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。
