Visit to the Narrator’s Former School and Strap’s Marriage Settlement
The party visits the village where the narrator attended school, where the schoolmaster Mr. Syntax delivers a Latin oration in their honor. Strap’s father and relations honor the honest valet as the foremost gentleman of their family. The narrator leaves forty pounds for the parish poor. That evening, a slightly elevated Strap confesses his affection for Miss Williams and requests the narrator and Narcissa’s intercession. When the narrator questions whether Strap knows Miss Williams’s history, Strap proves unconcerned about past troubles or worldly judgment. Narcissa successfully petitions on Strap’s behalf, and Miss Williams accepts his proposal. Don Rodrigo approves the match, provides five hundred pounds to stock a farm, and appoints Strap as overseer of the estate, while Narcissa gives her maid an equal sum.
Narrator’s Happiness and News of Recovered Fortune
The narrator declares his complete felicity, noting that his passionate love has matured into tranquil, enduring fondness rooted in virtuous wedlock. Fortune appears determined to compensate for past cruelty. His proctor writes that despite the clause on which the squire bases his claim, the narrator will recover his wife’s fortune due to a codicil specifying that the restriction applies only until age nineteen, after which she had full disposal of her inheritance. The narrator wishes to return to London immediately but cannot leave Narcissa, who is expecting a child, in such an interesting situation.
The original text of this work is in the public domain. This page focuses on a guided summary article, reading notes, selected quotes, and visual learning materials for educational purposes.