第7章

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。