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
