Thenextstroketookhimonthelips，knockingoutatoothandsendinghimbackwards。
　　ThenIcaughthimbythelegandbeathimmostunmercifully，notupontheheadindeed，fornowthatIwasvictorIdidnotwishtokillonewhomIthoughtamadmanasIwouldthatIhaddone，butoneveryotherpartofhim。
　　IndeedIthrashedhimtillmyarmswerewearyandthenIfelltokickinghim，andallthewhilehewrithedlikeawoundedsnakeandcursedhorribly，thoughhenevercriedoutoraskedformercy。
　　AtlastIceasedandlookedathim，andhewasnoprettysighttosee——
　　indeed，whatwithhiscutsandbruisesandthemireoftheroadway，itwouldhavebeenhardtoknowhimforthegallantcavalierwhomIhadmetnotfiveminutesbefore。
　　Butuglierthanallhishurtswasthelookinhiswickedeyesashelaythereonhisbackinthepathwayandglaredupatme。
　　’Now，friendSpaniard，’Isaid，’youhavelearnedalesson；andwhatistheretohindermefromtreatingyouasyouwouldhavedealtwithmewhohadneverharmedyou？’andItookuphisswordandheldittohisthroat。
　　’Strikehome，youaccursedwhelp！’heansweredinabrokenvoice；
　　’itisbettertodiethantolivetoremembersuchshameasthis。’
　　’No，’Isaid，’Iamnoforeignmurderertokilladefencelessman。
　　Youshallawaytothejusticetoanswerforyourself。
　　Thehangmanhasaropeforsuchasyou。’
　　’Thenyoumustdragmethither，’hegroaned，andshuthiseyesasthoughwithfaintness，anddoubtlesshewassomewhatfaint。
　　NowasIponderedonwhatshouldbedonewiththevillain，itchancedthatIlookedupthroughagapinthefence，andthere，amongtheGrubswellOaksthreehundredyardsormoreaway，IcaughtsightoftheflutterofawhiterobethatIknewwell，anditseemedtomethatthewearerofthatrobewasmovingtowardsthebridgeofthe’watering’asthoughshewerewearyofwaitingforonewhodidnotcome。
　　ThenIthoughttomyselfthatifIstayedtodragthismantothevillagestocksorsomeothersafeplace，therewouldbeanendofmeetingwithmylovethatday，andIdidnotknowwhenImightfindanotherchance。
　　NowIwouldnothavemissedthathour’stalkwithLilytobringascoreofmurderous-mindedforeignerstotheirdeserts，and，moreover，thisonehadearnedgoodpaymentforhisbehaviour。
　　SurelythoughtI，hemightwaitawhiletillIhaddonemylove-making，andifhewouldnotwaitIcouldfindameanstomakehimdoso。
　　Nottwentypacesfromusthehorsestoodcroppingthegrass。
　　Iwenttohimandundidhisbridlerein，andwithitfastenedtheSpaniardtoasmallwaysidetreeasbestIwasable。
　　’Now，hereyoustay，’Isaid，’tillIamreadytofetchyou；’andI
　　turnedtogo。
　　ButasIwentagreatdoubttookme，andoncemoreIrememberedmymother’sfear，andhowmyfatherhadriddeninhastetoYarmouthonbusinessaboutaSpaniard。
　　Nowto-dayaSpaniardhadwanderedtoDitchingham，andwhenhelearnedmynamehadfallenuponmemadlytryingtokillme。
　　Wasnotthisthemanwhommymotherfeared，andwasitrightthatIshouldleavehimthusthatImightgomayingwithmydear？
　　Iknewinmybreastthatitwasnotright，butIwassosetuponmydesireandsostronglydidmyheartstringspullmetowardsherwhosewhiterobenowflutteredontheslopeoftheParkHill，thatIneverheededthewarning。
　　WellhaditbeenformeifIhaddoneso，andwellforsomewhowereyetunborn。
　　Thentheyhadneverknowndeath，norIthelandofexile，thetasteofslavery，andthealtarofsacrifice。
　　HavingmadetheSpaniardasfastasIcould，hisarmsbeingboundtothetreebehindhim，andtakinghisswordwithme，IbegantorunhardafterLilyandcaughthernottoosoon，forinonemoreminuteshewouldhaveturnedalongtheroadthatrunstothewateringandoverthebridgebytheParkHillpathtotheHall。
　　Hearingmyfootsteps，shefacedabouttogreetme，orratherasthoughtoseewhoitwasthatfollowedher。
　　Thereshestoodintheeveninglight，aboughofhawthornbloominherhand，andmyheartbeatyetmorewildlyatthesightofher。
　　Neverhadsheseemedfairerthanasshestoodthusinherwhiterobe，alookofamazeuponherfaceandinhergreyeyes，thatwashalfrealhalffeigned，andwiththesunlightshiftingonherauburnhairthatshowedbeneathherlittlebonnet。
　　Lilywasnoround-checkedcountrymaidwithfewbeautiessavethoseofhealthandyouth，butatallandshapelyladywhohadripenedearlytoherfullgraceandsweetness，andsoitcameaboutthatthoughwewerealmostofanage，yetinherpresenceIfeltalwaysasthoughIweretheyounger。
　　Thusinmyloveforherwasmingledsometouchofreverence。
　　’Oh！itisyou，Thomas，’shesaid，blushingasshespoke。
　　’I
　　thoughtyouwerenot——ImeanthatIamgoinghomeasitgrowslate。
　　Butsay，whydoyourunsofast，andwhathashappenedtoyou，Thomas，thatyourarmisbloodyandyoucarryaswordinyourhand？’
　　’Ihavenobreathtospeakyet，’Ianswered。
　　’ComebacktothehawthornsandIwilltellyou。’
　　’No，Imustbewendinghomewards。
　　Ihavebeenamongthetreesformorethananhour，andthereislittlebloomuponthem。’
　　’Icouldnotcomebefore，Lily。
　　Iwaskept，andinastrangemanner。
　　AlsoIsawbloomasIran。’
　　’Indeed，Ineverthoughtthatyouwouldcome，Thomas，’sheanswered，lookingdown，’whohaveotherthingstodothantogooutmayinglikeagirl。
　　ButIwishtohearyourstory，ifitisshort，andIwillwalkalittlewaywithyou。’
　　Soweturnedandwalkedsidebysidetowardsthegreatpollardoaks，andbythetimethatwereachedthem，IhadtoldherthetaleoftheSpaniard，andhowhestrovetokillme，andhowIhadbeatenhimwithmystaff。
　　NowLilylistenedeagerlyenough，andsighedwithfearwhenshelearnedhowcloseIhadbeentodeath。
　　’Butyouarewounded，Thomas，’shebrokein；’see，thebloodrunsfastfromyourarm。
　　Isthethrustdeep？’
　　’Ihavenotlookedtosee。
　　Ihavehadnotimetolook。’
　　’Takeoffyourcoat，Thomas，thatImaydressthewound。
　　Nay，I
　　willhaveitso。’
　　SoIdrewoffthegarment，notwithoutpain，androlleduptheshirtbeneath，andtherewasthehurt，acleanthrustthroughthefleshypartofthelowerarm。
　　Lilywasheditwithwaterfromthebrook，andbounditwithherkerchief，murmuringwordsofpityallthewhile。
　　Tosaytruth，Iwouldhavesufferedaworseharmgladly，ifonlyIcouldfindhertotendit。
　　Indeed，hergentlecarebrokedownthefenceofmydoubtsandgavemeacouragethatotherwisemighthavefailedmeinherpresence。
　　Atfirst，indeed，Icouldfindnowords，butassheboundmywound，Ibentdownandkissedherministeringhand。
　　Sheflushedredastheeveningsky，thefloodofcrimsonlosingitselfatlastbeneathherauburnhair，butitburneddeepestuponthewhitehandwhichIhadkissed。
　　’Whydidyoudothat，Thomas？’shesaid，inalowvoice。
　　ThenIspoke。
　　’IdiditbecauseIloveyou，Lily，anddonotknowhowtobeginthetellingofmylove。
　　Iloveyou，dear，andhavealwayslovedasIalwaysshallloveyou。’
　　’Areyousosureofthat，Thomas？’shesaid，again。
　　’ThereisnothingelseintheworldofwhichIamsosure，Lily。
　　WhatIwishtobeassureofisthatyoulovemeasIloveyou。’
　　Foramomentshestoodquiet，herheadsunkalmosttoherbreast，thenshelifteditandhereyesshoneasIhadneverseenthemshinebefore。
　　’Canyoudoubtit，Thomas？’shesaid。
　　AndnowItookherinmyarmsandkissedheronthelips，andthememoryofthatkisshasgonewithmethroughmylonglife，andiswithmeyet，when，oldandwithered，Istanduponthebordersofthegrave。
　　Itwasthegreatestjoythathasbeengiventomeinallmydays。
　　Toosoon，alas！itwasdone，thatfirstpurekissofyouthfullove——andIspokeagainsomewhataimlessly。
　　’Itseemsthenthatyoudolovemewholoveyousowell。’
　　’Ifyoudoubteditbefore，canyoudoubtitNOW？’sheansweredverysoftly。
　　’Butlisten，Thomas。
　　Itiswellthatweshouldloveeachother，forwewereborntoit，andhavenohelpinthematter，evenifwewishedtofindit。
　　Still，thoughlovebesweetandholy，itisnotall，forthereisdutytobethoughtof，andwhatwillmyfathersaytothis，Thomas？’
　　’Idonotknow，Lily，andyetIcanguess。
　　Iamsure，sweet，thathewishesyoutotakemybrotherGeoffrey，andleavemeononeside。’
　　’Thenhiswishesarenotmine，Thomas。
　　Also，thoughdutybestrong，itisnotstrongenoughtoforceawomantoamarriageforwhichshehasnoliking。
　　Yetitmayprovestrongenoughtokeepawomanfromamarriageforwhichherheartpleads——perhaps，also，itshouldhavebeenstrongenoughtoholdmebackfromthetellingofmylove。’
　　’No，Lily，theloveitselfismuch，andthoughitshouldbringnofruit，stillitissomethingtohavewonitforeverandaday。’
　　’Youareveryyoungtotalkthus，Thomas。
　　Iamalsoyoung，Iknow，butwewomenripenquicker。
　　Perhapsallthisisbutaboy’sfancy，topasswithboyhood。’
　　’Itwillneverpass，Lily。
　　Theysaythatourfirstlovesarethelongest，andthatwhichissowninyouthwillflourishinourage。
　　Listen，Lily；Ihavemyplacetomakeintheworld，anditmaytakeatimeinthemaking，andIaskonepromiseofyou，thoughperhapsitisaselfishthingtoseek。
　　Iaskofyouthatyouwillbefaithfultome，andcomefairweatherorfoul，willwednoothermantillyouknowmedead。’
　　’Itissomethingtopromise，Thomas，forwithtimecomechanges。
　　StillIamsosureofmyselfthatIpromise——nayIswearit。
　　OfyouIcannotbesure，butthingsaresowithuswomenthatwemustriskalluponathrow，andifwelose，good-byetohappiness。’
　　Thenwetalkedon，andIcannotrememberwhatwesaid，thoughthesewordsthatIhavewrittendownremaininmymind，partlybecauseoftheirownweight，andinpartbecauseofallthatcameaboutintheafteryears。
　　AndatlastIknewthatImustgo，thoughweweresadenoughatparting。
　　SoItookherinmyarmsandkissedhersocloselythatsomebloodfrommywoundrandownherwhiteattire。
　　ButasweembracedIchancedtolookup，andsawasightthatfrightenedmeenough。
　　Forthere，notfivepacesfromus，stoodSquireBozard，Lily’sfather，watchingall，andhisfaceworenosmile。
　　Hehadbeenridingbyabridle-pathtothewateringford，andseeingacoupletrespassingbeneaththeoaks，dismountedfromhishorsetohuntthemaway。
　　Nottillhewasquiteneardidheknowwhomhecametohunt，andthenhestoodstillinastonishment。
　　LilyandIdrewslowlyapartandlookedathim。
　　Hewasashortstoutman，witharedfaceandsterngreyeyes，thatseemedtobestartingfromhisheadwithanger。
　　Forawhilehecouldnotspeak，butwhenhebeganatlengththewordscamefastenough。
　　AllthathesaidIforget，buttheupshotofitwasthathedesiredtoknowwhatmybusinesswaswithhisdaughter。
　　Iwaitedtillhewasoutofbreath，thenansweredhimthatLilyandIlovedeachotherwell，andwereplightingourtroth。
　　’Isthisso，daughter？’heasked。
　　’Itisso，myfather，’sheansweredboldly。
　　Thenhebrokeoutswearing。
　　’Youlightminx，’hesaid，’youshallbewhippedandkeptcoolonbreadandwaterinyourchamber。
　　Andforyou，myhalf-bredSpanishcockerel，knowonceandforallthatthismaidisforyourbetters。
　　Howdareyoucomewooingmydaughter，youemptypill-box，whohavenottwosilverpenniestorattleinyourpouch！
　　Gowinfortuneandanamebeforeyoudaretolookuptosuchasshe。’
　　’Thatismydesire，andIwilldoit，sir，’Ianswered。
　　’So，youapothecary’sdrudge，youwillwinnameandplace，willyou！
　　Well，longbeforethatdeedisdonethemaidshallbesafelyweddedtoonewhohasthemandwhoisnotunknowntoyou。
　　Daughter，saynowthatyouhavefinishedwithhim。’
　　’Icannotsaythat，father，’shereplied，pluckingatherrobe。
　　’IfitisnotyourwillthatIshouldmarryThomashere，mydutyisplainandImaynotwedhim。
　　ButIammyownandnodutycanmakememarrywhereIwillnot。
　　WhileThomaslivesIamsworntohimandtonootherman。’
　　’Attheleastyouhavecourage，hussey，’saidherfather。
　　’Butlistennow，eitheryouwillmarrywhereandwhenIwish，ortrampitforyourbread。
　　Ungratefulgirl，didIbreedyoutoflauntmetomyface？
　　Nowforyou，pill-box。