ForthencehavefolksoughterenowtotheWELLATTHEWORLD’SEND。”
Ralphturnedtohimsharplyandsaid：“ManytimesinthesefewdayshaveIheardthatword。Dostthouknowthemeaningthereof？ForastomeI
knowitnot。”SaidRoger：“ThoumayestwellbeaswiseasIamthereon：
belikemenseektoitfortheirmuchthriving，andoftenestfinditnot。
YethaveIheardthattheybethelikeliestwithwhomallwomenareinlove。”
Ralphheldhispeace，butRogernotedthathereddenedattheword。
Nowtheygotonhorsebackagain，fortheyhadlighteddowntobreathetheirbeasts，andtheyrodeonandon，andneverwasRogeratfault：
longwasthewayandperforcetheyrestedatwhiles，sothatnightfellupontheminthewood，butthemoonrosewithal。Sonightbeingfairlycome，theyrestedagoodwhile，asitwouldbedawnbeforemoonset。
Thentheyrodeonagain，tillnowthesummernightgrewoldandwaned，butthewoodhidthebeginningsofdawn。
Atlasttheycameoutoftheclosewoodsuddenlyintoanopenplain，andnow，asthetwilightofthedawnwaspassingintoearlyday，theysawthatwidegrassymeadowsandtilledfieldslaybeforethem，withalittleriverrunningthroughtheplain；andamidstthemeadows，onagreenmound，wasawhitecastle，strong，andwellbuilt，thoughnotofthebiggest。
Rogerpointedtoit，andsaid，“Nowwearecomehome。”andcriedonhisweariedbeast，whoforhispartseemedtoseetheendofhisjourney。
Theysplashedthroughafordoftheriverandcametothegateofthecastleasdaydrewonapace；Rogerblewablastonagreathornthathungonthegate，andRalphlookingrounddeemedhehadneverseenfairerbuildingthaninthecastle，whathecouldseeofit，andyetitwasbuiltfromofold。Theywaitednolongwhilebeforetheywereanswered；
butwhereasRalphlookedtoseearmedgatewardspeerfromthebattlementsortheshotwindow，andaporterespyingthemthroughalattice，ithappenedinnosuchway，butwithoutmoreadothewicketwasopenedtothembyatalloldwoman，gauntandgrey，whogreetedthemcourteously：
RogerlighteddownandRalphdidinlikewise，andtheyledtheirhorsesthroughthegateintothecourtofthecastle；theoldwomangoingbeforethemtilltheycametothehalldoor，whichsheopenedtothem，andtakingthereinsoftheirhorsesledthemawaytothestable，whilethosetwainenteredthehall，whichwasasgoodlyasmightbe。
RogerledRalphuptoaboardonthedais，whereontherewasmeatanddrinkenow，andRalphmadehisway-leadersitdownbyhim，andtheyfellto。
Therewasnoserving-mantowaitonthemnoracarleofanykinddidtheysee；
theoldwomanonly，comingbackfromthehorses，servedthemattable。
EverasshewentaboutshelookedlongonRalph，andseemedasifshewouldhavespokentohim，butasoften，sheglancedatRogerandforbore。
SowhentheywerewellnighdonewiththeirmeatRalphspaketothecarlineandsaid：“Belikethelordortheladyofthishouseareabedandweshallnotseethemtillthemorrow？”
ErethecarlinecouldspeakRogerbrokeinandsaid：
“Thereisneitherlordnorladyinthecastleasnow，norbelikewilltherebeto-morrowmorning，orrather，beforenoononthisday；
sonowyewerebettertoletthisdameleadtheetobed，andletthenexthourstakecareofthemselves。”
“Sobeit。”saidRalph，whowasbythistimeheartilywearied，“shallwetwolieinthesamechamber？”
“Nay。”saidthecarlineshortly，“lodgingforthemasterandlodgingforthemanaretwodifferentthings。”
Rogerlaughedandsaidnought，andRalphgavehimgoodnight，andfollowedthecarlinenothingloth，wholedhimtoafairchamberoverthesolar，asifhehadbeentheverymasterofthecastle，andhelaydowninaverygoodlybed，nortroubledhimselfastowhereRogerlay，norindeedofaughtelse，nordidhedreamofBurg，orwood，orcastle，orman，orwoman；
butlaystillliketheimageofhisfather’sfatheronthepaintedtombinthechoirofSt。LaurenceofUpmeads。
OfRalphintheCastleofAbundanceBroadlaythesunupontheplainamidstthewildwoodwhenheawokeandsprangoutofbedandlookedoutofthewindow(forthechamberwasinthegableofthehallandtherewasnoughtofthecastlebeyondit)。ItwasbutlittleafternoonofafairJuneday，forRalphhadslumberedasitbehovedayoungman。
Thelightwindboreintothechamberthesweetscentsoftheearlysummer，thechiefofallofthembeingthesavourofthenew-cutgrass，foraboutthewidemeadowsthecarlesandqueenswereaworkatthebeginningofhayharvest；
andlateasitwasintheday，morethanoneblackbirdwassingingfromthebushesofthecastlepleasance。
Ralphsighedforverypleasureoflifebeforehehadyetwellrememberedwherehewasorwhathadbefallenoflate；
butashestoodatthewindowandgazedoverthemeadows，andthememoryofallcamebacktohim，hesighedoncemoreforalackofsomewhatthatcameintohisheart，andhesmiledshamefacedly，thoughtherewasnoonenear，ashisthoughtbadehimwonderifamongstthehaymakingwomenyondertherewereanyasfairasthoseyellow-cladthrall-womenoftheBurg；andasheturnedfromthewindowanewhopemadehisheartbeat，forhedeemedthathehadbeenbroughttothathousethathemightmeetsomeonewhoshouldchangehislifeandmakehimanewman。
Sohedidonhisraimentandwenthiswaysdowntothehall，andlookedaboutforRoger，butfoundhimnot，noranyoneelsesavethecarline，whopresentlycameinfromthebuttery，andofwhomheasked，wherewasRoger。Quothshe：“Hehasbeengonethesesixhours，buthathleftawordforthee，lord，towit，thathebeseechestheetoabidehimherefortwodaysattheleast，andthereafterthouartfreetogoifthouwilt。Butasforme“(andtherewithshesmiledonhimassweetlyasherwrinkledoldfacemightcompass)
“Isaytothee，abidebeyondthosetwodaysifRogercomethnot，andaslongasthouarthereIwillmaketheeallthecheerImay。
Andwhoknowethbutthoumayestmeetworthyadventureshere。
Suchhaveerenowbefallengoodknightsinthishouseoranighit。”
“Ithankthee，mother。”quothRalph，“anditislikethatImayabideherebeyondthetwodaysiftheadventurebefallmenoterethen。
ButatleastIwillbidetheeatingofmydinnerhereto-day。”
“Wellisthee，fairlord。”saidthecarline。“Ifthouwiltbutwalkinthemeadowbutalittlehalfhourallshallbereadyforthee。
Forsoothithadbeendightbeforenow，butthatIwaitedthycomingforthfromthychamber，forIwouldnotwakethee。Andthesaintsbepraisedforthelongsweetsleepthathathpaintedthygoodlycheeks。”
Sosayingshehurriedofftothebuttery，leavingRalphlaughingatheroutspokenflatteringwords。
Thenhegothimoutofthehallandthecastle，fornodoorwasshut，andtherewasnomantobeseenwithinoraboutthehouse。
Sohewalkedtoandfrothemeadowandsawtheneat-herdsinthepasture，andthehay-makingfolkbeyondthem，andthesoundoftheirvoicescametohimonthelittleairsthatwerebreathing。
Hethoughthewouldtalktosomeofthesefolkeretheworldwasmucholder，andalsohenotedbetweentheriverandthewoodmanycotsofthehusbandmentrimlybuildedandthatched，andamidstthemalittlechurch，whiteanddelicateoffashion；
butasnowhisfacewassettowardtheriverbecauseofthehotday。
Hecametoapoolalittlebelowwhereawoodenfoot-bridgecrossedthewater，andaboutthepoolwerewillowsgrowing，whichhadnotbeenshroudedtheseeightyears，andthewaterwasclearasglasswithabottomoffinesand。Therethenhebathedhim，andashesportedinthewaterhebethoughthimofthelongsmoothreachesofUpmeadsWater，andtheswimminglowdownamidstthelongswingingweedsbetweenthechuckleofthereedsparrows，whenthesunwasnewrisenintheJulymorning。
Whenhestoodonthegrassagain，whatwiththebrightweatherandfairlittleland，whatwiththefreshnessofthewater，andhisgoodrest，andthehopeofadventuretocome，hefeltasifhehadneverbeenmerrierinhislife-days。WithalitwasaweightoffhisheartthathehadescapedfromtheturmoilofthewarsoftheBurgoftheFourFriths，andthemenoftheDryTree，andtheWheat-wearers，withthethralldomandstripesandfire-raising，andthehardlifeofstrifeandgainofthewalledtownandstrongplace。
Whenhecamebacktothecastlegatetherewasthecarlineinthewicketpeeringouttorightandleft，seekinghimtobringhimintodinner。
Andwhenshesawhimsojoyous，withhislipssmilingandhiseyesdancingformirth，shealsobecamejoyous，andsaid：“Verily，itisapityoftheethatthereisneverafairdamselorsotolookontheeandlovetheehereto-day。Farwouldmanyamaidenruntokissthymouth，fairlad。
Butnowcometothymeat，thatthoumayestgrowthefairerandlastthelonger。”
Helaughedgailyandwentintothehallwithher，andnowwasitwelldightwithbankersanddorsarsofgoodlyfiguredcloth，andonthewallsagoodlyhallingofarrasoftheStoryofAlexander。
Sohesattotable，andthemeatanddrinkwasofthebest，andthecarlineservedhim，praisinghimeverwithfulsomewordsasheate，tillhewishedheraway。
Afterdinnerherestedawhile，andcalledtothecarlineandbadeherbringhimhisswordandhisbasnet。“Wherefore？”saidshe。
“Whitherwiltthou？”
Saidhe，“Iwouldwalkabroadtodrinktheair。”
“Wiltthouintothewildwood？”saidshe。
“Nay，mother。”hesaid，“Iwillbutwalkaboutthemeadowandlookonthehay-makingfolk。”
“Forthat。”saidthecarline，“thouneedestneitherswordnorhelm。
Iwasafeardthatthouwertaboutdeparting，andthydeparturewouldbeagrieftomyheart：inthedeepwoodthoumightestbesobesteadastoneedaswordinthyfist；butwhatshouldstthoudowithitinthisPlainofAbundance，wherearenoughtbutpeacefulhusbandmenandfrankandkindmaidens？andalltheseareasiftheyhaddrunkadraughtoftheWELLATTHEWORLD’SEND。”
Ralphstartedasshesaidtheword，butheldhispeaceawhile。
Thenhesaid：“Andwhoislordofthisfairland？”
“Thereisnolord，butalady。”saidthecarline。
“Howhightshe？”saidRalph。“WecallhertheLadyofAbundance。”
saidtheoldwoman。SaidRalph：“Issheagoodlady？”
“Sheismylady。”saidthecarline，“anddoethgoodtome，andthereisnotacarleinthelandbutspeakethwellofher——
itmaybeoverwell。”“Isshefairtolookon？”saidRalph。
“Ofwomen-folkthereisnonefairer。”saidthecarline；
“astomen，thatisanotherthing。”
Ralphwassilentawhile，thenhesaid：“WhatistheWellattheWorld’sEnd？”
“Theytalkofithere。”saidshe，“manythingstoolongtotellofnow：butthereisabookinthishousethattellethofit；
IknowitwellbythelookofitthoughImaynotreadinit。
Iwillseekitfortheeto-morrowifthouwilt。”
“Havethouthanks，dame。”saidhe；“andIpraytheeforgetitnot；
butnowIwillgoforth。”
“Yea。”saidthecarline，“butabidealittle。”
Therewithshewentintothebuttery，andcamebackbearingwithheragarlandofrosesofthegarden，intermingledwithgreenleaves，andshesaid：“Thesunisyethotandoverhot，dothisonthineheadtoshadetheefromtheburning。
Iknewthatthouwouldstgoabroadto-day，soImadethisfortheeinthemorning；andwhenIwasyoungIwascalledthegarland-maker。Itisbettersummerwearthanthybasnet。”
Hethankedheranddiditonsmiling，butsomewhatruefully；
forhesaidtohimself：“ThisisoveroldadamethatIshouldwearalove-tokenfromher。”Butwhenitwasonhishead，theolddameclappedherhandsandcried：“Othere，there！NowartthouliketheimageofSt。MichaelintheChoirofOurLadyoftheThorn：
thereisnonesolovelyasthou。IwouldmyLadycouldseetheethus；surelythesightoftheeshouldgladdenherheart。
Andwithalthouartnotillcladotherwise。”
Indeedhisraimentwasgoodly，forhissurcoatwasnew，anditwasoffinegreencloth，andthecoat-armourofUpmeadwasbeatenonit，towit，onagoldgroundanapple-treefruited，standingbyariver-side。
Nowhelaughedsomewhatuneasilyatherwords，andsowentforthfromthecastleagain，andmadestraightforthehay-makingfolkontheothersideofthewater；forallthissidewasbeingfedbybeastsandsheep；butatthepointwherehecrossed，thewindingofthestreambroughtitneartothecastlegate。
