My father decided to return with us to England, and having learnt from me of my love for Narcissa, approved of my passion, and promised to contribute all in his power towards its success.  I stayed in his house, and at his request recounted to him the passages of my life, and he gratified me with the particulars of his story.

“Careless of life,” he said, “and unable to live in a place where every object recalled the memory of my dear Charlotte, I little suspected that my father’s unkindness would have descended to my innocent orphan, when I set out for France.  From Paris I accompanied a young nobleman as tutor to the Court of Spain, and from Spain I came to South America, where for sixteen years heaven has prospered my undertakings.  Your fate I could never learn, notwithstanding all my enquiries.”

Presently Strap arrived, whom my father at once took by the hand, saying, “Is this the honest man who befriended you so much in your distress?  I will soon put it in the power of my son to reward you for your good offices in his behalf.”

Shortly afterwards, Don Rodrigo, who had already remitted twenty thousand pounds to Holland, settled his affairs, converted his effects into silver and gold, visited and took leave of all his friends; and, coming on board of my uncle’s ship, with the first favourable wind we sailed from the Rio de la Plata, and in three months after made the Lizard.

It is impossible to express the joy I felt at the sight of English ground!  Don Rodrigo was not unmoved, and Strap shed tears of gladness.

My father and I went ashore immediately at Portsmouth, leaving Strap with the captain to go round with the ship.  I rode across country into Sussex, where I learnt that Narcissa was in London, and that her brother was married, and vowed his sister should lose her fortune if she married without his consent.

IV.—­I Am Married

No sooner was I in London than I sought my charmer in her lodgings.  How was my soul transported, when Narcissa broke in upon my view, in all the bloom of ripened beauty!  We flew into each other’s arms.  “O adorable Narcissa,” cried I; “never shall we part again.”

In the evening I accompanied my father to her lodgings.  He embraced her tenderly, and told her he was proud of having a son who had engaged the affections of such a fine lady.

Don Rodrigo was, quickly, as much charmed with her good sense as with her appearance; and she was no less pleased with his understanding and polite address.

The following was the squire’s answer to a letter from my father, promising handsome settlements on my marriage to Narcissa: 

“Sir—­Concerning a letter which I received, subscribed R. Random, this is the answer.  As for you, I know nothing of you.  Your son, or pretended son, I have seen—­if he marries my sister, at his peril be it; I do declare, that he shall have not one farthing of her fortune, which becomes my property, if she takes a husband without my consent.  Your settlement, I do believe, is all a sham, and yourself no better than you should be; but if you had all the wealth of the Indies, your son should never match in our family, with the consent of