“Then we will never be parted,” said he.
“Ah, Montraville,” replied Charlotte, forcing a smile, “how can it be avoided? My parents would never consent to our union; and even could they be brought to approve it, how should I bear to be separated from my kind, my beloved mother?”
“Then you love your parents more than you do me, Charlotte?”
“I hope I do,” said she, blushing and looking down, “I hope my affection for them will ever keep me from infringing3 the laws of filial duty.”
“Well, Charlotte,” said Montraville gravely, and letting go her hand, “since that is the case, I find I have deceived myself with fallacious hopes. I had flattered my fond heart, that I was dearer to Charlotte than any thing in the world beside. I thought that you would for my sake have braved the dangers of the ocean, that you would, by your affection and smiles, have softened4 the hardships of war, and, had it been my fate to fall, that your tenderness would cheer the hour of death, and smooth my passage to another world. But farewel, Charlotte! I see you never loved me. I shall now welcome the friendly ball that deprives me of the sense of my misery5.”
“Oh stay, unkind Montraville,” cried she, catching6 hold of his arm, as he pretended to leave her, “stay, and to calm your fears, I will here protest that was it not for the fear of giving pain to the best of parents, and returning their kindness with ingratitude7, I would follow you through every danger, and, in studying to promote your happiness, insure my own. But I cannot break my mother's heart, Montraville; I must not bring the grey hairs of my doating grand-father with sorrow to the grave, or make my beloved father perhaps curse the hour that gave me birth.” She covered her face with her hands, and burst into tears.
“All these distressing8 scenes, my dear Charlotte,” cried Montraville, “are merely the chimeras9 of a disturbed fancy. Your parents might perhaps grieve at first; but when they heard from your own hand that you was with a man of honour, and that it was to insure your felicity by an union with him, to which you feared they would never have given their assent10, that you left their protection, they will, be assured, forgive an error which love alone occasioned, and when we return from America, receive you with open arms and tears of joy.”
Belcour and Mademoiselle heard this last speech, and conceiving it a proper time to throw in their advice and persuasions11, approached Charlotte, and so well seconded the entreaties12 of Montraville, that finding Mademoiselle intended going with Belcour, and feeling her own treacherous heart too much inclined to accompany them, the hapless Charlotte, in an evil hour, consented that the next evening they should bring a chaise to the end of the town, and that she would leave her friends, and throw herself entirely13 on the protection of Montraville. “But should you,” said she, looking earnestly at him, her eyes full of tears, “should you, forgetful of your promises, and repenting15 the engagements you here voluntarily enter into, forsake16 and leave me on a foreign shore—” “Judge not so meanly of me,” said he. “The moment we reach our place of destination, Hymen shall sanctify our love; and when I shall forget your goodness, may heaven forget me.”
“Ah,” said Charlotte, leaning on Mademoiselle's arm as they walked up the garden together, “I have forgot all that I ought to have remembered, in consenting to this intended elopement.”
“You are a strange girl,” said Mademoiselle: “you never know your own mind two minutes at a time. Just now you declared Montraville's happiness was what you prized most in the world; and now I suppose you repent14 having insured that happiness by agreeing to accompany him abroad.”
“Indeed I do repent,” replied Charlotte, “from my soul: but while discretion17 points out the impropriety of my conduct, inclination18 urges me on to ruin.”
“Ruin! fiddlestick!” said Mademoiselle; “am I not going with you? and do I feel any of these qualms19?”
“You do not renounce20 a tender father and mother,” said Charlotte.
“But I hazard my dear reputation,” replied Mademoiselle, bridling21.
“True,” replied Charlotte, “but you do not feel what I do.” She then bade her good night: but sleep was a stranger to her eyes, and the tear of anguish22 watered her pillow.
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1
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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2
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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3
infringing
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| v.违反（规章等）( infringe的现在分词 )；侵犯（某人的权利）；侵害（某人的自由、权益等） | |
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4
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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5
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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6
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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7
ingratitude
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| n.忘恩负义 | |
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8
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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9
chimeras
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| n.（由几种动物的各部分构成的）假想的怪兽( chimera的名词复数 )；不可能实现的想法；幻想；妄想 | |
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10
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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persuasions
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| n.劝说，说服（力）( persuasion的名词复数 )；信仰 | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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13
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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15
repenting
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的现在分词 ) | |
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16
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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17
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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18
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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19
qualms
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| n.不安；内疚 | |
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20
renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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21
bridling
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| 给…套龙头( bridle的现在分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气 | |
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22
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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