andmanyyearsagoIgaveitasalovegagetoayouthtowhomI
　　promisedmyselfinmarriage。
　　Doubtlessallyourtaleistruealso，sir，andIthankyouforyourcourtesyinbringingitsofar。
　　Itisasadtale，averysadtale。
　　Andnow，sir，asImaynotaskyoutostayinthishousewhereIlivealone，andthereisnoinnnear，Iproposetosendservingmentoconductyoutomybrother’sdwellingthatissomethingmorethanamileaway，ifindeed，’sheaddedslowly，’youdonotalreadyknowthepath！
　　Thereyouwillfindentertainment，andtherethesisterofyourdeadcompanion，MaryBozard，willbegladtolearnthestoryofhisstrangeadventuresfromyourlips。’
　　Ibowedmyheadandanswered，’First，senora，Iwouldprayyouranswertomyfriend’sdyingprayerandmessage。’
　　’Itischildishtosendanswerstothedead。’
　　’StillIprayforthemasIwaschargedtodo。’
　　’Howreadsthewritingwithinthisring，sir？’
　　’Hearttoheart，Thoughfarapart，’
　　Isaidglibly，andnextinstantIcouldhavebittenoutmytongue。
　　’Ah！youknowthatalso，butdoubtlessyouhavecarriedtheringformanymonthsandlearnedthewriting。
　　Well，sir，thoughwewerefarapart，andthoughperchanceIcherishedthememoryofhimwhoworethisring，andforhissakeremainedunwed，itseemsthathisheartwentastraying——tothebreastindeedofsomesavagewomanwhomhemarried，andwhoborehimchildren。
　　Thatbeingso，myanswertotheprayerofyourdeadfriendisthatIforgivehimindeed，butImustneedstakebackthevowswhichIsworetohimforthislifeandforever，sincehehasbrokenthem，andasbestI
　　may，strivetocastouttheloveIborehimsinceherejectedanddishonouredit，’andstandingupLilymadeasthoughshetoreatherbreastandthrewsomethingfromher，andatthesametimesheletfalltheringuponthefloor。
　　Iheardandmyheartstoodstill。
　　Sothiswastheendofit。
　　Well，shehadtherightofme，thoughnowIbegantowishthatI
　　hadbeenlesshonest，forsometimeswomencanforgivealiesoonerthansuchfrankness。
　　Isaidnothing，mytonguewastied，butagreatmiseryandwearinessenteredintome。
　　StoopingdownIfoundthering，andreplacingitonmyfinger，Iturnedtoseekthedoorwithalastglanceatthewomanwhorefusedme。
　　HalfwaythitherI
　　pausedforonesecond，wonderingifIshoulddowelltodeclaremyself，thenbethoughtmethatifshewouldnotabateherangertowardmedead，herpityformelivingwouldbesmall。
　　Nay，Iwasdeadtoher，anddeadIwouldremain。
　　NowIwasatthedoorandmyfootwasonitsstep，whensuddenlyavoice，Lily’svoice，soundedinmyearsanditwassweetandkind。
　　’Thomas，’saidthevoice，’Thomas，beforeyougo，willyounottakecountofthegoldandgoodsandlandthatyouplacedinmykeeping？’
　　NowIturnedamazed，andlo！Lilycametowardsmeslowlyandwithoutstretchedarms。
　　’Oh！foolishman，’shewhisperedlow，’didyouthinktodeceiveawoman’sheartthusclumsily？
　　YouwhotalkedofthebeechintheHallgarden，youwhofoundyourwaysowelltothisdarkchamber，andspokethewritingintheringwiththeveryvoiceofonewhohasbeendeadsolong。
　　Listen:Iforgivethatfriendofyourshisbrokentroth，forhewashonestinthetellingofhisfaultanditishardformantolivealonesomanyyears，andinstrangecountriescomestrangeadventures；moreover，Iwillsayit，Istilllovehimasitseemsthathelovesme，thoughintruthIgrowsomewhatoldforlove，whohavelingeredlongwaitingtofinditbeyondmygrave。
　　ThusLilyspoke，sobbingasshespoke，thenmyarmsclosedroundherandshesaidnomore。
　　AndyetasourlipsmetIthoughtofOtomie，rememberingherwords，andrememberingalsothatshehaddiedbyherownhandonthisverydayayearago。
　　Letuspraythatthedeadhavenovisionoftheliving！
　　Andnowthereislittleleftformetotellandmytaledrawstoitsend，forwhichIamthankful，forIamveryoldandwritingisawearinesstome，sogreatawearinessindeedthatmanyatimeduringthepastwinterIhavebeenneartoabandoningthetask。
　　ForawhileLilyandIsatalmostsilentinthissameroomwhereI
　　writeto-day，forourgreatjoyandmanyanotheremotionthatwasmixedwithit，cloggedourtongues。
　　Thenasthoughmovedbyoneimpulse，wekneltdownandofferedourhumblethankstoheaventhathadpreservedusbothtothisstrangemeeting。
　　Scarcelyhadwerisenfromourkneeswhentherewasastirwithoutthehouse，andpresentlyabuxomdameentered，followedbyagallantgentleman，alad，andamaiden。
　　TheseweremysisterMary，herhusbandWilfredBozard，Lily’sbrother，andtheirtwosurvivingchildren，RogerandJoan。
　　WhensheguessedthatitwasIcomehomeagainandnoother，LilyhadsentthemtidingsbytheservantmanJohn，thatonewaswithherwhomshebelievedtheywouldbegladtosee，andtheyhadhurriedhither，notknowingwhomtheyshouldfind。
　　Norweretheymuchthewiseratfirst，forIwasmuchchangedandthelightintheroomshonedim，butstoodperplexed，wonderingwhothisstrangermightbe。
　　’Mary，’Isaidatlength，’Mary，doyounotrememberme，mysister？’
　　Thenshecriedaloud，andthrowingherselfintomyarms，sheweptthereawhile，aswouldanyofuswereourbeloveddeadsuddenlytoappearbeforeoureyes，aliveandwell，andherhusbandclaspedmebythehandandsworeheartilyinhisamazement，asisthefashionofsomemenwhentheyaremoved。
　　ButthechildrenstoodstaringblanklytillIcalledthegirltome，whonowwasmuchwhathermotherhadbeenwhenweparted，andkissingher，toldherthatI
　　wasthatuncleofwhomperhapsshehadheardasdeadmanyyearsago。
　　Thenmyhorse，thatallthiswhilehadbeenforgotten，havingbeencaughtandstabled，wewenttosupperanditwasastrangemealtome，andaftermeatIaskedfortidings。
　　NowIlearnedthatthefortunewhichmyoldmasterFonsecahadlefttomecamehomeinsafety，andthatithadprosperedexceedinglyunderLily’scare，forshehadspentbutverylittleofitforhermaintenance，lookingonitalwaysasatrustratherthanasherown。
　　WhenmydeathseemedcertainmysisterMaryhadenteredonhershareofmypossessions，however，andwithithadpurchasedsomeoutlyinglandsinEarshamandHedenham，andthewoodandmanorofTyndaleHallinDitchinghamandBroome。
　　TheselandsImadehastetosayshemightkeepasagiftfromme，sinceitseemedthatIhadgreaterrichesthanIcouldneedwithoutthem，andthissayingofminepleasedherhusbandWilfredBozardnotalittle，seeingthatitishardforamantogiveupwhathehasheldformanyyears。
　　ThenIheardtherestofthestory；ofmyfather’ssuddendeath，ofhowthecomingofthegoldhadsavedLilyfrombeingforcedintomarriagewithmybrotherGeoffrey，whoafterwardshadtakentoevilcourseswhichendedinhisdeceaseattheageofthirty-one；oftheendofSquireBozard，Lily’sfatherandmyoldenemy，fromanapoplexywhichtookhiminasuddenfitofanger。
　　Afterthisitseemed，herbrotherbeingmarriedtomysisterMary，LilyhadmoveddowntotheLodge，havingpaidoffthechargesthatmybrotherGeoffreyhadheapeduponhisheritage，andboughtoutmysister’srightstoit。
　　AndhereattheLodgeshehadlivedeversince，asadandlonelywoman，andyetnotaltogetheranunhappyone，forshegavemuchofhertimetogoodworks。
　　Indeedshetoldmethathaditnotbeenforthewidelandsandmoneyswhichshemustmanageasmyheiress，shewouldhavebetakenherselftoasisterhood，theretowearherlifeawayinpeace，sinceIbeinglosttoher，andindeeddead，asshewasassured，——forthenewsofthewreckofthecarakfounditswaytoDitchingham，——shenolongerthoughtofmarriage，thoughmorethanonegentlemanofconditionhadsoughtherhand。
　　This，withsomeminormatters，suchasthebirthanddeathofchildren，andthestoryofthegreatstormandfloodthatsmoteBungay，andindeedthelengthofthevaleofWaveneyinthosedays，wasallthetalethattheyhadtotellwhohadgrownfromyouthtomiddleageinquiet。
　　Forofthecrowningandendofkingsandofmatterspolitic，suchasthedownfallofthepowerofthePopeofRomeandthesackingofthereligioushouseswhichwasstillinprogress，Imakenomentionhere。
　　Butnowtheycalledformine，andIbeganitatthebeginning，anditwasstrangetoseetheirfacesastheylistened。
　　Allnightlong，tillthethrushessangdownthenightingales，andthedawnshoneintheeast，IsatatLily’ssidetellingthemmystory，andthenitwasnotfinished。
　　Sowesleptinthechambersthathadbeenmadereadyforus，andonthemorrowItookitupagain，showingthemtheswordthathadbelongedtoBernalDiaz，thegreatnecklaceofemeraldswhichGuatemochadgiventome，andcertainscarsandwoundsinwitnessofitstruth。
　　NeverdidIseefolksomuchamazed，andwhenIcametospeakofthelastsacrificeofthewomenoftheOtomie，andofthehorridendofdeGarciawhodiedfightingwithhisownshadow，orratherwiththeshadowsofhisownwickedness，theycriedaloudwithfear，astheyweptwhenItoldofthedeathsofIsabelladeSiguenzaandofGuatemoc，andofthelossofmysons。
　　ButIdidnottellallthestorytothiscompany，forsomeofitwasforLily’searalone，andtoherIspokeofmydealingswithOtomieasamanmightspeakwithaman，forIfeltthatifIkeptanythingbacknowtherewouldneverbecompletefaithbetweenus。
　　ThereforeIsetoutallmydoubtsandtroublings，nordidIhidethatIhadlearnedtoloveOtomie，andthatherbeautyandsweetnesshaddrawnmefromthefirstmomentwhenIsawherinthecourtofMontezuma，orthatwhichhadpassedbetweenusonthestoneofsacrifice。
　　WhenIhaddoneLilythankedmeformyhonestyandsaiditseemedthatinsuchmattersmendifferedfromwomen，seeingthatSHEhadneverfelttheneedtobedeliveredfromthetemptationofstrangeloves。
　　StillwewereasGodandNaturehadmadeus，andthereforehadlittlerighttoreproacheachother，oreventosetthatdownasvirtuewhichwasbutlackofleaning。
　　Moreover，thisOtomie，hersinofheathenismnotwithstanding，hadbeenagreat-heartedwomanandonewhomightwelldazzlethewanderingeyesofman，daringmoreforherlove’ssakethanevershe，Lily，couldhavedared；andtoendwith，itwasclearthatatlastImustchoosebetweenweddingherandaspeedydeath，andhavingswornsogreatanoathtoherIshouldhavebeenperjuredindeedifIhadleftherwhenmydangersweregoneby。
　　Thereforeshe，Lily，wasmindedtoletallthismatterrest，norshouldshebejealousifIstillthoughtofthisdeadwifeofminewithtenderness。
　　Thusshespokemostsweetly，lookingatmethewhilewithherclearandearnesteyes，thatIeverfanciedmustbesuchasadorntheshiningfacesofangels。
　　Ay，andthosesameeyesofherswerefilledwithtearswhenItoldhermybittergriefoverthedeathofmyfirstbornandofmyotherbereavements。
　　Foritwasnottillsomeyearsafterwards，whenshehadabandonedfurtherhopeofchildren，thatLilygrewjealousofthosedeadsonsofmineandofmyeverpresentloveforthem。
　　NowthetidingsofmyreturnandofmystrangeadventuresamongthenationsoftheIndieswerenoisedabroadfarandwide，andpeoplecamefrommilesround，ay，evenfromNorwichandYarmouth，toseemeandIwaspressedtotellmytaletillIgrewwearyofit。
　　AlsoaserviceofthanksgivingformysafedeliverancefrommanydangersbylandandseawasheldinthechurchofSt。Mary’shereinDitchingham，whichservicewasnolongercelebratedaftertheritesoftheRomishfaith，forwhileIhadsojournedafar，thesaintswerefallenliketheAztecgods；theyokeofRomehadbeenbrokenfromofftheneckofEngland，andthoughalldonotthinkwithme，Iforonerejoicedatitheartilywhohadseenenoughofpriestcraftanditscruelties。
　　Whenthatceremonywasoverandallpeoplehadgonetotheirhomes，IcamebackagaintotheemptychurchfromtheHall，whereIabodeawhileastheguestofmysisterandherhusband，tillLilyandI
　　werewed。
　　AndthereinthequietlightoftheJuneeveningIkneltinthechancelupontherushesthatstrewedthegraveofmyfatherandmymother，andsentmyspirituptowardsthemintheplaceoftheireternalrest，andtotheGodwhoguardsthem。
　　AgreatcalmcameuponmeasIkneltthus，andIfelthowmadhadbeenthatoathofminethatasaladIhadsworntobeavengedupondeGarcia，andI
　　sawhowasatreefromaseed，allmysorrowshadgrownfromit。
　　ButeventhenIcouldnotdootherthanhatedeGarcia，no，norcanItothishour，andafterallitwasnaturalthatIshoulddesirevengeanceonthemurdererofmymotherthoughthewreakingofithadbestbeenleftinanotherHand。
　　WithoutthelittlechanceldoorImetLily，whowaslingeringthereknowingmetobewithin，andwespoketogether。
　　’Lily，’Isaid，’Iwouldaskyousomething。
　　Afterallthathasbeen，willyoustilltakemeforyourhusband，unworthyasIam？’
　　’Ipromisedsotodomanyayearago，Thomas，’sheanswered，speakingverylow，andblushinglikethewildrosethatbloomeduponagravebesideher，’andIhaveneverchangedmymind。
　　IndeedformanyyearsIhavelookeduponyouasmyhusband，thoughI
　　thoughtyoudead。’
　　’PerhapsitismorethanIdeserve，’Isaid。
　　’butifitistobe，saywhenitshallbe，foryouthhasleftusandwehavelittletimetolose。’
　　’Whenyouwill，Thomas，’sheanswered，placingherhandinmine。
　　Withinaweekfromthateveningwewerewed。
　　Andnowmytaleisdone。
　　Godwhogavemesosadandtroublousayouthandearlymanhood，hasblessedmebeyondmeasureinmymiddleageandeld。
　　AlltheseeventsofwhichIhavewrittenatsuchlengthweredonewithmanyadayago:thehornbeamsaplingthatI
　　setbeneaththesewindowsintheyearwhenweweremarriedisnowagoodlytreeofshadeandstillIlivetolookonit。
　　HereinthehappyvalleyoftheWaveney，saveformybittermemoriesandthatlongingforthedeadwhichnotimecansomuchasdull，yearafteryearhasrolledovermysilveringhairsinperfecthealthandpeaceandrest，andyearbyyearhaveIrejoicedmoredeeplyinthetrueloveofawifesuchasfewhaveknown。
　　Foritwouldseemasthoughtheheart-acheanddespairofyouthhadbutsweetenedthatmostnoblenaturetillitgrewwellnighdivine。
　　Butonesorrowcametous，thedeathofourinfantchild——foritwasfatedthatIshoulddiechildless——andinthatsorrow，asIhavetold，Lilyshewedthatshewasstillawoman。
　　Fortherestnoshadowlaybetweenus。
　　Handinhandwepasseddownthehilloflife，tillatlengthinthefulnessofherdaysmywifewastakenfromme。
　　OneChristmasnightshelaydowntosleepatmyside，inthemorningshewasdead。
　　grievedindeedandbitterly，butthesorrowwasnotasthesorrowsofmyyouthhadbeen，sinceageandusedulltheedgeofmortalgriefsandIknewandknowthatwearenolongspaceapart。
　　VerysoonIshalljoinLilywheresheis，andIdonotfearthatjourney。
　　Forthedreadofdeathhasleftmeatlength，asitdepartsfromallwholivelongenoughandstrivetorepentthemoftheirsins，andIamwellcontenttoleavemysafetyattheGatesandmyheavenlycomfortintheAlmightyHandthatsavedmefromthestoneofsacrificeandhasguidedmethroughsomanyperilsuponthistroubledearth。
　　AndnowtoGodmyFather，Whoholdsme，ThomasWingfield，andallI
　　havelovedandloveinHisholykeeping，bethanksandgloryandpraise！
　　Amen。
　　End