tances, so strange
indeed that he dared to hope that his broken troth might be renewed in
some better world than this. His last prayer was that she should say to
me, his messenger, that she forgave him and still loved him, as to his
death he loved her.'

'And how can such forgiveness or such an avowal advantage a dead man?'
Lily asked, watching me keenly through the shadows. 'Have the dead then
eyes to see and ears to hear?'

'How can I know, senora? I do but execute my mission.'

'And how can I know that you are a true messenger. It chanced that I
had sure tidings of the drowning of Thomas Wingfield many years ago, and
this tale of Indians and princesses is wondrous strange, more like those
that happen in romances than in this plain world. Have you no token of
your good faith, sir?'

'I have such a token, senora, but the light is too faint for you to see
it.'

'Then follow me to the house, there we will get light. Stay,' and once
more going to the stable gate, she called 'John.'

An old man answered her, and I knew the voice for that of one of my
father's serving men. To him she spoke in low tones, then led the way by
the garden path to the front door of the house, which she opened with
a key from her girdle, motioning to me to pass in before her. I did so,
and thinking little of such matters at the moment, turned by habit into
the doorway of the sitting-room which I knew so well, lifting my feet
to avoid stumbling on its step, and passing into the room found my way
through the gloom to the wide fireplace where I took my stand. Lily
watched me enter, then following me, she lit a taper at the fire which
smouldered on the hearth, and placed it upon the table in the window in
such fashion that though I was now obliged to take off my hat, my face
was still in shadow.

'Now, sir, your token if it pleases you.'

Then I drew the posy ring from my finger and gave it to her, and she sat
down by the table and examined it in the light of the candle, and as
she sat thus, I saw how beautiful she was still, and how little time had
touched her, except for the sadness of her face, though now she had seen
eight-and-thirty winters. I saw also that though she kept control of her
features as she looked upon the ring, her breast heaved quickly and her
hand shook.

'The token is a true one,' she said at length. 'I know the ring, though
it is somewhat worn since last I saw it, it was my mother's; and many
years ago I gave it as a