'Still I like his spirit and wish him well.
What would he of me?'
'Leave to bid farewell to your daughter. I know that his suit does not
please you and cannot wonder at it, and for my own part I think it too
early for him to set his fancy in the way of marriage. But if he would
see the maid it can do no harm, for such harm as there is has been done
already. Now for your answer.'
Squire Bozard thought a while, then said:
'The lad is a brave lad though he shall be no son-in-law of mine. He
is going far, and mayhap will return no more, and I do not wish that
he should think unkindly of me when I am dead. Go without, Thomas
Wingfield, and stand under yonder beech--Lily shall join you there and
you may speak with her for the half of an hour--no more. See to it that
you keep within sight of the window. Nay, no thanks; go before I change
my mind.'
So I went and waited under the beech with a beating heart, and presently
Lily glided up to me, a more welcome sight to my eyes than any angel out
of heaven. And, indeed, I doubt if an angel could have been more fair
than she, or more good and gentle.
'Oh! Thomas,' she whispered, when I had greeted her, 'is this true that
you sail oversea to seek the Spaniard?'
'I sail to seek the Spaniard, and to find him and to kill him when he
is found. It was to come to you, Lily, that I let him go, now I must let
you go to come to him.
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