Arrival in London
Arrival in London Roderick reaches London that same night and finds his father in good health, to whom he communicates all he has learned of Narcissa. Don Rodrigo approves of the proposed marriage even without her fortune, provided the squire’s consent cannot be obtained, promises to settle a sufficient maintenance upon Roderick within a few days, and expresses a wish to see the young lady who has won his son’s heart. Exhausted by his sleepless journey, Roderick retires to rest.
The Joyful Reunion with Narcissa
The Joyful Reunion with Narcissa Next morning, about ten o’clock, Roderick takes a chair to Miss Williams’s lodgings and is admitted to the parlour. Miss Williams enters, shrieks at the sight of him, and is embraced to her senses; she agrees to prepare her mistress gradually for the joyful news. Soon Narcissa herself comes hastening down the stairs, crying that he has come at last. They fly into each other’s arms and remain locked in a silent trance of joy, speechless with rapture. Roderick vows that no jealous brother shall again thwart their happiness, declares himself at last able to do justice to his love, and pledges, by a thousand kisses, never to leave her until death divides them; Narcissa asks in bewitching tenderness whether they shall never part again, and Roderick answers that they never shall.
第六十七章
Overcome with emotion upon reuniting with Narcissa, Roderick struggles to contain his passion while she redirects the conversation toward an eager account of his voyage and the surprising discovery of his father, news that moves her to tears and prompts her to express a longing to meet the generous Don Rodrigo. After exchanging tokens of affection, including a necklace of diamonds and amethysts gifted by a Spanish lady in Paraguay, Roderick returns home to receive a deed from his father settling fifteen thousand pounds on him, in addition to the three thousand pounds earned from his merchandise. Don Rodrigo is then escorted to Narcissa’s lodgings, where he is struck by her dazzling beauty and charmed by her good sense; though he sighs over her resemblance to his lost Charlotte, he offers his approval of the match and resolves to write to her brother the squire with an offer of settlement, with the understanding that should he refuse, Roderick and Narcissa will marry without further regard for his consent.
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