YetIknowthatthouwiltabideheretillsomeoneelsecome，whetherthatbeearlyorlate。”Againhereddened，andsaid，inacoaxingway：“Andwiltthougivemeguesting，mother，forafewmoresummerdays？”
“Yea。”shesaid，“andtillsummerisover，ifneedbe，andthecorniscutandcarried，andtillthewinteriscomeandthelatterendofwinterisgone。”Hesmiledfaintly，thoughhisheartfell，andhesaid：
“Nay，mother，andcanitbyanychancebesolonga-coming？”
“O，fairboy。”shesaid，“thouwiltmakeitlong，howsoevershortitbe。AndnowIwillgivetheearede，lestthouvexthyselfsickandfretthyveryheart。
To-morrowgoseeifthoucanstmeetthyfateinsteadofabidingit。
Doonthywar-gearandtakethyswordandtrytheadventureofthewildwood；butgonotoverdeepintoit。”Saidhe：
“ButhowiftheLadycomewhileIamawayfromthishouse？”
“Soothtosay。”saidthecarline，“Ideemnotthatshewill，forthewayislongbetwixtusandher。”
“Dostthoumean。”saidRalph，standingupfromtheboard，“thatshewillnotcomeever？Iadjuretheenottobeguilemewithsoftwords，buttellmetheverysooth。”
“There，there！”saidshe，“sitdown，king’sson；eatthymeatanddrinkthywine；forto-morrowisanewday。
Shewillcomesoonorlate，ifshebeyetintheworld。
AndnowIwillsaynomoretotheeconcerningthismatter。”
Therewithshewentherwaysfromthehall，andwhenshecamebackwithhand-basinandtowel，shesaidnowordtohim，butonlysmiledkindly。
Hewentoutpresentlyintothemeadow(foritwasyetbutearlyafternoon)
andcameamongthehaymakingfolkandspakewiththem，hopingthatperchancesomeofthemmightspeakagainoftheLadyofAbundance；
butnoneofthemdidso，thoughtheoldcarlehehadspokenwithwasthere，andtherealsowerethetwomaidenswhomhehadseenfishing；andasforhim，hewasoverfaint-heartedtoaskthemanymorequestionsconcerningher。
Yetheabodewiththemlong，andateanddrankamidstthehaywiththemtillthemoonshonebrightly。Thenhewentbacktothecastleandfoundthecarlineinthehall，andshehadthebookwithherandgaveittohim，andhesatdownintheshot-windowunderthewaxlightsandfelltoreadingofit。
RalphReadethinaBookConcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEndFairlywrittenwasthatbook，withmanypicturestherein，themeaningofwhichRalphknewnot；butamongstthemwastheimageofthefairwomanwhomhehadholpenatthewant-waysofthewood，andbutfourdaysagowasthat，yetitseemedlongandlongtohim。
ThebooktoldnotmuchabouttheWellattheWorld’sEnd，butmuchittoldofacertainwomanwhomnomanthatsawhercouldforbeartolove：ofherittoldthaterewhileshedweltlonelyinthewildwood(thoughhowshecametherewasnotsaid)
andhowaking’ssonfoundherthereandbroughthertohisfather’skingdomandweddedher，whetherotherswerelieforloth：
andinalittlewhile，whenthefameofherhadspread，hewasputoutofhiskingdomandhisfather’shousefortheloveofher，becauseotherkingsandlordshankeredafterher；
whereofbefellongandgrievouswarwhichsheabodenottotheend，butsoughttoheroldplaceinthewildwood；andhowshefoundthereanotherwomanasorceress，whomadeherherthrall；
andtormentedhergrievouslywithtoilandstripes。
AndhowagaintherecameaknighttothatplacewhowasseekingtheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andboreherawaywithhim；andhowthesaidknightwasslainontheway，andshewastakenbytyrantsandrobbersofthefolk：
butthesebeingentangledinherlovefoughtamongstthemselvesandsheescaped，andwentseekingthatWell，andfounditatthelonglast，anddrankthereof，andthroveeverafter：
andhowshelivethyet，andisbecometheservantoftheWelltoentangletheseekersinherloveandkeepthemfromdrinkingthereof；becausetherewasnomanthatbeheldher，butanonhewasthethrallofherlove，andmightnotpluckhisheartawayfromhertodoanyofthedeedswherebymenthriveandwinthepraiseofthepeople。
Ralphreadonandontilltheshortnightwaned，andthewax-lightsfailedoneaftertheother，andthewindowsofthehallgrewgreyanddaylightcame，andthethrostlesburstouta-singingatonceinthecastlepleasaunce，andthesuncameupoverthewood，andthesoundofmen-folkbestirringthemselvesa-fieldcametohisearsthroughtheopenwindows；andatlasthewasdonewiththetale，andthecarlinecamenotnearhimthoughthesunhadclombhighuptheheavens。
AsforRalph，whathehadreadwassweetpoisontohim；forifbeforehewassomewhattormentedbylove，nowwashisheartsickandsorewithit。
ThoughheknewnotforcertainwhetherthistalehadtodowiththeLadyoftheForest，andthoughheknewnotiftheLadywhoshouldcometothecastlewereevenshe，yetheneedsmustdeemthatsoitwas，andhisheartwaswearywithlove，andhismanhoodseemedchanged。
RalphMeetethaManintheWoodButthemorningbegantowearashesatdeepinthesethoughtsandstilltheCarlinecamenottohim；andhethought：
“SheleavethmealonethatImaydoherbidding：
sowillIwithouttarrying。”Andhearoseanddidonhishauberkandbasnet，andgirthisswordtohisside，andwentforth，a-footasbefore。Hecrossedtheriverbyawidefordandsteppingstonessomewhatbelowthepoolwhereinhehadbathedonthatfirstday；andalreadybythenhehadgotsofar，whatwiththefreshairofthebeauteousmorning，whatwiththecheerfultinklingofhisswordandhauberk，hewassomewhatamendedofhistroubleandheavinessofspirit。
Alittlewayacrosstheriver，butnighertothewood，wasahouseorcotofthatcountry-folk，andanoldwomansatspinninginthedoor。SoRalphwentupthither，andgreetedher，andcravedofheradraughtofmilk；sothegoodyturnedaboutandcriedouttoonewithin，andtherecameforthoneofthemaidenswhomRalphhadmetfishingthatotherday，andtheoldwomanbadeherbringforthmilkandbread。
ThenthecarlinelookedhardatRalph，andsaid：“Ah！Ihaveheardtellofthee：thouartabidingtheturnofthedaysupatthecastleyonder，asothershavedonebeforethee。
Well，well，belikethoushalthavethywish，thoughwhetheritshallbetothyprofit，whoshallsay？”
ThereatRalph’sheartfellagain，andhesaid：“Sayestthou，mother，thattherehavebeenothersabidinglikemeinthetower？
Iknownotwhatthywordsmean。”
Thecarlinelaughed。“Well。”saidshe，“herecomesthymorning’sbaitbornebyshapelyhandsenough；eatanddrinkfirst；
andthenwillItelltheemymeaning。”
Therewithcamethemaidenforthwiththebowlandtheloaf；
andindeedshewasfairenough，andshyandkind；butRalphheededherlittle，norwashisheartmovedbyheratall。
Shesetastoolforhimbesidethedoorandhesatdownandateanddrank，thoughhisheartwastroubled；andthemaidenhungabout，andseemedtofinditnoeasymattertokeephereyesoffhim。
Presentlythecarline，whohadbeenwatchingthetwo，said：
“Thouaskestofthemeaningofmywords；well，deemestthouthatI
havehadmorementhanonetoloveme？”“Iknownot，mother。”
saidRalph，whocouldscarceholdhimselfpatient。“Therenow！”
quoththecarline，“lookatmydamsel！(sheisnotmydaughter，butmybrother’s，)thereisaman，andabriskladtoo，whomshecallethherbatchelor，andisasIverilydeemwell-pleasedwithhim：
yetloyouhowsheeyeththee，thoufairman，anddothsowithherraimentthatthoumaystbestseehowshapelysheisoflimbandfoot，andtoyethherrighthandwithherleftwrist，andthelike——Well，asforme，Ihavehadmoreloversthanoneortwo。AndwhyhaveIhadjustsomanyandnomore？
Nay，thouneedestnotmakeanylonganswertome。
Iamoldnow，andevenbeforeIwasoldIwasnotyoung：
Iamnowfouloffavour，andevenbeforeIbecamefoul，Iwasnotsofair——wellthen？”
“Yea，whatthen？”saidRalph。“Thisthen，fairyoungfool。”saidshe：
“theonewhomthoulovest，longhathshelived，butsheisnotoldtolookon，norfoul；butfair——Ohowfair！”
ThenRalphforgothisfear，andhisheartgrewgreedyandhiseyesglistened，andhesaid，yethespokefaintly：
“Yea，isshefair？”“What！hastthounotseenher？”saidthecarline。
Ralphcalledtomindtheguiseinwhichhehadseenherandflushedbrightred，asheanswered：“Yea，IdeemthatIhave：
surelyitwasshe。”Thecarlinelaughed：“Well。”saidshe；
“howeverthouhastseenher，thouhastscarceseenherasIhave。”
SaidRalph，“Howwasthat？”Saidshe：“Itisherwayhereinthesummer-tidetobatheherinyonderpoolupthewater：“
(anditwasthesamepoolwhereinRalphhadbathed)“Andshehathmeandmynieceandtwootherwomentoholdupthesilkenclothbetwixtherbodyandtheworld；sothatIhaveseenherasGodmadeher；andIshalltelltheethatwhenhewasaboutthatworkhewasmindedtobeacraftsmaster；forthereisnoblemishaboutherthatsheshouldhideheratalloranywhere。
Hersidesaresleek，andherthighsnorougherthanherface，andherfeetasdaintyasherhands：yea，sheisapearlallover，withalsheisasstrongasaknight，andIwarrantherhardierofheartthanmostknights。Ahappymanshaltthoube；
forsurelyIdeemthouhastnotcomehithertoabideherwithoutsometokenorwarrantofher。”
Ralphhelddownhishead，andhecouldnotmeettheoldwoman’seyesasshespakethus；andthemaidentookherselfoutofearshotatthefirstwordsofthecarlinehereof，andwashalfwaydowntotheriverbynow。
Ralphspakeafterawhileandsaid：“Tellme，isshegood，andagoodwoman？”Thedamelaughedscornfullyandsaid：
“Surely，surely；sheisthesaintoftheForestLand，andtheguardianofallpoorfolk。Askthecarleselse！”
Ralphheldhispeace，androsetobegoneandturningsawthedamselwadingtheshallowford，andlookingoverhershoulderathim。
Hegavethedamegoodday，anddepartedlight-footbutheavyhearted。
Yetashewent，hekeptsayingtohimself：“DidshenotsendthatRogertoturnmywayshither？yetshecomethnot。Surelyshehathchangedintheselastdays，oritmaybeintheselasthours：
yea，orthisveryhour。”
Amidstsuchthoughtshecameintothewood，andmadehiswaybythepathsandopenplaces，goingsouthandeastoftheHouse：
Whereasthelastdayhehadgonewestandnorth。Hewentasoftpace，butwanderedonwithoutanystaytillitwasnoon，andhehadseennoughtbutthewildthingsofthewood，normanyofthem。
Butatlastheheardthetinkleofalittlebellcomingtowardshim：
sohestoodstillandgotthehiltofhisswordreadytohishand；
andthetinkledrewnearer，andheheardwithalthetrampleofsomeriding-beast；sohewenttowardthesound，andpresentlyinaclearerplaceofthewoodcameuponamanofreligion，aclerk，ridingonahackney，towhoseneckhungahorse-bell：
thepriesthadsaddlebagsbesidehimandcarriedinhisrighthandabookinabag。WhenhemetRalphheblessedhim，andRalphgavehimtheseleoftheday，andaskedhimwhitherhewould。
SaidthePriest：“IamfortheLittlePlainandtheLandofAbundance；whenceartthou，myson，andwhitherwiltthou？”
“FromthatverylandIcome。”saidRalph，“andastowhither，Iseekadventures；butunlessIseemorethanIhavethisforenoon，orthoucansttellmeofthem，backwillIwhenceIcame：
yettosaysooth，Ishallnotbesorryforafellowtohelpmeback，forthesewoodlandwaysaresome-whatblind。”
SaidthePriest：“Iwillbeartheecompanywithagoodwill；
andIknowtheroadrightwell；forIamtheVicarappointedbythefathersoftheThorntoservethechurchoftheLittlePlain，andthechapelofSt。Anthonyyonderinthewood，andto-dayI
gotothechurchofthegoodfolkthere。”
SoRalphturned，andwentalongwithhim，walkingbyhisbridle-rein。Andastheywentthepriestsaidtohim：“Artthouoneofmylady’slords？”
Ralphreddenedashesighed，andsaid：“Iamnocaptainofhers。”
Thensmiledthepriestandsaid：“ThenwillInotasktheeofthineerrand；
forbelikethouwouldestnottellmethereof。”
Ralphsaidnought，butwaxedshamefacedashedeemedthatthepriesteyedhimcuriously。Atlasthesaid：“Iwillasktheeaquestioninturn，father。”“Yea。”saidthepriest。
SaidRalph：“Thisladyoftheland，theLadyofAbundance，issheaverywoman？”“HolySaints！”quoththepriest，blessinghimself，“whatmeanestthou？”SaidRalph：
“Imean，issheofthosewhooutwardlyhaveawoman’ssemblance，butwithinareoftheraceoftheancientdevils，thegodsoftheGentiles？”
Thenthepriestcrossedhimselfagain，andspakeassolemnlyasajudgeonthebench：“Son，Ipraythatifthouartnotinthyrightmind，thouwillcomethereintoanon。Knowthis，thatwhateverelseshemaybe，sheisarightholywoman。
