CHAPTER XX.
Virtue never appears so amiable as when reaching forth her hand to raise a fallen sister.
CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.
WHEN Charlotte awoke, she missed Montraville; but thinking he might have arisen early to enjoy the beauties of the morning, she was preparing to follow him, when casting her eye on the table, she saw a note, and opening it hastily, found these words-- "My dear Charlotte must not be surprised, if she does not see me again for some time: unavoidable business will prevent me that pleasure: be assured I am quite well this morning; and what your fond imagination magnified into illness, was nothing more than fatigue, which a few hours rest has entirely removed.

Make yourself happy, and be certain of the unalterable friendship of "MONTRAVILLE." "FRIENDSHIP!" said Charlotte emphatically, as she finished the note, "is it come to this at last?
Alas! poor, forsaken Charlotte, thy doom is now but too apparent.

Montraville is no longer interested in thy happiness; and shame, remorse, and disappointed love will henceforth be thy only attendants." Though these were the ideas that involuntarily rushed upon the mind of Charlotte as she perused the fatal note, yet after a few hours had elapsed, the syren Hope again took possession of her bosom, and she flattered herself she could, on a second perusal, discover an air of tenderness in the few lines he had left, which at first had escaped her notice.
"He certainly cannot be so base as to leave me," said she, "and in styling himself my friend does he not promise to protect me.

I will not torment myself with these causeless fears; I will place a confidence in his honour; and sure he will not be so unjust as to abuse it." Just as she had by this manner of reasoning brought her mind to some tolerable degree of composure, she was surprised by a visit from Belcour.

The dejection visible in Charlotte's countenance, her swoln eyes and neglected attire, at once told him she was unhappy: he made no doubt but Montraville had, by his coldness, alarmed her suspicions, and was resolved, if possible, to rouse her to jealousy, urge her to reproach him, and by that means occasion a breach between them.