ThenIsawanarrowrushupwardsandstriketheemperor，andafterthearrowashowerofstones，sothathefelldownthereuponthetowerroof。
Nowavoicecried，’Wehaveslainourking。
Montezumaisdead，’
andinstantlywithadreadfulwailingthemultitudefledthiswayandthat，sothatpresentlynolivingmancouldbeseenwheretherehadbeenthousands。
IturnedtocomfortOtomie，whowaswatchingatmyside，andhadseenherroyalfatherfall，andledherweepingintothepalace。
HerewemetGuatemoc，theprince，andhismienwasfierceandwild。
Hewasfullyarmedandcarriedabowinhishand。
’IsMontezumadead？’Iasked。
’Ineitherknownorcare，’heansweredwithasavagelaugh，thenadded:
’Nowcurseme，Otomiemycousin，foritwasmyarrowthatsmotehimdown，thiskingwhohasbecomeawomanandatraitor，falsetohismanhoodandhiscountry。’
ThenOtomieceasedweepingandanswered:
’Icannotcurseyou，Guatemoc，forthegodshavesmittenmyfatherwithamadnessasyousmotehimwithyourarrow，anditisbestthatheshoulddie，bothforhisownsakeandforthatofhispeople。
Still，Guatemoc，Iamsureofthis，thatyourcrimewillnotgounpunished，andthatinpaymentforthissacrilege，youshallyourselfcometoashamefuldeath。’
’Itmaybeso，’saidGuatemoc，’butatleastIshallnotdiebetrayingmytrust；’andhewent。
NowImusttellthat，asIbelieved，thiswasmylastdayonearth，foronthemorrowmyyearofgodheadexpired，andI，ThomasWingfield，shouldbeledouttosacrifice。
Notwithstandingallthetumultinthecity，themourningforthedeadandthefearthathungoveritlikeacloud，theceremoniesofreligionanditsfeastswerestillcelebratedstrictly，morestrictlyindeedthaneverbefore。
Thusonthisnightafestivalwasheldinmyhonour，andImustsitatthefeastcrownedwithflowersandsurroundedbymywives，whilethosenobleswhoremainedaliveinthecitydidmehomage，andwiththemCuitlahua，who，ifMontezumaweredead，wouldnowbeemperor。
Itwasadrearymealenough，forIcouldscarcelybegaythoughIstrovetodrownmywoesindrink，andasfortheguests，theyhadlittlejollityleftinthem。
Hundredsoftheirrelativesweredeadandwiththemthousandsofthepeople；theSpaniardsstillheldtheirowninthefortress，andthatdaytheyhadseentheiremperor，whotothemwasagod，smittendownbyoneoftheirownnumber，andabovealltheyfeltthatdoomwasuponthemselves。
Whatwonderthattheywerenotmerry？
Indeednofuneralfeastcouldhavebeenmoresad，forflowersandwineandfairwomendonotmakepleasure，andafterallitwasafuneralfeast——forme。
AtlengthitcametoanendandIfledtomyownapartments，whithermythreewivesfollowedme，forOtomiedidnotcome，callingmemosthappyandblessedwhoto-morrowshouldbewithmyself，thatiswithmyowngodhead，inheaven。
ButIdidnotcallthemblessed，for，risinginwrath，Idrovethemaway，sayingthatIhadbutonecomfortleft，anditwasthatwhereverImightgoI
shouldleavethembehind。
ThenIcastmyselfuponthecushionsofmybedandmournedinmyfearandbitternessofheart。
ThiswastheendofthevengeancewhichIhadsworntowreakondeGarcia，thatImyselfmusthavemyhearttornfrommybreastandofferedtoadevil。
TrulyFonseca，mybenefactor，hadspokenwordsofwisdomwhenhecounselledmetotakemyfortuneandforgetmyoath。
HadIdoneso，to-dayImighthavebeenmybetrothed’shusbandandhappyinherloveathomeinpeacefulEngland，insteadofwhatIwas，alostsoulinthepoweroffiendsandabouttobeofferedtoafiend。
InthebitternessofthethoughtandtheextremityofmyanguishIweptaloudandprayedtomyMakerthatImightbedeliveredfromthiscrueldeath，orattheleastthatmysinsshouldbeforgivenme，sothatto-morrownightImightrestatpeaceinheaven。
ThusweepingandprayingIsankintoahalfsleep，anddreamedthatIwalkedonthehillsidenearthechurchpaththatrunsthroughthegardenoftheLodgeatDitchingham。
ThewhispersofthewindwereinthetreeswhichclothethebankoftheVineyardHills，thescentofthesweetEnglishflowerswasinmynostrilsandthebalmyairofJuneblewonmybrow。
Itwasnightinthisdreamofmine，andI
thoughtthatthemoonshonesweetlyonthemeadowsandtheriver，whilefromeverysidecamethemusicofthenightingale。
ButIwasnotthinkingofthesedelightfulsightsandsounds，thoughtheywerepresentinmymind，formyeyeswatchedthechurchpathwhichgoesupthehillatthebackofthehouse，andmyheartlistenedforafootstepthatIlongedtohear。
Thentherecameasoundofsingingfrombeyondthehill，andthewordsofthesongweresad，fortheytoldofonewhohadsailedawayandreturnednomore，andpresentlybetweentheappletreesIsawawhitefigureonitscrest。
SlowlyitcametowardsmeandIknewthatitwassheforwhomIwaited，Lilymybeloved。
Nowsheceasedtosing，butdrewongentlyandherfaceseemedverysad。
Moreoveritwasthefaceofawomaninmiddlelife，butstillmostbeautiful，morebeautifulindeedthanithadbeeninthebloomofyouth。
Shehadreachedthefootofthehillandwasturningtowardsthelittlegardengate，whenIcameforwardfromtheshadowofthetrees，andstoodbeforeher。
Backshestartedwithacryoffear，thengrewsilentandgazedintomyface。
’Sochanged，’shemurmured；’canitbethesame？
Thomas，isityoucomebacktomefromthedead，oristhisbutavision？’andslowlyanddoubtinglythedreamwraithstretchedoutherarmsasthoughtoclaspme。
ThenIawoke。
Iawokeandlo！beforemestoodafairwomanclothedinwhite，onwhomthemoonlightshoneasinmydream，andherarmswerestretchedtowardsmelovingly。
’ItisI，beloved，andnovision，’Icried，springingfrommybedandclaspinghertomybreasttokissher。
ButbeforemylipstouchedhersIsawmyerror，forshewhomIembracedwasnotLilyBozard，mybetrothed，butOtomie，princessoftheOtomie，whowascalledmywife。
ThenIknewthatthiswasthesaddestandthemostbitterofdreamsthathadbeensenttomockme，forallthetruthrushedintomymind。
LosingmyholdofOtomie，Ifellbackuponthebedandgroanedaloud，andasIfellIsawtheflushofshameuponherbrowandbreast。
Forthiswomanlovedme，andthusmyactandwordswereaninsulttoher，whocouldguesswellwhatpromptedthem。
Stillshespokegently。
’Pardonme，Teule，Icamebuttowatchandnottowakenyou。
I
camealsothatImayseeyoualonebeforethedaybreak，hopingthatImightbeofservice，orattheleast，ofcomforttoyou，fortheenddrawsnear。
Saythen，inyoursleepdidyoumistakemeforsomeotherwomandearerandfairerthanIam，thatyouwouldhaveembracedme？’
’IdreamedthatyouweremybetrothedwhomIlove，andwhoisfarawayacrossthesea，’Iansweredheavily。
’Butenoughofloveandsuchmatters。
WhathaveItodowiththemwhogodownintodarkness？’
’IntruthIcannottell，Teule，stillIhaveheardwisemensaythatifloveistobefoundanywhere，itisinthissamedarknessofdeath，thatislightindeed。
Grievenot，forifthereistruthinthefaithofwhichyouhavetoldmeorinourown，eitheronthisearthorbeyondit，withtheeyesofthespirityouwillseeyourdearbeforeanothersunisset，andIpraythatyoumayfindherfaithfultoyou。
Tellmenow，howmuchdoessheloveyou？
WouldSHEhavelainbyyoursideonthebedofsacrificeas，hadthingsgoneotherwisebetweenus，Teule，itwasmyhopetodo？’
’No，’Ianswered，’itisnotthecustomofourwomentokillthemselvesbecausetheirhusbandschancetodie。’
’Perhapstheythinkitbettertoliveandwedagain，’answeredOtomieveryquietly，butIsawhereyesflashandherbreastheaveinthemoonlightasshespoke。
’Enoughofthisfoolishtalk，’Isaid。
’Listen，Otomie；ifyouhadcaredformetruly，surelyyouwouldhavesavedmefromthisdreadfuldoom，orprevailedonGuatemoctosaveme。
YouareMontezuma’sdaughter，couldyounothavebroughtitaboutduringallthesemonthsthatheissuedhisroyalmandate，commandingthatIshouldbespared？’
’Doyou，then，takemeforsopoorafriend，Teule？’sheansweredhotly。
’Knowthatforallthesemonths，bydayandbynight，I
haveworkedandstriventofindameanstorescueyou。
BeforehebecameaprisonerIimportunedmyfathertheemperor，tillheorderedmefromhispresence。
Ihavesoughttobribethepriests，Ihaveplottedwaysofescape，ay，andGuatemochashelped，forhelovesyou。
HaditnotbeenforthecomingoftheseaccursedTeules，andthewarthattheyhaveleviedinthecity，Ihadsurelysavedyou，forawoman’sthoughtleapsfar，andcanfindapathwherenoneseemspossible。
Butthiswarhaschangedeverything，andmoreoverthestar-readersanddivinersofaugurieshavegivenaprophecywhichsealsyourfate。
Fortheyhaveprophesiedthatifyourbloodflows，andyourheartisofferedatthehourofnoonto-
morrowonthealtarofTezcat，ourpeopleshallbevictoriousovertheTeules，andutterlydestroythem。
Butifthesacrificeiscelebratedonemomentbeforeorafterthatpropitioushour，thenthedoomofTenoctitlanissealed。
Alsotheyhavedeclaredthatyoumustdie，not，accordingtocustom，attheTempleofArmsacrossthelake，butonthegreatpyramidbeforethechiefstatueofthegod。
Allthisisknownthroughouttheland；thousandsofpriestsarenowofferingupprayersthatthesacrificemaybefortunate，andagoldenringhasbeenhungoverthestoneofslaughterinsuchafashionthatthelightofthesunmuststrikeuponthecentreofyourbreastattheverymomentofmid-day。
Forweeksyouhavebeenwatchedasajaguarwatchesitsprey，foritwasfearedthatyouwouldescapetotheTeules，andwe，yourwives，havebeenwatchedalso。
Atthismomentthereisatripleringofguardsaboutthepalace，andpriestsaresetwithoutyourdoorsandbeneaththewindowplaces。
Judge，then，whatchancethereisofescape，Teule。’
’Littleindeed，’Isaid，’andyetIknowaroad。
IfIkillmyself，theycannotkillme。’
’Nay，’sheansweredhastily，’whatshallthatavailyou？
Whileyouliveyoumayhope，butoncedead，youaredeadforever。
Alsoifyoumustdie，itisbestthatyoushoulddiebythehandofthepriest。
Believeme，thoughtheendishorrible，’andsheshuddered，’itisalmostpainless，sotheysay，andveryswift。
Theywillnottortureyou，thatwehavesavedyou，GuatemocandI，thoughatfirsttheywishedthustohonourthegodmoreparticularlyonthisgreatday。’
’OTeule，’Otomiewenton，seatingherselfbymeonthebed，andtakingmyhand，’thinknomoreofthesebriefterrors，butlookbeyondthem。
Isitsohardathingtodie，andswiftly？
Weallmustdie，to-day，orto-night，orthenextday，itmatterslittlewhen——andyourfaith，likeours，teachesthatbeyondthegraveisendlessblessedness。
Thinkthen，myfriend，to-morrowyouwillhavepassedfarfromthisstrifeandturmoil；thestruggleandthesorrowsandthedailyfearsforthefuturethatmakethesoulsickwillbeoverforyou，youwillbetakentoyourpeace，wherenooneshalldisturbyouforever。
Thereyouwillfindthatmotherwhomyouhavetoldmeof，andwholovedyou，andthereperhapsonewilljoinyouwholovesyoubetterthanyourmother，mayhapevenImaymeetyouthere，friend，’andshelookedupatmestrangely。
’Theroadthatyouaredoomedtowalkisdarkindeed，butsurelyitmustbewell-trodden，andthereislightshiningbeyondit。
Sobeaman，myfriend，anddonotgrieve；rejoiceratherthatatsoearlyanageyouhavedonewithwoesanddoubts，andcometothegatesofjoy，thatyouhavepassedthethorny，unwateredwildernessandseethesmilinglakesandgardens，andamongthemthetemplesofyoureternalcity。
’Andnowfarewell。
Wemeetnomoretillthehourofsacrifice，forwewomenwhomasqueradeaswivesmustaccompanyyoutothefirstplatformsofthetemple。
Farewell，dearfriend，andthinkuponmywords；whethertheyareacceptabletoyouorno，Iamsureofthis，thatbothforthesakeofyourownhonourandbecauseIaskitofyou，youwilldiebravelyasthoughtheeyesofyourownpeoplewerewatchingall。’
Andbendingsuddenly，Otomiekissedmeontheforeheadgentlyasasistermight，andwasgone。
Thecurtainsswungbehindher，buttheechoesofhernoblewordsstilldweltinmyheart。
