Seeingmecomehehobbledonhissticktothegatetoopenitforme，whiningaprayerforalms。
　　’DoesMr。Wingfleldlivehere？’Isaid，pointingupthepath，andmybreathcamequickasIasked。
　　’Mr。Wingfield，sir，Mr。Wingfield，whichofthem？’heanswered。
　　’Theoldgentlemanhe’sbeendeadnighupontwentyyears。
　　IhelpedtodighisgraveinthechancelofyonderchurchIdid，welaidhimbyhiswife——herthatwasmurdered。
　　Thenthere’sMr。Geoffrey。’
　　’Whatofhim？’Iasked。
　　’He’sdead，too，twelveyeargoneormore；hedrankhisselftodeadhedid。
　　AndMr。Thomas，he’sdead，drownedoverseastheysay，manyawinterback；they’realldead，alldead！
　　Ah！hewasarareone，Mr。Thomaswas；ImindmewellhowwhenIletthefurrinergo——’
　　andherambledoffintothetaleofhowhehadsetdeGarciaonhishorseafterIhadbeatenhim，norcouldIbringhimbackfromit。
　　Castinghimapieceofmoney，Isetspurstomywearyhorseandcanteredupthebridlepath，leavingtheMillHouseonmyleft，andasIwent，thebeatofhishoofsseemedtoechotheoldman’swords，’Alldead，alldead！’
　　DoubtlessLilywasdeadalso，orifshewasnotdead，whenthetidingscamethatIhadbeendrownedatsea，shewouldhavemarried。
　　Beingsofairandsweetshewouldsurelynothavelackedforsuitors，norcoulditbebelievedthatshehadwornherlifeawaymourningoverthelostloveofheryouth。
　　NowtheLodgewasbeforeme；ithadchangednowhitexceptthattheivyandcreepersonitsfronthadgrownhigher，totheroofindeed，andIcouldseethatpeoplelivedinthehouse，foritwaswellkept，andsmokehungabovethechimneys。
　　Thegatewaslocked，andtherewerenoservingmenabout，fornightfellfast，andallhadceasedfromtheirlabour。
　　LeavingthehouseontherightIpassedroundittothestablesthatareatthebacknearthehillsidegarden，butherethegatewaslockedalso，andIdismountednotknowingwhattodo。
　　IndeedIwassounmannedwithfearanddoubtthatforawhileIseemedbewildered，andleavingthehorsetocropthegrasswherehestood，IwanderedtothefootofthechurchpathandgazedupthehillasthoughIwaitedforthecomingofonewhomIshouldmeet。
　　’Whatiftheywerealldead，whatifSHEweredeadandgone？’
　　I
　　buriedmyfaceinmyhandsandprayedtotheAlmightywhohadprotectedmethroughsomanyyears，tosparemethislastbitterness。
　　Iwascrushedwithsorrow，andIfeltthatIcouldbearnomore。
　　IfLilywerelosttomealso，thenIthoughtthatitwouldbebestthatIshoulddie，sincetherewasnothingleftforwhichIcaredtolive。
　　ThusIprayedforsomewhile，tremblinglikealeaf，andwhenI
　　lookedupagain，ereIturnedtoseektidingsfromthosethatdweltinthehouse，whoevertheymightbe，thetwilighthadfallencompletely，andlo！nightingalessangbothfarandnear。
　　I
　　listenedtotheirsong，andasIlistened，sometroubledmemorycamebacktomethatatfirstIcouldnotgrasp。
　　ThensuddenlythereroseupinmymindavisionofthesplendidchamberinMontezuma’spalaceinTenoctitlan，andofmyselfsleepingonagoldenbed，anddreamingonthatbed。
　　Iknewitnow，IwasthegodTezcat，andonthemorrowImustbesacrificed，andIsleptinmisery，andasIsleptIdreamed。
　　IdreamedthatIstoodwhereI
　　stoodthisnight，thatthescentoftheEnglishflowerswasinmynostrilsasitwasthisnight，andthatthesweetsongofthenightingalesranginmyearsasatthispresenthour。
　　IdreamedthatasImusedandlistenedthemooncameupoverthegreenashandoaks，andlo！theresheshone。
　　IdreamedthatIheardasoundofsingingonthehill——
　　ButnowIawokefromthisvisionofthepastandofalonglostdream，forasIstoodthesweetvoiceofawomanbegantosingyonderonthebrowoftheslope；Iwasnotmad，Ihearditclearly，andthesoundgrewevernearerasthesingerdrewdownthesteephillside。
　　ItwassonearnowthatIcouldcatchtheverywordsofthatsadsongwhichtothisdayIremember。
　　NowIcouldseethewoman’sshapeinthemoonlight；itwastallandstatelyandcladinawhiterobe。
　　Presentlysheliftedherheadtowatchtheflitterofabatandthemoonlightlituponherface。
　　ItwasthefaceofLilyBozard，mylostlove，beautifulasofyore，thoughgrownolderandstampedwiththesealofsomegreatsorrow。
　　Isaw，andsodeeplywasIstirredatthesight，thathaditnotbeenforthelowpalingtowhichIclung，Imusthavefallentotheearth，andadeepgroanbrokefrommylips。
　　Sheheardthegroanandceasedhersong，thencatchingsightofthefigureofaman，shestoppedandturnedasthoughtofly。
　　Istoodquitestill，andwonderovercomingherfear，shedrewnearerandspokeinthesweetlowvoicethatIrememberedwell，saying，’Whowandersheresolate？
　　Isityou，John？’
　　NowwhenIheardherspeakthusanewfeartookme。
　　Doubtlessshewasmarriedand’John’washerhusband。
　　Ihadfoundherbuttolosehermorecompletely。
　　OfasuddenitcameintomymindthatI
　　wouldnotdiscovermyselftillIknewthetruth。
　　Iadvancedapace，butnotsofarastopassfromtheshadowoftheshrubswhichgrowhere，andtakingmystandinsuchafashionthatthemoonlightdidnotstrikeuponmyface，IbowedlowinthecourtlySpanishfashion，anddisguisingmyvoicespokeasaSpaniardmightinbrokenEnglishwhichIwillsparetowritedown。
　　’Madam，’Isaid，’haveIthehonourtospeaktoonewhoinbygoneyearswasnamedtheSenoraLilyBozard？’
　　’Thatwasmyname，’sheanswered。
　　’Whatisyourerrandwithme，sir？’
　　NowItrembledafresh，butspokeonboldly。
　　’BeforeIanswer，Madam，forgivemeifIaskanotherquestion。
　　Isthisstillyourname？’
　　’Itisstillmyname，Iamnomarriedwoman，’sheanswered，andforamomenttheskyseemedtoreelabovemeandthegroundtoheavebeneathmyfeetlikethelavacrustofXaca。
　　ButasyetIdidnotrevealmyself，forIwishedtolearnifshestilllovedmymemory。
　　’Senora，’Isaid，’IamaSpaniardwhoservedintheIndianwarsofCortes，ofwhichperhapsyouhaveheard。’
　　ShebowedherheadandIwenton。
　　’InthosewarsImetamanwhowasnamedTeule，butwhohadanothernameinformerdays，sohetoldmeonhisdeathbedsometwoyearsago。
　　’Whatname？’sheaskedinalowvoice。
　　’ThomasWingfield。’
　　NowLilymoanedaloud，andinherturncaughtatthepalestosaveherselffromfalling。
　　’Ideemedhimdeadtheseeighteenyears，’shegasped；’drownedintheIndianseaswherehisvesselfoundered。’
　　’Ihaveheardsaythathewasshipwreckedinthoseseas，senora，butheescapeddeathandfellamongtheIndians，whomadeagodofhimandgavehimthedaughteroftheirkinginmarriage，’andI
　　paused。
　　Sheshivered，thensaidinahardvoice，’Continue，sir；Ilistentoyou。’
　　’MyfriendTeuletookthepartoftheIndiansinthewars，asbeingthehusbandofoneoftheirprincesseshemustdoinhonour，andfoughtbravelyforthemformanyyears。
　　Atlengththetownthathedefendedwascaptured，hisoneremainingchildwasmurdered，hiswifetheprincessslewherselfforsorrow，andhehimselfwastakenintocaptivity，wherehelanguishedanddied。’
　　’Asadtale，sir，’shesaidwithalittlelaugh——amournfullaughthatwashalfchokedbytears。
　　’Averysadtale，senora，butonewhichisnotfinished。
　　Whilehelaydying，myfriendtoldmethatinhisearlylifehehadplightedtrothwithacertainEnglishmaid，named——’
　　’Iknowthename——continue。’
　　’Hetoldmethatthoughhehadbeenwedded，andlovedhiswifetheprincess，whowasaveryroyalwoman，thatmanytimeshadriskedherlifeforhis，ay，eventolyingathissideuponthestoneofsacrificeandofherownfreewill，yetthememoryofthismaidentowhomhewasoncebetrothedhadcompanionedhimthroughlifeandwasstronguponhimnowatitsclose。
　　Thereforeheprayedmeforourfriendship’ssaketoseekheroutwhenIreturnedtoEurope，shouldshestilllive，andtogiveheramessagefromhim，andtomakeaprayertoheronhisbehalf。’
　　’Whatmessageandwhatprayer？’Lilywhispered。
　　’This:thathelovedherattheendofhislifeashehadlovedheratitsbeginning；thathehumblyprayedherforgivenessbecausehehadbrokenthetrothwhichtheytwosworebeneaththebeechatDitchingham。’
　　’Sir，’shecried，’whatdoyouknowofthat？’
　　’Onlywhatmyfriendtoldme，senora。’
　　’Yourfriendshipmusthavebeencloseandyourmemorymustbegood，’shemurmured。
　　’Whichhehaddone，’Iwenton，’understrangecircumstances，sostrangeindeedthathedaredtohopethathisbrokentrothmightberenewedinsomebetterworldthanthis。
　　Hislastprayerwasthatsheshouldsaytome，hismessenger，thatsheforgavehimandstilllovedhim，astohisdeathhelovedher。’
　　’Andhowcansuchforgivenessorsuchanavowaladvantageadeadman？’Lilyasked，watchingmekeenlythroughtheshadows。
　　’Havethedeadtheneyestoseeandearstohear？’
　　’HowcanIknow，senora？
　　Idobutexecutemymission。’
　　’AndhowcanIknowthatyouareatruemessenger。
　　ItchancedthatIhadsuretidingsofthedrowningofThomasWingfieldmanyyearsago，andthistaleofIndiansandprincessesiswondrousstrange，morelikethosethathappeninromancesthaninthisplainworld。
　　Haveyounotokenofyourgoodfaith，sir？’
　　’Ihavesuchatoken，senora，butthelightistoofaintforyoutoseeit。’
　　’Thenfollowmetothehouse，therewewillgetlight。
　　Stay，’andoncemoregoingtothestablegate，shecalled’John。’
　　Anoldmanansweredher，andIknewthevoiceforthatofoneofmyfather’sservingmen。
　　Tohimshespokeinlowtones，thenledthewaybythegardenpathtothefrontdoorofthehouse，whichsheopenedwithakeyfromhergirdle，motioningtometopassinbeforeher。
　　Ididso，andthinkinglittleofsuchmattersatthemoment，turnedbyhabitintothedoorwayofthesitting-roomwhichIknewsowell，liftingmyfeettoavoidstumblingonitsstep，andpassingintotheroomfoundmywaythroughthegloomtothewidefireplacewhereItookmystand。
　　Lilywatchedmeenter，thenfollowingme，shelitataperatthefirewhichsmoulderedonthehearth，andplacedituponthetableinthewindowinsuchfashionthatthoughIwasnowobligedtotakeoffmyhat，myfacewasstillinshadow。
　　’Now，sir，yourtokenifitpleasesyou。’
　　ThenIdrewtheposyringfrommyfingerandgaveittoher，andshesatdownbythetableandexamineditinthelightofthecandle，andasshesatthus，Isawhowbeautifulshewasstill，andhowlittletimehadtouchedher，exceptforthesadnessofherface，thoughnowshehadseeneight-and-thirtywinters。
　　Isawalsothatthoughshekeptcontrolofherfeaturesasshelookeduponthering，herbreastheavedquicklyandherhandshook。
　　’Thetokenisatrueone，’shesaidatlength。
　　’Iknowthering，thoughitissomewhatwornsincelastIsawit，itwasmymother’s；