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her in silence。 〃Oh；〃 said Charlotte； 〃you are very good to weep thus for
me： it is a long time since I shed a tear for myself： my head and heart are
both on fire； but these tears of your's seem to cool and refresh it。 Oh now I
remember you said you would send a letter to my poor father： do you
think he ever received it？ or perhaps you have brought me an answer： why
don't you speak； Madam？ Does he say I may go home？ Well he is very
good； I shall soon be ready。〃
She then made an effort to get out of bed； but being prevented； her
frenzy again returned； and she raved with the greatest wildness and
incoherence。 Mrs。 Beauchamp； finding it was impossible for her to be
removed； contented herself with ordering the apartment to be made more
comfortable； and procuring a proper nurse for both mother and child； and
having learnt the particulars of Charlotte's fruitless application to Mrs。
Crayton from honest John； she amply rewarded him for his benevolence；
and returned home with a heart oppressed with many painful sensations；
but yet rendered easy by the reflexion that she had performed her duty
towards a distressed fellow…creature。
Early the next morning she again visited Charlotte； and found her
tolerably composed； she called her by name； thanked her for her goodness；
and when her child was brought to her； pressed it in her arms； wept over it；
and called it the offspring of disobedience。 Mrs。 Beauchamp was delighted
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to see her so much amended； and began to hope she might recover； and；
spite of her former errors； become an useful and respectable member of
society； but the arrival of the doctor put an end to these delusive hopes： he
said nature was making her last effort； and a few hours would most
probably consign the unhappy girl to her kindred dust。
Being asked how she found herself； she replied〃Why better； much
better； doctor。 I hope now I have but little more to suffer。 I had last night a
few hours sleep； and when I awoke recovered the full power of
recollection。 I am quite sensible of my weakness； I feel I have but little
longer to combat with the shafts of affliction。 I have an humble confidence
in the mercy of him who died to save the world； and trust that my
sufferings in this state of mortality； joined to my unfeigned repentance；
through his mercy； have blotted my offences from the sight of my
offended maker。 I have but one caremy poor infant！ Father of mercy；〃
continued she； raising her eyes； 〃of thy infinite goodness； grant that the
sins of the parent be not visited on the unof…fending child。 May those who
taught me to despise thy laws be forgiven； lay not my offences to their
charge； I beseech thee； and oh！ shower the choicest of thy blessings on
those whose pity has soothed the afflicted heart； and made easy even the
bed of pain and sickness。〃
She was exhausted by this fervent address to the throne of mercy； and
though her lips still moved her voice became inarticulate： she lay for some
time as it were in a doze； and then recovering； faintly pressed Mrs。
Beauchamp's hand； and requested that a clergyman might be sent for。
On his arrival she joined fervently in the pious office； frequently
mentioning her ingratitude to her parents as what lay most heavy at her
heart。 When she had performed the last solemn duty； and was preparing to
lie down； a little bustle on the outside door occasioned Mrs。 Beauchamp to
open it； and enquire the cause。 A man in appearance about forty； presented
himself； and asked for Mrs。 Beauchamp。
〃That is my name； Sir；〃 said she。
〃Oh then； my dear Madam；〃 cried he； 〃tell me where I may find my
poor； ruined； but repentant child。〃
Mrs。 Beauchamp was surprised and affected； she knew not what to say；
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she foresaw the agony this interview would occasion Mr。 Temple； who had
just arrived in search of his Charlotte； and yet was sensible that the pardon
and blessing of her father would soften even the agonies of death to the
daughter。
She hesitated。 〃Tell me； Madam；〃 cried he wildly； 〃tell me； I beseech
thee； does she live？ shall I see my darling once again？ Perhaps she is in
this house。 Lead； lead me to her； that I may bless her； and then lie down
and die。〃
The ardent manner in which he uttered these words occasioned him to
raise his voice。 It caught the ear of Charlotte： she knew the beloved sound：
and uttering a loud shriek； she sprang forward as Mr。 Temple entered the
room。 〃My adored father。〃 〃My long lost child。〃 Nature could support no
more； and they both sunk lifeless into the arms of the attendants。
Charlotte was again put into bed； and a few moments restored Mr。
Temple： but to describe the agony of his sufferings is past the power of
any one； who； though they may readily conceive； cannot delineate the
dreadful scene。 Every eye gave testimony of what each heart felt but all
were silent。
When Charlotte recovered； she found herself supported in her father's
arms。 She cast on him a most expressive look； but was unable to speak。 A
reviving cordial was administered。 She then asked in a low voice； for her
child： it was brought to her： she put it in her father's arms。 〃Protect her；〃
said she； 〃and bless your dying〃
Unable to finish the sentence； she sunk back on her pillow： her
countenance was serenely composed； she regarded her father as he pressed
the infant to his breast with a steadfast look； a sudden beam of joy passed
across her languid features； she raised her eyes to heavenand then closed
them for ever。
CHAPTER XXXIV。
RETRIBUTION。
IN the mean time Montraville having received orders to return to New…
York； arrived； and having still some remains of compassionate tenderness
for the woman whom he regarded as brought to shame by himself； he went
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out in search of Belcour； to enquire whether she was safe； and whether the
child lived。 He found him imme