The Marriages
The Lady Blanche and Emily St. Aubert are married on the same day at Château-le-Blanc with ancient baronial magnificence, uniting the novel’s primary couples in a double celebration.
Wedding Feast
The wedding festivities take place in the castle’s great hall, adorned with new tapestry depicting Charlemagne’s exploits, unfurled banners of the Villeroi family, and music echoing through the galleries. The celebration captures the grandeur of a bygone era.
Enchanted Palace
Annette, gazing from the corridor upon the illuminated hall with its brilliant lamps, splendid dresses, and velvet canopies, declares herself transported to an enchanted palace reminiscent of fairy tales. Old Dorothée sighs, noting the castle appears as it did in her youth.
Return to La Vallée
After several days of festivities at Château-le-Blanc, Valancourt and Emily return to La Vallée, where faithful Theresa receives them with joy. They wander through scenes once inhabited by Emily’s late parents, finding comfort in familiar places.
The Terrace Vow
Valancourt leads Emily to the plane-tree on the terrace where he first declared his love. There, mindful of St. Aubert’s memory, they solemnly vow to deserve their happiness by emulating his benevolence, remembering that superior attainments bring duties of superior exertion, and living lives of grateful thankfulness to God and tender kindness to His creatures.
Brother’s Generosity
Valancourt’s brother visits to congratulate them on their marriage. So pleased is he with Emily and the prospect of rational happiness before them that he immediately resigns to Valancourt a portion of his rich domain, the whole of which would eventually descend to his brother anyway.
St. Aubert’s Domain
Emily disposes of the estates at Thoulouse and purchases her late father’s ancient domain from Mons. Quesnel, settling Annette as housekeeper with a marriage portion and Ludovico as steward.
La Vallée Preferred
Though they own the grandeur of Epourville, both Valancourt and Emily prefer the pleasant, long-loved shades of La Vallée, choosing to reside there while only spending a few months annually at St. Aubert’s birthplace in tender respect to his memory.
Legacy Resigned
Emily requests Valancourt’s permission to resign Signora Laurentini’s legacy to Mons. Bonnac, a gesture whose value Valancourt deeply appreciates.
Bonnac Restored
The castle of Udolpho descends to the wife of Mons. Bonnac as the nearest surviving relation, restoring his long-oppressed spirits to peace and his family to comfort.
The Happy Pair
The narrative celebrates the joyful union of Valancourt and Emily, restored to each other after suffering under the oppression of the vicious and disdain of the weak, returned to their beloved native landscapes and the securest felicity of aspiring to moral and intellectual improvement.
Virtue Triumphant
The author moralizes that while the vicious can sometimes afflict the good, their power is transient and their punishment certain. Innocence, though oppressed by injustice, shall, supported by patience, finally triumph over misfortune.
Author’s Closing
The author concludes with hope that this tale has beguiled the mourner of sorrow and taught endurance through its moral, declaring such effort neither vain nor unrewarded.
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