance;   and   the   softness   of   that
  voice which has so often comforted the wretched Charlotte。 〃
  Mrs。 Beauchamp had; during the time Charlotte was speaking; seated
  herself on the bed and taken one of her hands; she looked at her attentively;
  and at the name of Charlotte she perfectly conceived the whole shocking
  affair。 A faint sickness came over her。 〃Gracious heaven;〃 said she; 〃is this
  possible?〃      and   bursting    into  tears;   she   reclined   the   burning    head    of
  Charlotte on her own bosom; and folding her arms about her; wept over
  her in silence。 〃Oh;〃 said Charlotte; 〃you are very good to weep thus for
  me: it is a long time since I shed a tear for myself: my head and heart are
  both on fire; but these tears of your's seem to cool and refresh it。 Oh now I
  remember   you   said   you   would   send   a   letter   to   my   poor   father:   do   you
  think he ever received it? or perhaps you have brought me an answer: why
  don't you speak;  Madam? Does he say  I   may go   home? Well he is   very
  good; I shall soon be ready。〃
  She   then   made   an   effort   to   get   out   of   bed;   but   being   prevented;   her
  frenzy     again   returned;    and   she   raved    with   the  greatest    wildness    and
  incoherence。   Mrs。   Beauchamp;   finding   it   was   impossible   for   her   to   be
  removed; contented herself with ordering the apartment to be made more
  comfortable; and procuring a proper nurse for both mother and child; and
  having   learnt   the   particulars   of   Charlotte's   fruitless   application   to   Mrs。
  Crayton from honest John; she amply rewarded him for his benevolence;
  and returned home with a heart oppressed with many painful sensations;
  but   yet   rendered   easy   by   the   reflexion   that   she   had   performed   her   duty
  towards a distressed fellow…creature。
  Early   the   next   morning   she   again   visited   Charlotte;   and   found   her
  tolerably composed; she called her by name; thanked her for her goodness;
  and when her child was brought to her; pressed it in her arms; wept over it;
  and called it the offspring of disobedience。 Mrs。 Beauchamp was delighted
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  to see her so much amended; and began to hope she might recover; and;
  spite of her   former errors; become   an   useful and   respectable   member   of
  society; but the arrival of the doctor put an end to these delusive hopes: he
  said    nature    was   making     her   last  effort;   and   a  few   hours    would     most
  probably consign the unhappy girl to her kindred dust。
  Being   asked   how   she   found   herself;   she   replied〃Why   better;   much
  better; doctor。 I hope now I have but little more to suffer。 I had last night a
  few     hours    sleep;    and    when     I  awoke     recovered      the   full   power     of
  recollection。 I am  quite sensible of   my weakness;   I feel I have but little
  longer to combat with the shafts of affliction。 I have an humble confidence
  in   the   mercy    of   him   who    died    to  save   the   world;    and   trust  that   my
  sufferings   in   this   state   of   mortality;   joined   to   my   unfeigned   repentance;
  through      his  mercy;     have    blotted    my   offences     from    the   sight   of   my
  offended   maker。   I   have   but   one   caremy  poor   infant!   Father   of   mercy;〃
  continued   she;   raising   her   eyes;   〃of   thy  infinite   goodness;  grant   that   the
  sins of the parent be not visited on the unof…fending child。 May those who
  taught   me   to   despise   thy   laws   be   forgiven;   lay   not   my   offences   to   their
  charge;   I   beseech   thee;   and   oh!   shower   the   choicest   of   thy   blessings   on
  those whose pity has soothed the afflicted heart; and made easy even the
  bed of pain and sickness。〃
  She was exhausted by this fervent address to the throne of mercy; and
  though her lips still moved her voice became inarticulate: she lay for some
  time    as   it  were   in  a  doze;    and   then   recovering;     faintly   pressed     Mrs。
  Beauchamp's hand; and requested that a clergyman might be sent for。
  On    his   arrival   she   joined   fervently   in    the  pious    office;   frequently
  mentioning her ingratitude   to   her parents   as   what   lay  most   heavy  at   her
  heart。 When she had performed the last solemn duty; and was preparing to
  lie down; a little bustle on the outside door occasioned Mrs。 Beauchamp to
  open it; and enquire the cause。 A man in appearance about forty; presented
  himself; and asked for Mrs。 Beauchamp。
  〃That is my name; Sir;〃 said she。
  〃Oh then; my dear Madam;〃 cried he; 〃tell me where I may find my
  poor; ruined; but repentant child。〃
  Mrs。 Beauchamp was surprised and affected; she knew not what to say;
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  she foresaw the agony this interview would occasion Mr。 Temple; who had
  just arrived in search of his Charlotte; and yet was sensible that the pardon
  and blessing of her father would soften even the agonies of death to the
  daughter。
  She hesitated。 〃Tell me; Madam;〃 cried he wildly; 〃tell me; I beseech
  thee; does she live? shall I see my darling once again? Perhaps she is in
  this house。 Lead; lead me to her; that I may ble