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〃Temple；〃 said she； assuming a look of firmness and composure； 〃tell
me the truth I beseech you。 I cannot bear this dreadful suspense。 What
misfortune has befallen my child？ Let me know the worst； and I will
endeavour to bear it as I ought。 〃
〃Lucy；〃 replied Mr。 Temple； 〃imagine your daughter alive； and in no
danger of death： what misfortune would you then dread？〃
〃There is one misfortune which is worse than death。 But I know my
child too well to suspect〃
〃Be not too confident； Lucy。〃
〃Oh heavens！〃 said she； 〃what horrid images do you start： is it possible
she should forget〃
〃She has forgot us all； my love； she has preferred the love of a stranger
to the affectionate protection of her friends。
〃Not eloped？〃 cried she eagerly。
Mr。 Temple was silent。
〃You cannot contradict it；〃 said she。 〃I see my fate in those tearful eyes。
Oh Charlotte！ Charlotte！ how ill have you requited our tenderness！ But；
Father of Mercies；〃 continued she； sinking on her knees； and raising her
streaming eyes and clasped hands to heaven； 〃this once vouchsafe to hear
a fond； a distracted mother's prayer。 Oh let thy bounteous Providence
watch over and protect the dear thoughtless girl； save her from the
miseries which I fear will be her portion； and oh！ of thine infinite mercy；
make her not a mother； lest she should one day feel what I now suffer。〃
The last words faultered on her tongue； and she fell fainting into the
arms of her husband； who had involuntarily dropped on his knees beside
her。
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A mother's anguish； when disappointed in her tenderest hopes； none
but a mother can conceive。 Yet； my dear young readers； I would have you
read this scene with attention； and reflect that you may yourselves one day
be mothers。 Oh my friends； as you value your eternal happiness； wound
not； by thoughtless ingratitude； the peace of the mother who bore you：
remember the tenderness； the care； the unremitting anxiety with which she
has attended to all your wants and wishes from earliest infancy to the
present day； behold the mild ray of affectionate applause that beams from
her eye on the performance of your duty： listen to her reproofs with silent
attention； they proceed from a heart anxious for your future felicity： you
must love her； nature； all…powerful nature； has planted the seeds of filial
affection in your bosoms。
Then once more read over the sorrows of poor Mrs。 Temple； and
remember； the mother whom you so dearly love and venerate will feel the
same； when you； forgetful of the respect due to your maker and yourself；
forsake the paths of virtue for those of vice and folly。
CHAPTER XV。
EMBARKATION。
IT was with the utmost difficulty that the united efforts of
Mademoiselle and Montraville could support Charlotte's spirits during
their short ride from Chichester to Portsmouth； where a boat waited to take
them immediately on board the ship in which they were to embark for
America。
As soon as she became tolerably composed； she entreated pen and ink
to write to her parents。 This she did in the most affecting； artless manner；
entreating their pardon and blessing； and describing the dreadful situation
of her mind； the conflict she suffered in endeavouring to conquer this
unfortunate attachment； and concluded with saying； her only hope of
future comfort consisted in the （perhaps delusive） idea she indulged； of
being once more folded in their protecting arms； and hearing the words of
peace and pardon from their lips。
The tears streamed incessantly while she was writing； and she was
frequently obliged to lay down her pen： but when the task was completed；
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and she had committed the letter to the care of Montraville to be sent to
the post office； she became more calm； and indulging the delightful hope
of soon receiving an answer that would seal her pardon； she in some
measure assumed her usual chearfulness。
But Montraville knew too well the consequences that must
unavoidably ensue； should this letter reach Mr。 Temple： he 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。
All Charlotte's hopes and wishes were now concentred in one； namely
that the fleet might be detained at Spithead till she could receive a letter
from her friends： but in this she was disappointed； for the second morning
after she went on board； the signal was made； the fleet weighed anchor；
and in a few hours （the wind being favourable） they bid adieu to the white
cliffs of Al…bion。
In the mean time every enquiry that could be thought of was made by
Mr。 and Mrs。 Temple； for many days did they indulge the fond hope that
she was merely gone off to be married； and that when the indissoluble
knot was once tied； she would return with the partner she had chosen； and
entreat their blessing and forgiveness。
〃And shall we not forgive her？〃 said Mr。 Temple。
〃Forgive her！〃 exclaimed the mother。 〃Oh yes； whatever be our errors；
is she not our child？ and though bowed to the earth even with shame and
remorse； is it not our duty to raise the poor penitent； and whisper peace
and comfort to her desponding soul？ would she but return； with rapture
would I fold her to my heart； and bury every remembrance of her faults in
the dear embrace。〃
But still day after day passed on； and Charlotte did not appear； nor
were any tidings to be heard of her： yet each rising morning was
welcomed by some new hopethe evening brought with it disappointment。
At length hope was no more； despair usurped her place； and the mansion
which was once the mansion of peace； became the habitation of pale；
dejected melancholy。
The chearful smile that was wont to adorn the face of Mrs。 Temple was
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fled； and had it not been for the support of unaffected piety； and a
consciousness of having ever set before her child the fairest example； she
must have sunk under this heavy affliction。
〃Since；〃 said she； 〃the severest scrutiny cannot charge me with any
breach of duty to have deserved this severe chastisement； I will bow
before the power who inflicts it with humble resignation to his will； nor
shall the duty of a wife be totally absorbed in the feelings of the mother； I
will endeavour to appear more chearful； and by appearing in some
measure to have conquered my own sorrow； alleviate the sufferings of my
husband； and rouse him from that torpor into which this misfortune has
plunged him。 My father too demands my care and attention： I must not； by
a selfish indulgence of my own grief； forget the interest those two dear
objects take in m