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on to ruin。〃
〃Ruin！ fiddlestick！〃 said Mademoiselle； 〃am I not going with you？ and
do I feel any of these qualms？〃
〃You do not renounce a tender father and mother；〃 said Charlotte。
〃But I hazard my dear reputation；〃 replied Mademoiselle； bridling。
〃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
anguish watered her pillow。
CHAPTER XII。
Nature's last； best gift： Creature in whom excell'd； whatever
could To sight or thought be nam'd！ Holy； divine！ good； amiable； and
sweet！ How thou art fall'n！ WHEN Charlotte left her restless bed；
her languid eye and pale cheek discovered to Madame Du Pont the
little repose she had tasted。
〃My dear child；〃 said the affectionate governess； 〃what is the cause of
the languor so apparent in your frame？ Are you not well？〃
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〃Yes； my dear Madam； very well；〃 replied Charlotte； attempting to
smile； 〃but I know not how it was； I could not sleep last night； and my
spirits are depressed this morning。〃
〃Come chear up； my love；〃 said the governess； 〃I believe I have
brought a cordial to revive them。 I have just received a letter from your
good mama； and here is one for yourself。〃
Charlotte hastily took the letter： it contained these words
〃As to…morrow is the anniversary of the happy day that gave my
beloved girl to the anxious wishes of a maternal heart； I have requested
your governess to let you come home and spend it with us； and as I know
you to be a good affectionate child； and make it your study to improve in
those branches of education which you know will give most pleasure to
your delighted parents； as a reward for your diligence and attention I have
prepared an agreeable surprise for your reception。 Your grand…father； eager
to embrace the darling of his aged heart； will come in the chaise for you；
so hold yourself in readiness to attend him by nine o'clock。 Your dear
father joins in every tender wish for your health and future felicity； which
warms the heart of my dear Charlotte's affectionate mother； L。 TEMPLE。〃
〃Gracious heaven！〃 cried Charlotte； forgetting where she was； and
raising her streaming eyes as in earnest supplication。
Madame Du Pont was surprised。 〃Why these tears； my love？〃 said she。
〃Why this seeming agitation？ I thought the letter would have rejoiced；
instead of distressing you。〃
〃It does rejoice me；〃 replied Charlotte； endeavouring at composure；
〃but I was praying for merit to deserve the unremitted attentions of the
best of parents。〃
〃You do right；〃 said Madame Du Pont； 〃to ask the assistance of heaven
that you may continue to deserve their love。 Continue； my dear Charlotte；
in the course you have ever pursued； and you will insure at once their
happiness and your own。 〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Charlotte； as her governess left her； 〃I have forfeited both
for ever！ Yet let me reflect：the irrevocable step is not yet taken： it is not
too late to recede from the brink of a precipice； from which I can only
behold the dark abyss of ruin； shame； and remorse！〃
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She arose from her seat； and flew to the apartment of La Rue。 〃Oh
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；〃 sai