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。