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。