Ralphsprangtohisfeetashesaidtheword，andcriedouteagerly：
“Oldfriend，andwherethenwertthoubredandborn？”Richardlaughedandsaid：“See，then，thereisyetadeedandadaybetwixttheeanddeath！
Butturnaboutandlookstraightoverthemeadowsinalinewithyonderwillow-tree，andtellmewhatthouseest。”SaidRalph：
“Thefairplainspreadingwide，andariverrunningthroughit，andlittlehillsbeyondthewater，andbluemountainsbeyondthem，andsnowyetlyingonthetopsofthem，thoughtheyearisinyoungJuly。”
“Yea。”quothRichard；“andseestthouonthefirstofthelittlehillsbeyondtheriver，agreatgreytowerrisingupandhousesanighit？”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“thetowerIsee，andthehouses，forIamfar-sighted；
butthehousesaresmall。”“Soitis。”saidRichard；“nowyondertowerisoftheChurchofSwevenham，whichisundertheinvocationoftheSevenSleepersofEphesus；andthehousesarethehousesofthelittletown。
Andwhathasthattodowithme？sayestthou：whythis，thatIwasbornandbredatSwevenham。AndindeedIitwaswhobroughtmylordBlaiseheretoWhitwall，withtalesofhowgoodaplaceitwasforchaffer，thatImightseethelittletownandthegreatgreytoweroncemore。
ForsoothIliednot，forthybrotherishappyhere，whereasheispilingupthecoinsoneupontheother。Forsooththoushouldestgointohisbooth，fairlord；itisagoodlysight。”
ButRalphwaswalkingtoandfrohastily，andheturnedtoRichardandsaid：
“Well，well！butwhydostthounottellmemoreoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd？”
SaidRichard：“Iwasgoingtotelltheesomewhatwhichmightbeworththynoting；ormightnotbeworthit：hearken！WhenI
dweltatSwevenhamoveryonder，andwasbutofeighteenwinters，whoamnowofthreescoreandeight，threefolkofourtownship，twoyoungmenandoneyoungwoman，setoutthencetoseekthesaidWell：
andmuchloretheyhadconcerningit，whichtheyhadlearnedofanoldman，anighkinsmanofoneofthem。ThisancientcarleIhadneverseen，forhedweltinthemountainsawayoff，andthesemenweresomefiveyearsolderthanI，sothatIwasaboywhentheyweremengrown；
andsuchthingsIheedednot，butrathersportandplay；andaboveall，Ilongedfortheplayofwarandbattle。GodwotIhavehadmybellyfulofitsincethosedays！HowbeitImindmethesettingforthofthesethree。
Theyhadasumpter-asswiththemfortheirlivelihoodonthewaste；
buttheywentafootcrownedwithflowers，andthepipeandtabourplayingbeforethem，andmuchpeoplebroughtthemontheway。
BySt。Christopher！Icanseeitallasifitwereyesterday。
Iwassorryofthedepartureofthedamsel；forthoughIwasaboyI
hadlovedher，andshehadsufferedmetokissherandtoywithher；
butitwassoonover。NowIcalltomindthattheyhadprayedourpriest，SirCyprian，toblessthemontheirdeparture，buthenaysaidthem；
forheheldthatsuchaquestcameoftheinspirationofthedevils，andwasbutamemoryofthecustomsoftheancientgentilesandheathen。
Butastome，Ideemeditnaught，andwassorrythatmywhite-bosomed，sweet-breathedfriendshouldwalkawayfrommethusintotheclouds。”
“Whatcameofit？”saidRalph，“didtheycomeback，oranyofthem？”
“Iwotnot。”saidRichard，“forIwaswearyofSwevenhamafterthat，soIgirtmyselftoaswordandlaidaspearuponmyshoulderandwentmywaystotheCastleoftheWasteMarch，sixtymilesfromSwevenhamtown，andtheBarontookmeinandmademehisman：
andalmostaslittleprofitwereinmytellingtheeagainofmydeedsthere，astherewasinmydoingthem：butthegreytowerofSwevenhamIhaveneverseenagaintillthishour。”
SaidRalph：“NowthenitbehovethmetogotoSwevenhamstraightway：
wiltthoucomewithme？itseemethtobebutsomefourmileshence。”
Richardheldhispeaceandknithisbrowsasifponderingthematter，andRalphabidedtillhespake：sohesaid：
“Foster-son，sotocallthee，thouknowestthemannerofup-countrycarles，thattalesflowforthfromthemthebetteriftheycomewithoutovermuchdiggingandhoeingoftheground；thatis，withoutquestioning；
someseemsbetteritwillbeifIgotoSwevenhamalone，andbetterifIbeaskedtogo，thanifIgoofmyself。
Nowto-morrowisSaturday，andhighmarketinWhitwall；
andIamnotsooldbutthatitislikeliestthattherewillbesomeofmyfellowsaliveandontheirlegsinSwevenham：
andifsuchtherebe，therewillbeoneattheleastinthemarketto-morrow，andIwillbetheretofindhimout：
andthenitwillgohardifhebringmenottoSwevenhamasawell-belovedguest；andwhenIamthere，andtellingmytidings，andaskingthemoftheirs，iftherebeanytalesconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEndworkingintheirbellies，thenshallIbethemidwifetobringthemtobirth。Ha？Willitdo？”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“buthowlongwiltthoube？”SaidRichard：
“IshallcomebackspeedilyifIfindthelandbarren；
butifthefieldbeinearIshalltarrytoharvestit。
Sokeepthouthysoulinpatience。”“AndwhatshallIdonow？”
saidRalph。“Wearawaythehours。”saidRichard。
Andtobeginwith，comebackwithinthegateswithmeandletusgolookatthybrother’sboothinthemarket-place：itisthenethermostofagoodlyhousewhichheismindedtodwellin；
andhewillmarryawifeandsitdowninWhitwall，sowellheseemethliketothrive；fortheyhavealreadybiddenhimtothefreedomofthecity，andtoabrotheroftheFaring-Knights，whereasheisnotonlyastirringman，butofgoodlineagealso：
fornowhehidethnotthatheisoftheUpmeadskindred。”
RalphFallethinWithAnotherOldFriendRalphwentwithRichardnowwithoutmorewords，andtheycameintothemarket-placeanduntoBlaise’sboothandhouse，whichwasnoworsethanthebestintheplace；andthepaintersandstainerswereatworkontheupperpartofittomakeitasbrightandgoodlyasmightbewithredandblueandgreenandgold，andallfaircolours，andalreadywasthereasignhungoutofthefruitfultreebythewater-side。Asforthebooth，itwasfullwithinofmanywaresandfar-fetchedanddear-boughtthings；
aspiecesofgoodandfineclothplumbedwiththesealofthegreatestofthecities；andsilkofBabylon，andspicesofthehotburningislands，andwondersofthesilversmith’sandthegoldsmith’sfashioning，andfair-wroughtweaponsandarmourofthebest，andeverythingthatarichchapmanmaydealin。
AndamidstofitallstoodBlaisecladinfineblackclothweltedwithneedlework，andagoldchainabouthisneck。
HewastalkingwiththreehonourablemenofthePort，andtheyweredoinghimhonourwithkindwordsandthebiddingofhelp。
WhenhesawRalphandRichardcomein，henoddedtothem，astomenwhomheloved，butwerebeneathhimindignity，andleftnottalkingwiththegreatmen。Richardgrinnedalittlethereat，asalsodidRalphinhisheart；forhethought：
“HerethenisoneoftheUpmeadskinprovidedfor，sothatsoonhemaybuywithhismoneytwodomainsasbigasUpmeadsandcallthemhismanors。”
NowRalphlooksabouthim，andpresentlyheseesamancomeforwardtomeethimfromtheinnermostofthebooth，andlo！therewascomeClementChapman。Hisheartroseatthesightofhim，andhethoughtofhiskindgossiptillhecouldscarcewithholdhistears。ButClementcametohimandcasthisarmsabouthim，andkissedhim，andsaid：“Thoushaltpardonmeforthis，lord，foritisthekissofthegossipwhichshebademegivethee，ifIfellinwiththee，asnowIhave，praisedbetheSaints！
YetitirksmethatIshallseelittlemoreoftheeatthistime，forto-morrowearlyImustneedsjoinmyselftomycompany；
forwearegoingsouthawhiletoagoodtownsomefiftymileshence。Nevertheless，ifthoudwellestheresomeeightdaysIshallseetheeagainbelike，sincethereafterIgetmeeastwardonahardandlongjourneynotwithoutperil。
Howsayestthou？”
“Iwotnot。”quothRalphlookingatRichard。SaidRichard：
“Thoumaystwotwell，masterClement，thatmylordisanhungeredofthepraiseofthefolks，andisnotliketoabideinameremerchant-towntillthemouldgrowonhisback。”“Well，well。”
saidClement，“howeverthatmaybe，Ihavenowdonemymatterswiththiscloth-lord，Blaise，andhehasmyflorinsinhispouch：
sowillnotyetwaincomewithmeanddrinkacuptillhehathdonehistalkwiththesemagnates？”
Ralphwasnothingloth，forbesidesthathelovedmasterClement，andthathisbeingincompanywaslikehavingapieceofhishomeanighhim，hehopedtohearsometidingsconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
SoheandRichardwentwithmasterClementtotheChristopher，afairale-houseoveragainsttheGreatChurch，andsatdowntogoodwine；
andRalphaskedofClementmanythingsconcerningdameKatherinehisgossip，andClementtoldhimall，andthatshewaswell，andhadbeentoUpmeads，andhadseenKingPeterandthemotherofRalph；andhowshehadassuagedhismother’sgriefathisdeparturebyforecastingfairdaysforherson。
AllthisRalphheardgladly，thoughhewassomewhatshamefacedwithal，andsatsilentandthinkingofmanymatters。ButRichardtookupthewordandsaid：
“WhichwaycamestthoufromWulstead，masterClement？”“ThenighestwayIcame。”saidClement，“throughtheWoodsPerilous。”SaidRichard：
“AndtheyoftheDryTree，heardestthouaughtofthem？”“Yea，certes。”
quothClement，“forIfellinwiththeirBailiff，andpaidhimduescotforthepassageoftheWood；heknowethmewithal，andwetalkedtogether。”
“Andhadheanytidingstotelltheeofthechampions？”saidRichard。
SaidClement，“Greattidingsmaybe，howthattherewasarumourthattheyhadlosttheiryoungQueenandLady；andifthatbetrue，itwillgonightobreaktheirhearts，sosoreastheylovedher。Andthatwillmakethembitterandfierce，tilltheirgriefhasbeenslakedbythebloodofmen。
AndthatthemoreastheiroldQueenabidethstill，andsheherselfiseverofthatmind。”
Ralphhearkened，andhisheartwaswoundedthatothermenshouldspeakofhisbeloved：butheheardhowRichardsaid：“HastthoueverknownwhythatcompanyofchampionstookthenameoftheDryTree？”“Why，whoshouldknowthat，ifthouknowestitnot，RichardofSwevenham？”saidClement：
“IsitnotbythetokenoftheDryTreethatstandethinthelandsonthehithersideoftheWalloftheWorld？”Richardnoddedhishead；butRalphcriedout：“OMasterClement，andhastthouseenit，theWalloftheWorld？”
“Yea，afaroff，myson。”saidhe；“orwhatthefolkwithmecalledso；
astotheDryTree，IhavetoldtheeatWulsteadthatIhaveseenitnot，thoughIhaveknownmenwhohavetoldmethattheyhaveseenit。”
“AndmusttheywhofindtheWellattheWorld’sEndcomebytheDryTree？”
“Yea，surely。”saidClement。QuothRichard：“Andthushavesomeheard，whohavegoneonthatquest，andtheyhaveheardoftheChampionsofHampton，andhavegonethither，beingdeceivedbythatnameoftheDryTree，andwhileshavebeenslainbythechampions，whileshaveenteredtheircompany。”
“Yea。”saidClement，“soitisthattheirfirsterrorhathendedtheirquest。
Butnow，lordRalph，Iwilltelltheeonething；towit，thatwhenIreturnhitheraftereightdayswearing，Ishallbewendingeast，asIsaide’ennow，andwhatwillthatmeansavegoingsomewhatnighertotheWalloftheWorld；
formywayliethbeyondthemountainsthatyeseefromhence，andbeyondthemountainsthatlietheothersideofthose；andIbidtheecomewithus，andIwillbethywarrantthatsofarthoushalthavenoharm：
butwhenthouhastcomesofar，andhastseenthreeveryfaircities，besidestownsandcastlesandthorpsandstrangemen，andfairmerchandize，Godforbidthatthoushouldestwendfurther，andsocastawaythyyounglifeforagay-colouredcloud。Thenwillbethetimetocomebackwithme，thatImaybringtheethroughtheperilsofthewaytoWulstead，andUpmeadsatthelast，andthefolkthatlovethee。”
Richardheldhispeaceatthisword，butRalphsaid：
“Ithankthee，MasterClement，forthyloveandthyhelpinghand；
andwillpromisetheetoabidetheehereeightdaysattheleast；
andmeanwhileIwillponderthematterwell。”
