He fell, and expired almost instantly.

“Alas!” said Mr. Temple, “if thou wert the seducer of my child, thy own reflexions be thy punishment.

“beware if you have dared to behave either unjust or dishonourably to that poor girl, your life shall pay the forfeit:—I will revenge her cause.”

“Oh then, my dear Madam,” cried he, “tell me where I may find my poor, ruined, but repentant child.”

offspring of disobedience

WHICH PEOPLE VOID OF FEELING NEED NOT READ.

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.

and before the dawn gave birth to a female infant.

The kneeling figure of Charlotte in her affecting situation might have moved the heart of a stoic to compassion; but Mrs. Crayton remained inflexible.

I hope, Sir, your prejudices are now removed in regard to the probability of my story? Oh they are. Well then, with your leave, I will proceed.

and do you think I will give away my property to a nasty, impudent hussey, to maintain her and her bastard; an I was saying to my husband the other day what will this world come to; honest women are nothing now-a-days, while the harlotings are set up for fine ladies, and look upon us no more nor the dirt they walk upon

Never did any human being wish for death with greater fervency or with juster cause

he gave up the attempt, and left her to follow the bent of her own inclinations

ttracted by the blooming health of a farmer’s daughter

and I lifted you into the chaise

Belcour promised to fulfil the request of his friend, though nothing was farther from his intentions

but I will place a sum of money in your hands, which will amply supply her with every convenience

“Yes, we will receive her,” said Mr. Temple; “we will endeavour to heal her wounded spirit, and speak peace and comfort to her agitated soul. I will write to her to return immediately.’

“Alas!” said Julia, “I pity you.”

Oh that cursed French woman,

Had it not been for me, she had still been virtuous and happy in the affection and protection of her family.

“‘Tis false; I never desired him to come, and you know I did not: but mark me, Charlotte, from this instant our connexion is at an end. Let Belcour, or any other of your favoured lovers, take you and provide for you; I have done with you for ever.”

and the first object that met his eyes was Charlotte asleep on the bed, and Belcour by her side.

he was commanded on duty

so come along, my lad, make good use of opportunity, and seize the gifts of fortune while they are within your reach

Montraville turned pale as ashes. “Then there is no faith in woman,” said he.

because a little foolish, fond girl chose to leave her friends, and run away with you to America.

A MAN MAY SMILE, AND SMILE, AND BE A VILLAIN.

If my child should be a girl (which heaven forbid

by one of my own sex,

shouldst thou even disown me, I dare not complain, because I know I have deserved it

she was shocked to the soul to find how large a share La Rue had in the seduction of this amiable girl, and a tear fell, when she reflected so vile a woman was now the wife of her father.

She paused, glanced her eye upon her own visible situation, and, spite of her endeavours to suppress them, burst into tears.

I would pay her a visit, offer her my friendship, and endeavour to restore to her heart that peace she seems to have lost, and so pathetically laments.

Come, friendly death, thy mandate give, And let me be at peace.

but before he went he fixed a scorpion in the heart of Charlotte, whose venom embittered every future hour of her life.

her swoln eyes and neglected attire, at once told him she was unhappy

“He certainly cannot be so base as to leave me,”

My dear Charlotte must not be surprised, if she does not see me again for some time:

“I shall never forget you, Charlotte,” he replied, pressing her hand.

“I imagined I loved Charlotte: but alas! I am now too late convinced my attachment to her was merely the impulse of the moment.

Montraville glanced his eye on her grey night gown and black ribbon

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 melancholy Charlotte, and endeavour to forget this fascinating Julia.”

he forgot Charlotte, and indulged himself in saying every thing that was polite and tender to Julia

Montraville was introduced to her by the following accident.

shame bows her to the earth, remorse tears her distracted mind, and guilt, poverty, and disease close the dreadful scene: she sinks unnoticed to oblivion.

and laments her want of power to recall his lost affection; she knows there is no tie but honour, and that, in a man who has been guilty of seduction, is but very feeble: he may leave her in a moment to shame and want; he may marry and forsake her for ever

she knows he cannot leave her to unite himself to another: he cannot cast her out to poverty and contempt

The wife, whose breast glows with affection to her husband, and who in return meets only indifference, can but faintly conceive her anguish.

What painful hours of expectation would she pass! She would sit at a window which looked toward a field he used to cross, counting the minutes, and straining her eyes to catch the first glimpse of his person, till blinded with tears of disappointment, she would lean her head on her hands, and give free vent to her sorrows:

hat all her sorrows were forgotten while blest with his society

but business and pleasure so entirely occupied his time

He laughed at her simplicity, called her a little idiot, and patting her on the cheek, said she knew nothing of the world.

her sole aim was to awaken a passion in his bosom that might turn out to her advantage

e therefore wisely resolved to walk on the deck, tear it in pieces, and commit the fragments to the care of Neptune, who might or might not, as it suited his convenience, convey them on shore.

There is one misfortune which is worse than death.

Oh would to heaven I had died but yesterday.”

I think she was a very improper person to be entrusted with the care of such a girl as Charlotte Temple, or to be suffered to take her from under your immediate protection.”

into the arms of her betrayer.

“if you disappoint my ardent hopes, by all that is sacred, this hand shall put a period to my existence. I cannot—will not live without you.”

“you are mine for ever.”

convince Montraville of the necessity of adhering to the resolution of remaining behind; assure him of her affection, and bid him adieu.

“But I hazard my dear reputation,” replied Mademoiselle, bridling.

Hymen shall sanctify our love

I had flattered my fond heart, that I was dearer to Charlotte than any thing in the world beside.

that treacherous heart betrayed her; and, forgetful of its resolution, pleaded the cause of the enemy so powerfully, that Charlotte was unable to resist.

Remember, therefore, your success in life depends entirely on yourself.

I have been so lucky as to find the road to happiness, why should I be such a niggard as to omit so good an opportunity of pointing out the way to others.

there is none equal to that which warms and expands the bosom, when listening to commendations bestowed on us by a beloved object, and are conscious of having deserved them.

She saw, that the contents had awakened new emotions in her youthful bosom: she encouraged her hopes, calmed her fears, and before they parted for the night, it was determined that she should meet Montraville the ensuing evening.

I should never read a letter given me by a young man, without first giving it to her.

“Prithee, don’t be such a foolish little prude,”

I mean no more by what I have here advanced, than to ridicule those romantic girls, who foolishly imagine a red coat and silver epaulet constitute the fine gentleman; and should that fine gentleman make half a dozen fine speeches to them, they will imagine themselves so much in love as to fancy it a meritorious action to jump out of a two pair of stairs window, abandon their friends, and trust entirely to the honour of a man, who perhaps hardly knows the meaning of the word, and if he does, will be too much the modern man of refinement, to practice it in their favour.

ah! well-a-day for the poor girl who gazes on him: she is in imminent danger; but if she listens to him with pleasure, ’tis all over with her, and from that moment she has neither eyes nor ears for any other object.

will easily imagine the letter was made up of encomiums on her beauty, and vows of everlasting love and constancy; nor will he be surprised that a heart open to every gentle, generous sentiment, should feel itself warmed by gratitude for a man who professed to feel so much for her

She was astonished at the liberties Mademoiselle permitted them to take; grew thoughtful and uneasy, and heartily wished herself at home again in her own chamber.

pure and innocent by nature, it thinks not of the dangers lurking beneath those pleasures, till too late to avoid them

But Mademoiselle possessed too much of the spirit of intrigue to remain long without adventures.

attended by Love and Hymen,

when first she heard of Temple’s refusal, wept, raved, tore her hair, and vowed to found a protestant nunnery with her fortune

determined to offer himself a candidate for Miss Weatherby’s favour.

marrying a woman for no other reason than because the affluence of her fortune would enable him to injure her by maintaining in splendor the woman to whom his heart was devoted

Such was Miss Weatherby: her form lovely as nature could make it, but her mind uncultivated, her heart unfeeling, her passions impetuous, and her brain almost turned with flattery, dissipation, and pleasure; and such was the girl, whom a partial grandfather left independent mistress of the fortune before mentioned.

“Were my fortune such as would support her according to her merit, I don’t know a woman more formed to insure happiness in the married state.”

He pitied their sufferings, overlooked their faults, thought every bosom as generous as his own

When the heart has will, the hands can soon find means to execute a good action.

“but he has left orders with his lawyer never to give up the note till the utmost farthing is paid.”

When my wife and son were committed to their kindred earth, my creditors seized my house and furniture, which not being sufficient to discharge all their demands, detainers were lodged against me. No friend stepped forward to my relief; from the grave of her mother, my beloved Lucy followed an almost dying father to this melancholy place.

She fell into a strong convulsion, and expired in about two hours.

; but offered to release me immediately, and make any settlement on her, if George would persuade her to live, as he impiously termed it, a life of honour.

The next day he sent and demanded payment of his money.

these passing clouds of adversity will serve only to make the sunshine of prosperity more pleasing.

in which I can relieve the anxiety of your heart and increase the pleasures of my own.

wiped off a tear which he was afraid would tarnish the cheek of a sailor.

As he was universally known to be the friend of the unfortunate, his advice and bounty was frequently solicited

and he beheld his sisters legally prostituted to old, decrepid men

slipped a letter he had purposely written, into Charlotte’s hand, and five guineas into that of Mademoiselle

the face of Charlotte Temple.

“I will at least see who these are,”

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?

where, in the midst of an extensive pleasure ground, stood the mansion which contained the lovely Charlotte Temple.

having therefore spent three whole days in thinking on her and in endeavouring to form some plan for seeing her

“I never think of the future,”

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.

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

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.

I have not wrote a line that conveys a wrong idea to the head or a corrupt wish to the heart

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

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