lovedherwellandIwasfaithfulinmyoathtoher，indeed，notuntilshewasdeaddidIknowhowdearshehadgrowntome。
　　Itistruethattherewasagreatgulfbetweenuswhichwidenedwiththeyears，thegulfofbloodandfaith，forIknewwellthatshecouldnotaltogetherputawayheroldbeliefs，anditistruethatwhenI
　　sawherleadingthedeathchant，agreathorrortookmeandforawhileIloathedher。
　　ButthesethingsImighthavelivedtoforgive，fortheywerepartofherbloodandnature，moreover，thelastandworstofthemwasnotdonebyherownwill，andwhentheyweresetasidethereremainedmuchthatIcouldhonourandloveinthememoryofthismostroyalandbeautifulwoman，whoforsomanyyearswasmyfaithfulwife。
　　SoIthoughtinthathourandsoI
　　thinktothisday。
　　Shesaidthatwepartedforever，butItrustandIbelievethatthisisnotso。
　　Surelythereisforgivenessforusall，andaplacewherethosewhowerenearanddeartoeachotherontheearthmayoncemorerenewtheirfellowship。
　　AtlastIrosewithasightoseekhelp，andasIroseIfeltthattherewassomethingsetaboutmyneck。
　　ItwasthecollarofgreatemeraldswhichGuatemochadgiventome，andthatIhadgiventoOtomie。
　　ShehadsetittherewhileIslept，andwithitalockofherlonghair。
　　Bothshallbeburiedwithme。
　　Ilaidherintheancientsepulchreamidthebonesofherforefathersandbythebodiesofherchildren，andtwodayslaterI
　　rodetoMexicointhetrainofBernalDiaz。
　　AtthemouthofthepassIturnedandlookedbackupontheruinsoftheCityofPines，whereIhadlivedsomanyyearsandwhereallIlovedwereburied。
　　LongandearnestlyIgazed，asinhishourofdeathamanlooksbackuponhispastlife，tillatlengthDiazlaidhishanduponmyshoulder:
　　’Youarealonelymannow，comrade，’hesaid；’whatplanshaveyouforthefuture？’
　　’None，’Ianswered，’excepttodie。’
　　’Nevertalkso，’hesaid；’why，youarescarcelyforty，andIwhoamfiftyandmoredonotspeakofdying。
　　Listen；youhavefriendsinyourowncountry，England？’
　　’Ihad。’
　　’Folklivelonginthosequietlands。
　　Goseekthem，IwillfindyouapassagetoSpain。’
　　’Iwillthinkofit，’Ianswered。
　　IntimewecametoMexico，anewandastrangecitytome，forCorteshadrebuiltit，andwheretheteocallihadstood，upwhichI
　　wasledtosacrifice，acathedralwasbuilding，whereofthefoundationswerefitlylaidwiththehideousidolsoftheAztecs。
　　Theplacewaswellenough，butitisnotsobeautifulastheTenoctitlanofMontezuma，noreverwillbe。
　　Thepeopletoowerechanged；thentheywerewarriorsandfree，nowtheyareslaves。
　　InMexicoDiazfoundmealodging。
　　Nonemolestedmethere，forthepardonthatIhadreceivedwasrespected。
　　AlsoIwasaruinedman，nolongertobefeared，thepartthatIhadplayedinthenochetristeandinthedefenceofthecitywasforgotten，andthetaleofmysorrowswonmepityevenfromtheSpaniards。
　　IabodeinMexicotendays，wanderingsadlyaboutthecityanduptothehillofChapoltepec，whereMontezuma’spleasure-househadbeen，andwhereIhadmetOtomie。
　　Nothingwasleftofitsgloriesexceptsomeoftheancientcedartrees。
　　OntheeighthdayofmystayanIndianstoppedmeinthestreet，sayingthatanoldfriendhadchargedhimtosaythatshewishedtoseeme。
　　IfollowedtheIndian，wonderingwhothefriendmightbe，forIhadnofriends，andheledmetoafinestonehouseinanewstreet。
　　HereIwasseatedinadarkenedchamberandwaitedthereawhile，tillsuddenlyasadandsweetvoicethatseemedfamiliartome，addressedmeintheAztectongue，saying，’Welcome，Teule。’
　　Ilookedandtherebeforeme，dressedintheSpanishfashion，stoodalady，anIndian，stillbeautiful，butveryfeebleandmuchworn，asthoughwithsicknessandsorrow。
　　’DoyounotknowMarina，Teule？’shesaidagain，butbeforethewordshadleftherlipsIknewher。
　　’Well，Iwillsaythis，thatI
　　shouldscarcelyhaveknownYOU，Teule。
　　Troubleandtimehavedonetheirworkwithbothofus。’
　　Itookherhandandkissedit。
　　’WherethenisCortes？’Iasked。
　　Nowagreattremblingseizedher。
　　’CortesisinSpain，pleadinghissuit。
　　Hehaswedanewwifethere，Teule。
　　Manyyearsagoheputmeaway，givingmeinmarriagetoDonJuanXaramillo，whotookmebecauseofmypossessions，forCortesdealtliberallywithme，hisdiscardedmistress。’
　　Andshebegantoweep。
　　ThenbydegreesIlearnedthestory，butIwillnotwriteithere，foritisknowntotheworld。
　　WhenMarinahadservedhisturnandherwitwasofnomoreservicetohim，theconquerordiscardedher，leavinghertowitherofabrokenheart。
　　Shetoldmeallthetaleofheranguishwhenshelearnedthetruth，andofhowshehadcriedtohimthatthenceforthhewouldneverprosper。
　　Norindeeddidhedoso。
　　Fortwohoursormorewetalked，andwhenIhadheardherstoryI
　　toldhermine，andsheweptforme，sincewithallherfaultsMarina’sheartwasevergentle。
　　Thenwepartednevertomeetagain。
　　BeforeIwentshepressedagiftofmoneyonme，andIwasnotashamedtotakeitwhohadnone。
　　ThisthenwasthehistoryofMarina，whobetrayedhercountryforherlove’ssake，andthistherewardofhertreasonandherlove。
　　ButIshallalwaysholdhermemorysacred，forshewasagoodfriendtome，andtwiceshesavedmylife，norwouldshedesertme，evenwhenOtomietauntedhersocruelly。
　　NowonthemorrowofmyvisittoMarina，theCaptainDiazcametoseemeandtoldmethatafriendofhiswasincommandofacarakwhichwasduetosailfromtheportofVeraCruzforCadizwithintendays，andthatthisfriendwaswillingtogivemeapassageifIwishedtoleaveMexico。
　　IthoughtforawhileandsaidthatI
　　wouldgo，andthatverynight，havingbidfarewelltotheCaptainDiaz，whommayGodprosper，forhewasagoodmanamongmanybadones，Isetoutfromthecityforthelasttimeinthecompanyofsomemerchants。
　　Aweek’sjourneytookussafelydownthemountainstoVeraCruz，ahotunhealthytownwithanindifferentanchorage，muchexposedtothefiercenortherlywinds。
　　HereIpresentedmylettersofrecommendationtothecommanderofthecarak，whogavemepassagewithoutquestion，Ilayinginastockoffoodforthejourney。
　　Threenightslaterwesetsailwithafairwind，andonthefollowingmorningatdaybreakallthatwasleftinsightofthelandofAnahuacwasthesnowycrestofthevolcanOrizaba。
　　Presentlythatvanishedintotheclouds，andthusdidIbidfarewelltothefarcountrywheresomanythingshadhappenedtome，andwhichaccordingtomyreckoningIhadfirstsightedonthisverydayeighteenyearsbefore。
　　OfmyjourneytoSpainIhavenothingofnotetotell。
　　Itwasmoreprosperousthansuchvoyagesoftenare，andwithintenweeksofthedateofourliftinganchoratVeraCruz，weletitdropintheharbourofCadiz。
　　HereIsojournedbuttwodays，forasitchancedtherewasanEnglishshipintheharbourtradingtoLondon，andinherItookapassage，thoughIwasobligedtosellthesmallestoftheemeraldsfromthenecklacetofindthemeanstodoso，themoneythatMarinagavemebeingspent。
　　Thisemeraldsoldforagreatsum，however，withpartofwhichIpurchasedclothingsuitabletoapersonofrank，takingtherestofthegoldwithme。
　　Igrievedtopartwiththestoneindeed，thoughitwasbutapendanttothependantofthecollar，butnecessityknowsnolaw。
　　Thependantstoneitself，afinegemthoughflawed，IgaveinafteryearstohergraciousmajestyQueenElizabeth。
　　OnboardtheEnglishshiptheythoughtmeaSpanishadventurerwhohadmademoneysintheIndies，andIdidnotundeceivethem，sinceIwouldbelefttomyowncompanyforawhilethatImightpreparemymindtoreturntowaysofthoughtandlifethatithadlongforgotten。
　　ThereforeIsatapartlikesomeprouddon，sayinglittlebutlisteningmuch，andlearningallIcouldofwhathadchancedinEnglandsinceIleftitsometwentyyearsbefore。
　　Atlengthourvoyagecametoanend，andonacertaintwelfthofJuneIfoundmyselfinthemightycityofLondonthatIhadneveryetvisited，andkneelingdowninthechamberofmyinn，IthankedGodthatafterenduringsomanydangersandhardships，ithadpleasedHimtopreservemetosetfootagainonEnglishsoil。
　　IndeedtothishourIcountitnothingshortofmarvellousthatthisfrailbodyofamanshouldsurviveallthesorrowsandrisksofdeathbysickness，hunger，battle，murder，drowning，wildbeasts，andthecrueltyofmen，towhichminehadbeenexposedformanyyears。
　　InLondonIboughtagoodhorse，throughthekindofficesofthehostofmyinn，andonthemorrowatdaybreakIsetoutupontheIpswichroad。
　　Thatverymorningmylastadventurebefellme，forasIjoggedalongmusingofthebeautyoftheEnglishlandscapeanddrinkinginthesweetairofJune，acowardlythieffiredapistolatmefrombehindahedge，purposingtoplundermeifIfell。
　　Thebulletpassedthroughmyhat，grazingtheskull，butbeforeIcoulddoanythingtherascalfled，seeingthathehadmissedhismark，andIwentonmyjourney，thinkingtomyselfthatitwouldindeedhavebeenstrange，ifafterpassingsuchgreatdangersinsafety，I
　　haddiedatlastbythehandofamiserablefoot-padwithinfivemilesofLondontown。
　　Irodehardallthatdayandthenext，andmyhorsebeingstoutandswift，byhalf-pastseveno’clockoftheeveningIpulledupuponthelittlehillwhenceIhadlookedmylastonBungay，whenIrodethenceforYarmouthwithmyfather。
　　Belowmelaytheredroofsofthetown；theretotherightweretheoaksofDitchinghamandthebeautifultowerofSt。Mary’sChurch，yonderthestreamofWaveneywandered，andbeforemestretchedthemeadowlands，purpleandgoldenwithmarshweedsinbloom。
　　Allwasasithadbeen，Icouldseenochangeatall，theonlychangewasinmyself。
　　Idismounted，andgoingtoapoolofwaterneartheroadwayIlookedatthereflectionofmyownface。
　　Iwaschangedindeed，scarcelyshouldI
　　haveknownitforthatoftheladwhohadriddenupthishillsometwentyyearsago。
　　Now，alas！theeyesweresunkenandverysorrowful，thefeaturesweresharp，andtherewasmoregreythanblackinthebeardandhair。
　　Ishouldscarcelyhaveknownitmyself，wouldanyothersknowit，Iwondered？
　　Wouldtherebeanytoknowitindeed？
　　Intwentyyearsmanydieandotherspassoutofsight；shouldIfindafriendatallamongtheliving？
　　SinceI
　　readtheletterswhichCaptainBellofthe’Adventuress’hadbroughtmebeforeIsailedforHispaniola，Ihadheardnotidingsfrommyhome，andwhattidingsawaitedmenow？
　　AboveallwhatofLily，wasshedeadormarriedorgone？
　　MountingmyhorseIpushedonagainatacanter，takingtheroadpastWaingfordMillsthroughthefordsandPirnhowtown，leavingBungayuponmyleft。
　　IntenminutesIwasatthegateofthebridlepaththatrunsfromtheNorwichroadforhalfamileormorebeneaththesteepandwoodedbankundertheshelterofwhichstandstheLodgeatDitchingham。
　　Bythegateamanloiteredinthelastraysofthesun。
　　Ilookedathimandknewhim；itwasBillyMinns，thatsamefoolwhohadlooseddeGarciawhenIlefthimboundthatImightruntomeetmysweetheart。
　　Hewasanoldmannowandhiswhitehairhungabouthiswitheredface，moreoverhewasuncleananddressedinrags，butIcouldhavefallenonhisneckandembracedhim，sorejoicedwasItolookoncemoreononewhomIhadknowninyouth。