Charlotte Temple: A Tale of Truth

Two British officers, Montraville and Belcour, are soon to leave for the United States from Portsmouth. They stop for lunch at Chichester, then walk to a nearby church to watch the women. Madame Du Pont, the headmaster of a local girls’ school, leads her charges out of the church. Montraville makes eye contact with Charlotte Temple, whom he previously met and danced with two years ago when she was 13 years old. Charlotte blushes, and Montraville, driven by vanity, decides he wants to see her again. Montraville talks to Belcour about Charlotte. Belcour warns him that they are about to leave for war in the United States, but Montraville doesn’t want to think about the future.

After three days, Montraville decides to return to Chichester to seek out Charlotte. He arrives at her school and stops at the gate, where he reflects on his circumstances. Attempting to dissuade himself, he acknowledges that he is in no position to pursue Charlotte. As he prepares to leave, he sees Charlotte and another woman, Mademoiselle La Rue, walk out into the courtyard. He speaks with them, then gives Charlotte a letter and bribes Mademoiselle La Rue to bring Charlotte out again the following night.