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Mademoiselle！〃 said she； 〃I am snatched by a miracle from destruction！
This letter has saved me： it has opened my eyes to the folly I was so near
committing。 I will not go； Mademoiselle； I will not wound the hearts of
those dear parents who make my happiness the whole study of their lives。〃
〃Well；〃 said Mademoiselle； 〃do as you please； Miss； but pray
understand that my resolution is taken； and it is not in your power to alter
it。 I shall meet the gentlemen at the appointed hour； and shall not be
surprized at any outrage which Montraville may commit； when he finds
himself disappointed。 Indeed I should not be astonished； was he to come
immediately here； and reproach you for your instability in the hearing of
the whole school： and what will be the consequence？ you will bear the
odium of having formed the resolution of eloping； and every girl of spirit
will laugh at your want of fortitude to put it in execution； while prudes and
fools will load you with reproach and contempt。 You will have lost the
confidence of your parents； incurred their anger； and the scoffs of the
world； and what fruit do you expect to reap from this piece of heroism；
（for such no doubt you think it is？） you will have the pleasure to reflect；
that you have deceived the man who adores you； and whom in your heart
you prefer to all other men； and that you are separated from him for ever。 〃
This eloquent harangue was given with such volubility； that Charlotte
could not find an opportunity to interrupt her； or to offer a single word till
the whole was finished； and then found her ideas so confused； that she
knew not what to say。
At length she determined that she would go with Mademoiselle to the
place of assignation； convince Montraville of the necessity of adhering to
the resolution of remaining behind； assure him of her affection； and bid
him adieu。
Charlotte formed this plan in her mind； and exulted in the certainty of
its success。 〃How shall I rejoice；〃 said she； 〃in this triumph of reason over
inclination； and； when in the arms of my affectionate parents； lift up my
soul in gratitude to heaven as I look back on the dangers I have escaped！〃
The hour of assignation arrived： Mademoiselle put what money and
valuables she possessed in her pocket； and advised Charlotte to do the
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same； but she refused； 〃my resolution is fixed 〃 said she； 〃I will sacrifice
love to duty。〃
Mademoiselle smiled internally； and they proceeded softly down the
back stairs and out of the garden gate。 Montraville and Belcour were ready
to receive them。
〃Now；〃 said Montraville； taking Charlotte in his arms； 〃you are mine
for ever。〃
〃No；〃 said she； withdrawing from his embrace； 〃I am come to take an
everlasting farewel。 〃
It would be useless to repeat the conversation that here ensued； suffice
it to say； that Montraville used every argument that had formerly been
successful； Charlotte's resolution began to waver； and he drew her almost
imperceptibly towards the chaise。
〃I cannot go；〃 said she： 〃cease； dear Montraville； to persuade。 I must
not： religion； duty； forbid。〃
〃Cruel Charlotte；〃 said he； 〃if you disappoint my ardent hopes； by all
that is sacred； this hand shall put a period to my existence。 I cannotwill
not live without you。〃
〃Alas！ my torn heart！〃 said Charlotte； 〃how shall I act？〃
〃Let me direct you；〃 said Montraville； lifting her into the chaise。
〃Oh！ my dear forsaken parents！〃 cried Charlotte。
The chaise drove off。 She shrieked； and fainted into the arms of her
betrayer。
CHAPTER XIII。
CRUEL DISAPPOINTMENT。
〃WHAT pleasure；〃 cried Mr。 Eldridge； as he stepped into the chaise to
go for his grand…daughter； 〃what pleasure expands the heart of an old man
when he beholds the progeny of a beloved child growing up in every
virtue that adorned the minds of her parents。 I foolishly thought； some few
years since； that every sense of joy was buried in the graves of my dear
partner and my son； but my Lucy； by her filial affection； soothed my soul
to peace； and this dear Charlotte has twined herself round my heart； and
opened such new scenes of delight to my view； that I almost forget I have
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ever been unhappy。〃
When the chaise stopped； he alighted with the alacrity of youth； so
much do the emotions of the soul influence the body。
It was half past eight o'clock； the ladies were assembled in the school
room； and Madame Du Pont was preparing to offer the morning sacrifice
of prayer and praise； when it was discovered； that Mademoiselle and
Charlotte were missing。
〃She is busy； no doubt；〃 said the governess； 〃in preparing Charlotte for
her little excursion； but pleasure should never make us forget our duty to
our Creator。 Go； one of you； and bid them both attend prayers。 〃
The lady who went to summon them； soon returned； and informed the
governess； that the room was locked； and that she had knocked repeatedly；
but obtained no answer。
〃Good heaven！〃 cried Madame Du Pont； 〃this is very strange：〃 and
turning pale with terror； she went hastily to the door； and ordered it to be
forced open。 The apartment instantly discovered； that no person had been
in it the preceding night； the beds appearing as though just made。 The
house was instantly a scene of confusion： the garden； the pleasure grounds
were searched to no purpose； every apartment rang with the names of Miss
Temple and Mademoiselle； but they were too distant to hear； and every
face wore the marks of disappointment。
Mr。 Eldridge was sitting in the parlour； eagerly expecting his grand…
daughter to descend； ready equipped for her journey： he heard the
confusion that reigned in the house； he heard the name of Charlotte
frequently repeated。 〃What can be the matter？〃 said he； rising and opening
the door： 〃I fear some accident has befallen my dear girl。〃
The governess entered。 The visible agitation of her countenance
discovered that something extraordinary had happened。
〃Where is Charlotte？〃 said he； 〃Why does not my child come to
welcome her doating parent？〃
〃Be composed； my dear Sir；〃 said Madame Du Pont； 〃do not frighten
yourself unnecessarily。 She is not in the house at present； but as
Mademoiselle is undoubtedly with her； she will speedily return in safety；
and I hope they will both be able to account for this unseasonable absence
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in such a manner as shall remove our present uneasiness。〃
〃Madam；〃 cried the old man； with an angry look； 〃has my child been
accustomed to go out without leave； with no other company or protector
than that French woman。 Pardon me； Madam； I mean no reflections on
your country； but I never did like Mademoiselle La Rue； I think she was a
very improper person to be entrusted with the care of such a girl as
Char