“Naughtofthedamsel。”shesaid。“Butthereissomethingelse。
AsClementtoldme，thouseekesttheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andthroughUtternessandbyUtterbolisawaywherebyfolkseekthither。
Maystthoufindit，andmayitprofittheemorethanitdidmykinsmanofold，whofirstraisedupGoldburginthewilderness。
Whereasforhimwasnaughtbutstrifeandconfusion，tillhewasslaininaquarrel，whereintofailwastofail，andtowinthedaywastowinshameandmisery。”
Shelookedonhimsweetlyandsaid：“Thouartnowisesuchashe；
andifthoudrinkoftheWell，thouwiltgobacktoUpmeads，andthyfatherandmother，andthineownfolkandthinehome。
ButnowhereistheletterwhichthoushaltgivetotheLordofUtterbolifthoumeethim；andmayhappenheisnaughtsoevilamanasthetaleofhimruns。”
Shegavehimtheletterintohishands，andspakeagain：
“AndnowIhavethistosaytothee，ifanythinggoamisswiththee，andthoubenighenoughtoseektome，comehither，andthen，inwhatsoplightthoumaystbe，orwhatsoeverdeedthoumaysthavedone，herewillbetheopendoorfortheeandthewelcomeofafriend。”
Hervoiceshookalittleasshespake，andshewassilentagain，masteringhertrouble。Thenshesaid：“AtlastImustsaythistothee，thattheremaynoliebebetweenus。
Thatdamselofwhomthouspakestthatshewasbutthyfriend，andnotthylove——OthatImightbethyfriendinsuch-wise！ButoverclearlyIseethatitmaynotbeso。
Forthymindlookethonthydeedstocome，thattheyshallbesharedbysomeotherthanme。Friend，itseemethstrangeandstrangetomethatIhavecomeontheesosuddenly，andlovedtheesosorely，andthatImustneedssayfarewelltotheeinsoshortawhile。Farewell，farewell！”
Therewithshearose，andoncemoreshetookhishandinhers，andledhimtothedoor。Andhewassorryandallamazed：
forhehadnotthoughtsomuchofherbefore，thathemightseethatshelovedhim；andhethoughtbutthatshe，beinghappyandgreat，waskindtohimwhowashaplessandhomeless。
Andhewasbewilderedbyherwordsandsoreashamedthatforallhisgriefforherhehadnospeech，andscarcealookforher；
heknewnotwhattodoorsay。
SohelefttheQueen’sHouseandthecourtthereof，asthoughthepavementweregrowingredhotbeneathhisfeet。
RalphHathHopeofTidingsConcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEndNowhegoestoClement，andtellshimthathedeemshehasnoneedtoabidetheirdeparturefromGoldburgtosayfarewellandfollowhisquestfurtherafield；sinceitisclearthatinGoldburgheshouldhavenomoretidings。Clementlaughedandsaid：
“Notsofast，LordRalph；thoumaystyethearawordortwo。”
“What！”saidRalph，“hastthouheardofsomethingnew？”
SaidClement：“Therehasbeenamanhereseekingthee，whosaidthathewottedofawisemanwhocouldtelltheemuchconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。AndwhenIaskedhimoftheDamselandtheLordofUtterbol，ifheknewanythingofher，hesaidyea，butthathewouldkeepitforthyprivyear。
SoIbadehimgoandcomeagainwhenthoushouldstbehere。
AndIdeemthathewillnottarrylong。”
Nowtheyweresittingonabenchoutsidethehallofthehostel，withthecourtbetweenthemandthegate；andRalphsaid：
“Tellme，didstthoudeemthemangoodorbad？”SaidClement：
“Hewashardtolookinto：butatleasthelookednotafierceorcruelman；norindeeddidheseemfalseorsly，thoughItakehimforonewhohathlosthismanhood——
butloyou！herehecomesacrossthecourt。”
SoRalphlooked，andsawinsoothamandrawingnigh，whocamestraightuptothemandlowtedtothem，andthenstoodbeforethemwaitingfortheirword：hewasfatandsomewhatshort，white-facedandpink-cheeked，withyellowhairlongandcurling，andwithalittlethinredbeardandblueeyes：
altogethermuchunlikethefashionofmenofthoseparts。
Hewascladgailyinanorange-tawnycoatlacedwithsilver，andbroideredwithcolours。
Clementspaketohimandsaid：“ThisistheyoungknightwhoismindedtoseekfurthereasttowotifitbemerelieswhichhehathheardoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。”
Thenew-comerlowtedbeforethemagain，andsaidinasmallvoice，andasonewhowasshyandsomewhatafeared：“Lords，IcantellmanyataleconcerningthatWell，andthemwhohavegoneonthequestthereof。
AndthefirstthingIhavetotellisthatthewaytheretoisthroughUtterness，andthatIcanbeashowerofthewayandaleadertoanyworthyknightwholistethtoseekthither；andmoreover，IknowofasagewhodwellethnotfarfromthetownofUtterness，andwho，ifhewill，canputaseekeroftheWellontherightroad。”
HelookedaskanceonRalph，whosefaceflushedandwhoseeyesglitteredatthatword。ButClementsaid：“Yea，thatseemethfairtolookto：
butharkye！IsitnotsothatthewaytoUtternessisperilous？”
Saidtheman：“Thoumaystrathercallitdeadly，toanywhoisnotfurnishedwithalet-passfromtheLordofUtterbol，asIam。
Butwithsuchascrollachildorawomanmaywendtheroadunharmed。”
“Wherehastthouthesaidlet-pass？”saidClement。“Here。”quoththenew-comer；andtherewithhedrewascrollfromoutofhispouch，andopeneditbeforethem，andtheyreadittogether，andsureenoughitwasawritingchargingallmensoletpassandaidMorfinntheMinstrel(ofwhoseaspectittoldclosely)，underpainoffallingintothedispleasureofGandolf，LordofUtterbol；andthedatethereonwasbutthreemonthsold。
SaidClement：“Thisisgood，thislet-pass：seethou，Ralph，thesealofUtterbol，theBearupontheCastleWall。
Nonewoulddaretocounterfeitthisseal，saveonewhowaswearyoflife，andlongedfortorments。”
SaidRalph，smiling：“Thouseest，MasterClement，thattheremustbeapartingbetwixtus，andthatthisman’scomingfurthersit：
butwereheorwerehenot，yetthepartinghadcome。Andwertthounotlieferthatitshouldcomeinawaytopleasureandaidme，thanthatthoushouldstbutleavemebehindatGoldburgwhenthoudepartest：
andIwithnaughtdonetowardtheachievingmyquest，butmerelydraggingmydeedlessbodyaboutthesestreets；andatlast，itmaybe，goingonaperilousjourneywithoutguidingorsafe-conduct？”
“Yea，lad。”saidClement，“Iwottedwellthatthouwouldsttakethineownway，butfainhadIbeenthatithadbeenminealso。”
Thenheponderedawhileandsaidafterwards：“IsupposethatthouwilttakethyservantBullShockheadwiththee，forheisastoutman-at-arms，andIdeemhimtrusty，thoughhebeawildman。
Butonemanisoflittleavailtoatravelleronaperilousroad，soifthouwiltIwillgiveleaveandlicensetoahalfscoreofoursergeantstofollowtheeontheroad；for，asthouwottest，Imayeasilywageothersintheirplace。OrelsewouldstthouasktheQueenofGoldburgtogivetheeascoreofmen-at-arms；
shelookedtometheotherdayasonewhowoulddenytheefewofthineaskings。”
Ralphblushedred，andsaid：“Nay，Iwillnotaskherthis。”
Thenhewassilent；thenew-comerlookedfromonetotheother，andsaidnothing。AtlastRalphspake：“Lookyou，Clement，myfriend，Iwotwellhowthouwouldstmakemygoingssafe，evenifitweretothyloss，andIthanktheeforit：butIdeemIshalldonobetterthanputtingmyselfintothisman’shands，sincehehasalet-passforthelandsofhimofUtterbol：
andmeseemethfromallthatIhaveheard，thatahalfscoreorascore，orforthematterofthatanhundredmen-at-armswouldnotbeenoughtofightawaytoUtterbol，andtheirgatheringtogetherwoulddrawfolkuponthem，whowouldnotmeddlewithtwomenjourneyingtogether，eveniftheyhadnolet-passofthismightyman。”Clementsighedandgrunted，andthensaid：
“Well，lord，maybethouartright。”
“Yea。”saidtheguide，“heisasrightasmaybe：
Ihavenotspokenbeforelestyemighthavedeemedmeuntrusty：
butnowItelltheethis，thatnevershouldasmallbandofmenunknownwinthroughthelandsoftheLordofUtterbol，orthelanddebatablethatliethbetwixtthemandGoldburg。”
Ralphnoddedfriendlyathimashespake；butClementlookedonhimsternly；
andthemanbeheldhisscowlingfaceinnocently，andtooknoheedofit。
ThensaidRalph：“AstoBullShockhead，Iwillspeaktohimanon；
butIwillnottakehimwithme；forindeedIfearlesthismountain-pridegrowupovergreenlyatwhilesandentanglemeinsomethicketofperilhardtowinoutof。”
“Well。”saidClement，“andwhenwiltthoudepart？”
“To-morrow。”saidRalph，“ifmyfaring-fellowbereadyformebythen。”
“Iamallready。”saidtheman：“ifthouwiltrideoutbytheeastgateabouttwohoursbeforenoonto-morrow，Iwillabidetheeonagoodhorsewithallthatwemayneedforthejourney：
andnowIaskleave。”“Thouhastit。”saidClement。
Sothemandeparted，andthosetwobeingleftalone，MasterClementsaid：
“Well，Ideemedthatnothingelsewouldcomeofit：andIfearthatthygossipwillbeill-contentwithme；forgreatistheperil。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“andgreatthereward。”Clementsmiledandsighed，andsaid：“Well，lad，evensohathamanythoughtbeforethee，wisemenaswellasfools。”Ralphlookedathimandreddened，anddepartedfromhimalittle，andwentwalkinginthecloistertheretoandfro，andponderedthesematters；andwhateverhemightdo，stillwouldthattrimfigurebebeforehiseyeswhichhehadlookedonsogladlyerewhileinthehostelofBourtonAbbas；andhesaidaloudtohimself：
“Surelysheneedethme，anddrawethmetoherwhetherIwillorno。”
Soworetheday。
CHAPTER31
TheBeginningoftheRoadToUtterbolEarlynextmorningRalpharoseandcalledBullShockheadtohimandsaid：“Soitis，Bull，thatthouartmywar-takenthrall。”
Bullnoddedhishead，butfrownedtherewithal。SaidRalph：
“IfIbidtheeaughtthatisnotbeyondreasonthouwiltdoit，wiltthounot？”“Yea。”saidBull，surlily。“Well。”quothRalph，“Iamgoingajourneyeast-away，andImaynothavetheewithme，thereforeIbidtheetakethisgoldandgofreewithmygoodwill。”
Bull’sfacelightedup，andtheeyesglitteredinhisface；buthesaid：
“Yea，king’sson，butwhywiltthounottakemewiththee？”
SaidRalph：“Itisaperilousjourney，andthybeingwithmewillcasttheeintoperilandmakeminemore。Moreover，Ihaveanerrand，asthouwottest，whichisallmineown。”
Bullponderedalittleandthensaid：“King’sson，Iwasthinkingatfirstthatourerrandslaytogether，anditisso；butbelikethousayesttruethattherewillbelessperiltoeachofusifwesunderatthistime。
ButnowIwillsaythistothee，thathenceforththoushaltbeasabrothertome，ifthouwilthaveitso，andifeverthoucomestamongstourpeople，thouwiltbeinnodangerofthem：nay，theyshalldoallthegoodtheymaytothee。”
Thenhetookhimbythehandandkissedhim，andhesethishandtohisgearanddrewforthalittlepurseofsomesmallbeast’sskinthatwasbroideredinfrontwithapairofbull’shorns：
thenhestoopeddownandpluckedalongandtoughbentfromthegrassathisfeet(fortheyweretalkinginthegardenofthehostel)andtwisteditswiftlyintoastrangeknotofmanyplies，andopeningthepurselaiditthereinandsaid：
“King’sson，thisisthetokenwherebyitshallbeknownamongstourfolkthatIhavemadetheemybrother：weretheflamesroaringaboutthee，ortheswordsclashingoverthinehead，ifthoucryout，IamthebrotherofBullShockhead，allthoseofmykindredwhoarenearwillbethyfriendsandthyhelpers。
AndnowIsaytotheefarewell：butitisnotaltogetherunlikethatthoumaysthearofmeagaininthefurthestEast。”
SoRalphdepartedfromhim，andClementwentwithRalphtotheGateofGoldburg，andbadehimfarewellthere；andortheypartedhesaid：
“MeseemsIhavewithmenowsomedealoftheforeseeingofKatherinemywife，andinmyminditisthatweshallyetseetheeatWulsteadandUpmeads，andthounolessfamousthannowthouart。
Thisismylastwordtothee。”Therewiththeyparted，andRalphrodehisways。
Hecameonhisway-leaderaboutabowshotfromthegateandtheygreetedeachother：thesaidguidewascladnootherwisethanyesterday：
hehadsaddle-bagsonhishorse，whichwasastrongblackroadster：
buthewasnowisearmed，andborebutasatchelwithacaseofknivesdoneontoit，andontheothersideafiddleinitscase。
