The Mysteries of Udolpho

Soon after their return to La Vallee, the brother of Valancourt came to

congratulate him on his marriage, and to pay his respects to Emily, with

whom he was so much pleased, as well as with the prospect of rational

happiness, which these nuptials offered to Valancourt, that he

immediately resigned to him a part of the rich domain, the whole of

which, as he had no family, would of course descend to his brother, on

his decease.

The estates, at Tholouse, were disposed of, and Emily purchased of

Mons. Quesnel the ancient domain of her late father, where, having given

Annette a marriage portion, she settled her as the housekeeper,

and Ludovico as the steward; but, since both Valancourt and herself

preferred the pleasant and long-loved shades of La Vallee to the

magnificence of Epourville, they continued to reside there, passing,

however, a few months in the year at the birth-place of St. Aubert, in

tender respect to his memory.

The legacy, which had been bequeathed to Emily by Signora Laurentini,

she begged Valancourt would allow her to resign to Mons. Bonnac;

and Valancourt, when she made the request, felt all the value of the

compliment it conveyed. The castle of Udolpho, also, descended to the

wife of Mons. Bonnac, who was the nearest surviving relation of the

house of that name, and thus affluence restored his long-oppressed

spirits to peace, and his family to comfort.

O! how joyful it is to tell of happiness, such as that of Valancourt

and Emily; to relate, that, after suffering under the oppression of the

vicious and the disdain of the weak, they were, at length, restored to

each other--to the beloved landscapes of their native country,--to the

securest felicity of this life, that of aspiring to moral and labouring

for intellectual improvement--to the pleasures of enlightened society,

and to the exercise of the benevolence, which had always animated their

hearts; while the bowers of La Vallee became, once more, the retreat of

goodness, wisdom and domestic blessedness!

O! useful may it be to have shewn, that, though the vicious can

sometimes pour affliction upon the good, their power is transient

and their punishment certain; and that innocence, though oppressed

by injustice, shall, supported by patience, finally triumph over

misfortune! And, if the weak hand, that has recorded this tale, has, by its scenes,

beguiled the mourner of one hour of sorrow, or, by its moral, taught him

to sustain it--the effort, however humble, has not been vain, nor is the

writer unrewarded.