Then，Thomas，maythecurseofGodrestuponyoutillyoufindhimandfinishthatwhichyoubeganto-day。’
’Sparetocurseme，father，whoamaccursedbymyownconscience。
TurnyourhorsesratherandrideforYarmouth，fortherehisshipliesandthitherhehasgonewithtwohours’start。
Perhapsyoumaystilltraphimbeforehesetssail。’
Withoutanotherwordmyfatherandbrotherwheeledtheirhorsesroundanddepartedatfullgallopintothegloomofthegatheringnight。
Theyrodesofiercelythat，theirhorsesbeinggood，theycametothegatesofYarmouthinlittlemorethananhourandahalf，andthatisfastriding。
Butthebirdwasflown。
Theytrackedhimtothequayandfoundthathehadshippedawhilebeforeinaboatwhichwasinwaitingforhim，andpassedtohisvesselthatlayintheRoadsatanchorbutwiththemostofhercanvasset。
Instantlyshesailed，andnowwaslostinthenight。
ThenmyfathercausednoticetobegiventhathewouldpayrewardoftwohundredpiecesingoldtoanyshipthatshouldcapturetheSpaniard，andtwostartedonthequest，buttheydidnotfindherthatbeforemorningwasfaronherwayacrossthesea。
SosoonastheyhadgallopedawayIcalledtogetherthegroomsandotherservingmenandtoldthemwhathadchanced。
Thenwewentwithlanterns，forbynowitwasdark，andcametothethickbrushwoodwherelaythebodyofmymother。
Idrewnearthefirst，forthemenwereafraid，andsoindeedwasI，thoughwhyIshouldfearherlyingdeadwholivinghadlovedmetenderly，Idonotknow。
YetIknowthis，thatwhenIcametothespotandsawtwoeyesgloweringatmeandheardthecrashofbushesassomethingbrokethem，Icouldalmosthavefallenwithfear，althoughIknewwellthatitwasbutafoxorwanderinghoundhauntingtheplaceofdeath。
StillIwenton，callingtheotherstofollow，andtheendofitwasthatwelaidmymother’sbodyuponadoorwhichhadbeenliftedfromitshinges，andboreherhomeforthelasttime。
Andtomethatpathisstillahauntedplace。
ItisseventyyearsandmoresincemymotherdiedbythehandofJuandeGarciahercousin，yetoldasIamandhardenedtosuchsadscenes，Idonotlovetowalkthatpathaloneatnight。
Doubtlessitwasfancywhichplaysusstrangetricks，stillbutayearago，havinggonetosetaspringeforawoodcock，IchancedtopassbyyonderbigoakuponaNovembereve，andIcouldhaveswornthatIsawitallagain。
Isawmyselfalad，mywoundedarmstillboundwithLily’skerchief，climbingslowlydownthehill-side，whilebehindme，groaningbeneaththeirburden，weretheformsofthefourservingmen。
Iheardthemurmuroftheriverandthewindthatseventyyearsagowhisperedinthereeds。
Isawthecloudedskyflawedhereandtherewithblue，andthebrokenlightthatgleamedonthewhiteburdenstretcheduponthedoor，andtheredstainatitsbreast。
Ay，IheardmyselftalkasIwentforwardwiththelantern，biddingthemenpasstotherightofsomesteepandrottenground，anditwasstrangetometolistentomyownvoiceasithadbeeninyouth。
Well，well，itwasbutadream，yetsuchslavesarewetothefearsoffancy，thatbecauseofthedead，I，whoamalmostoftheirnumber，donotlovetopassthatpathatnight。
Atlengthwecamehomewithourburden，andthewomentookitweepingandsetabouttheirtaskwithit。
AndnowImustnotonlyfightmyownsorrowsbutmuststrivetosoothethoseofmysisterMary，whoasIfearedwouldgomadwithgriefandhorror。
Atlastshesobbedherselfintoatorpor，andIwentandquestionedthemenwhosatroundthefireinthekitchen，fornonesoughttheirbedsthatnight。
FromthemIlearnedthatanhourormorebeforeImettheSpaniard，arichly-dressedstrangerhadbeenseenwalkingalongthechurch-path，andthathehadtiedhishorseamongsomegorseandbramblesonthetopofthehill，wherehestoodasthoughindoubt，tillmymothercameout，whenhedescendedandfollowedher。
AlsoIlearnedthatoneofthemenatworkinthegarden，whichisnotmorethanthreehundredpacesfromwherethedeedwasdone，heardcries，buthadtakennonoteofthem，thinkingforsooththatitwasbuttheplayofsomeloverfromBungayandhislasschasingeachotherthroughthewoods，astothishouritistheirfashiontodo。
TrulyitseemedtomethatdayasthoughthisparishofDitchinghamweretheverynurseryoffools，ofwhomIwasthefirstandbiggest，andindeedthissamethoughthasstruckmesinceconcerningothermatters。
Atlengththemorningcame，andwithitmyfatherandbrother，whoreturnedfromYarmouthonhiredhorses，fortheirownwerespent。
IntheafternoonalsonewsfollowedthemthattheshipswhichhadputtoseaonthetrackoftheSpaniardhadbeendrivenbackbybadweather，havingseennothingofhim。
NowItoldallthestoryofmydealingswiththemurdererofmymother，keepingnothingback，andImustbearmyfather’sbitterangerbecauseknowingthatmymotherwasindreadofaSpaniard，I
hadsufferedmyreasontobeledastraybymydesiretowinspeechwithmylove。
NordidImeetwithanycomfortfrommybrotherGeoffrey，whowasfierceagainstmebecausehelearnedthatIhadnotpleadedinvainwiththemaidwhomhedesiredforhimself。
Buthesaidnothingofthisreason。
Alsothatnodropmightbelackinginmycup，SquireBozard，whocamewithmanyotherneighbourstoviewthecorpseandoffersympathywithmyfatherinhisloss，toldhimatthesametimethathetookitillthatIshouldwoohisdaughteragainsthiswish，andthatifIcontinuedinthiscourseitwouldstraintheirancientfriendship。
ThusIwashitoneveryside；bysorrowformymotherwhomIhadlovedtenderly，bylongingformydearwhomImightnotsee，byself-reproachbecauseIhadlettheSpaniardgowhenIheldhimfast，andbytheangerofmyfatherandmybrother。
Indeedthosedaysweresodarkandbitter，forIwasattheagewhenshameandsorrowstingtheirsharpest，thatIwishedthatIweredeadbesidemymother。
Onecomfortreachedmeindeed，amessagefromLilysentbyaservantgirlwhomshetrusted，givingmeherdearloveandbiddingmetobeofgoodcheer。
Atlengthcamethedayofburial，andmymother，wrappedinfairwhiterobes，waslaidtoherrestinthechancelofthechurchatDitchingham，wheremyfatherhaslongbeensetbesideher，hardbythebrasseffigiesthatmarktheburyingplaceofLily’sforefather，hiswife，andmanyoftheirchildren。
Thisfuneralwasthesaddestofsights，forthebitternessofmyfather’sgriefbrokefromhiminsobsandmysisterMaryswoonedawayinmyarms。
Indeedtherewerefewdryeyesinallthatchurch，formymother，notwithstandingherforeignbirth，wasmuchlovedbecauseofhergentlewaysandthegoodnessofherheart。
Butitcametoanend，andthenobleSpanishladyandEnglishwifewaslefttoherlongsleepintheancientchurch，wheresheshallrestonwhenhertragicstoryandherverynameareforgottenamongmen。
Indeedthisislikelytobesoon，forIamthelastoftheWingfieldsaliveintheseparts，thoughmysisterMaryhasleftdescendantsofanothernametowhommylandsandfortunegoexceptforcertaingiftstothepoorofBungayandofDitchingham。
WhenitwasoverIwentbackhome。
Myfatherwassittinginthefrontroomwellnighbesidehimselfwithgrief，andbyhimwasmybrother。
PresentlyhebegantoassailmewithbitterwordsbecauseIhadletthemurderergowhenGodgavehimintomyhand。
’Youforget，father，’sneeredGeoffrey，’Thomaswoosamaid，anditwasmoretohimtoholdherinhisarmsthantokeephismother’smurderersafely。
Butbythisitseemshehaskilledtwobirdswithonestone，hehassufferedtheSpanishdeviltoescapewhenheknewthatourmotherfearedthecomingofaSpaniard，andhehasmadeenmitybetweenusandSquireBozard，ourgoodneighbour，whostrangelyenoughdoesnotfavourhiswooing。’
’Itisso，’saidmyfather。
’Thomas，yourmother’sbloodisonyourhands。’
Ilistenedandcouldbearthisgoadinginjusticenolonger。
’Itisfalse，’Isaid，’Isayiteventomyfather。
ThemanhadkilledmymotherbeforeImethimridingbacktoseekhisshipatYarmouthandhavinglosthisway；howthenisherblooduponmyhands？
AsformywooingofLilyBozard，thatismymatter，brother，andnotyours，thoughperhapsyouwishthatitwasyoursandnotmine。
Why，father，didyounottellmewhatyoufearedofthisSpaniard？
Iheardsomeloosetalkonlyandgavelittlethoughttoit，mymindbeingfullofotherthings。
AndnowIwillsaysomething。
YoucalleddownGod’scurseuponme，father，tillsuchtimeasIshouldfindthismurdererandfinishwhatIhadbegun。
Sobeit！
LetGod’scurserestuponmetillIdofindhim。
Iamyoung，butIamquickandstrong，andsosoonasmaybeI
startforSpaintohunthimtheretillIshallrunhimdownorknowhimtobedead。
Ifyouwillgivememoneytohelpmeonmyquest，sobeit——ifnotIgowithout。
IswearbeforeGodandbymymother’sspiritthatIwillneitherrestnorstaytillwiththeveryswordthatslewher，Ihaveavengedherblooduponhermurdererorknowhimdead，andifIsuffermyselftobeledastrayfromthepurposeofthisoathbyaughtthatis，thenmayaworseendthanhersovertakeme，maymysoulberejectedinheaven，andmynamebeshamefulforeverupontheearth！’
ThusIsworeinmyrageandanguish，holdingupmyhandtoheaventhatIcalledupontowitnesstheoath。
Myfatherlookedatmekeenly。
’Ifthatisyourmind，sonThomas，youshallnotlackformoney。
Iwouldgomyself，forbloodmustbewipedoutwithblood，butIamtoobrokeninmyhealth；alsoIamknowninSpainandtheHolyOfficewouldclaimmethere。
Go，andmyblessinggowithyou。
Itisrightthatyoushouldgo，foritisthroughyourfollythatourenemyhasescapedus。’
’Yes，itisrightthatheshouldgo，’saidGeoffrey。
’Yousaythatbecauseyouwishtoberidofme，Geoffrey，’I
answeredhotly，’andyouwouldberidofmebecauseyoudesiretotakemyplaceatthesideofacertainmaid。
Followyournatureanddoasyouwill，butifyouwouldoutwitanabsentmannogoodshallcometoyouofit。’
’Thegirlistohimwhocanwinher，’hesaid。
’Thegirl’sheartiswonalready，Geoffrey。
Youmaybuyherfromherfatherbutyoucanneverwinherheart，andwithoutaheartshewillbebutapoorprize。’
’Peace！nowisnotimeforsuchtalkofloveandmaids，’saidmyfather，’andlisten。
ThisisthetaleoftheSpanishmurdererandyourmother。
Ihavesaidnothingofitheretofore，butnowitmustout。
WhenIwasaladithappenedthatIalsowenttoSpainbecausemyfatherwilledit。
IwenttoamonasteryatSeville，butIhadnolikingformonksandtheirways，andIbrokeoutfromthemonastery。
ForayearormoreImademylivingasIbestmight，forIfearedtoreturntoEnglandasarunaway。
StillImadealivingandnotabadone，nowinthiswayandnowinthat，butthoughIamashamedtosayit，mostlybygaming，atwhichIhadgreatluck。
OnenightImetthismanJuandeGarcia——forinhishatehegaveyouhistruenamewhenhewouldhavestabbedyou——atplay。
Eventhenhehadanevilfame，thoughhewasscarcelymorethanalad，buthewashandsomeinperson，sethighinbirth，andofapleasingmanner。
Itchancedthathewonofmeatthedice，andbeinginagoodhumour，hetookmetovisitatthehouseofhisaunt，hisuncle’swidow，aladyofSeville。
Thisaunthadonechild，adaughter，andthatdaughterwasyourmother。
Nowyourmother，LuisadeGarcia，wasaffiancedtohercousinJuandeGarcia，notwithherownwillindeed，forthecontracthadbeensignedwhenshewasonlyeightyearsold。
