One night when he was upon guard, a dreadful fire broke out near Mr. Franklin's house, which, in a few hours, reduced that and several others to ashes; fortunately no lives were lost, and, by the assiduity of the soldiers, much valuable property was saved from the flames. In the midst of the confusion an old gentleman came up to Montraville, and, putting a small box into his hands, cried—“Keep it, my good Sir, till I come to you again;” and then rushing again into the thickest of the crowd, Montraville saw him no more. He waited till the fire was quite extinguished and the mob dispersed7; but in vain: the old gentleman did not appear to claim his property; and Montraville, fearing to make any enquiry, lest he should meet with impostors who might lay claim, without any legal right, to the box, carried it to his lodgings8, and locked it up: he naturally imagined, that the person who committed it to his care knew him, and would, in a day or two, reclaim9 it; but several weeks passed on, and no enquiry being made, he began to be uneasy, and resolved to examine the contents of the box, and if they were, as he supposed, valuable, to spare no pains to discover, and restore them to the owner. Upon opening it, he found it contained jewels to a large amount, about two hundred pounds in money, and a miniature picture set for a bracelet10. On examining the picture, he thought he had somewhere seen features very like it, but could not recollect11 where. A few days after, being at a public assembly, he saw Miss Franklin, and the likeness12 was too evident to be mistaken: he enquired13 among his brother officers if any of them knew her, and found one who was upon terms of intimacy14 in the family: “then introduce me to her immediately,” said he, “for I am certain I can inform her of something which will give her peculiar15 pleasure.”
He was immediately introduced, found she was the owner of the jewels, and was invited to breakfast the next morning in order to their restoration. This whole evening Montraville was honoured with Julia's hand; the lively sallies of her wit, the elegance16 of her manner, powerfully charmed him: he forgot Charlotte, and indulged himself in saying every thing that was polite and tender to Julia. But on retiring, recollection returned. “What am I about?” said he: “though I cannot marry Charlotte, I cannot be villain17 enough to forsake18 her, nor must I dare to trifle with the heart of Julia Franklin. I will return this box,” said he, “which has been the source of so much uneasiness already, and in the evening pay a visit to my poor melancholy19 Charlotte, and endeavour to forget this fascinating Julia.”
He arose, dressed himself, and taking the picture out, “I will reserve this from the rest,” said he, “and by presenting it to her when she thinks it is lost, enhance the value of the obligation.” He repaired to Mr. Franklin's, and found Julia in the breakfast parlour alone.
“How happy am I, Madam,” said he, “that being the fortunate instrument of saving these jewels has been the means of procuring20 me the acquaintance of so amiable21 a lady. There are the jewels and money all safe.”
“But where is the picture, Sir?” said Julia.
“Here, Madam. I would not willingly part with it.”
“It is the portrait of my mother,” said she, taking it from him: “'tis all that remains22.” She pressed it to her lips, and a tear trembled in her eyes. Montraville glanced his eye on her grey night gown and black ribbon, and his own feelings prevented a reply.
Julia Franklin was the very reverse of Charlotte Temple: she was tall, elegantly shaped, and possessed23 much of the air and manner of a woman of fashion; her complexion24 was a clear brown, enlivened with the glow of health, her eyes, full, black, and sparkling, darted25 their intelligent glances through long silken lashes26; her hair was shining brown, and her features regular and striking; there was an air of innocent gaiety that played about her countenance27, where good humour sat triumphant28.
“I have been mistaken,” said Montraville. “I imagined I loved Charlotte: but alas29! I am now too late convinced my attachment30 to her was merely the impulse of the moment. I fear I have not only entailed31 lasting32 misery33 on that poor girl, but also thrown a barrier in the way of my own happiness, which it will be impossible to surmount34. I feel I love Julia Franklin with ardour and sincerity35; yet, when in her presence, I am sensible of my own inability to offer a heart worthy36 her acceptance, and remain silent.” Full of these painful thoughts, Montraville walked out to see Charlotte: she saw him approach, and ran out to meet him: she banished37 from her countenance the air of discontent which ever appeared when he was absent, and met him with a smile of joy.
“I thought you had forgot me, Montraville,” said she, “and was very unhappy.”
“I shall never forget you, Charlotte,” he replied, pressing her hand.
The uncommon38 gravity of his countenance, and the brevity of his reply, alarmed her.
“You are not well,” said she; “your hand is hot; your eyes are heavy; you are very ill.”
“I am a villain,” said he mentally, as he turned from her to hide his emotions.
“But come,” continued she tenderly, “you shall go to bed, and I will sit by, and watch you; you will be better when you have slept.”
Montraville was glad to retire, and by pretending sleep, hide the agitation39 of his mind from her penetrating40 eye. Charlotte watched by him till a late hour, and then, lying softly down by his side, sunk into a profound sleep, from whence she awoke not till late the next morning.
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1
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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3
susceptible
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| adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的 | |
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prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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scrutinize
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| n.详细检查，细读 | |
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6
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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7
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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8
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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9
reclaim
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| v.要求归还，收回；开垦 | |
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10
bracelet
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| n.手镯，臂镯 | |
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11
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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12
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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13
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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14
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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15
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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16
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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17
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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18
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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19
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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20
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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21
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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22
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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23
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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24
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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25
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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26
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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27
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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28
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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29
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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30
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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31
entailed
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| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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32
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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33
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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34
surmount
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| vt.克服；置于…顶上 | |
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35
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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36
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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37
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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39
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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40
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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