“Sotheyabodetherethatnight，leavingBulllyinglikeadogunburiedinthewilderness；andonthemorrowtheytooktheroadtoUtterbol，andwentswiftly，havingnobaggage，andstayingbutforvictual，andforresteverynight。
TheLordhadmebroughttohimonthatfirsteveningofourjourney，andhesawmeprivilyandspaketome，biddingmedoshamefulthings，andIwouldnot；whereforehethreatenedmegrievously；and，Ibeingalonewithhim，badehimbewarelestIshouldslayhimormyself。
Thereatheturnedpale，ashehaddonebeforeBullNosy，yetsentfornonetoslayme，butonlybademebacktomykeepers。
AndsoIcametoUtterbolunscathed。”
“AndatUtterbol。”saidRalph，“whatbefelltheethere？”
Ursulasmiledonhim，andheldupherfinger；yetsheanswered：
“Utterbolisaverygreathouseinafairland，andtherearesundryroofsandmanyfairchambers。TherewasIbroughttoagoodlychamberamidstagarden；andwomenservantsweregivenmewholedmetothebathandcladmeindaintyraiment，andgavemetoeatandtodrink，andallthatIneeded。
Thatisallmytaleforthistime。”
TheyComeontheSageofSwevenhamNightwasathandbeforetheycametothestreamthattheysought。
Theyfounditcleavingthepine-wood，whichheldontilltheverybankofit，andwasthickagainonthefurthersideinafewyards’space。Thestreamwashigh-bankedandrandeepandstrong。SaidUrsulaastheycameuptoit：
“Wemaynotcrossit，butitmattersnot；anditisto-morrowthatwemustrideupalongit。”
Sotheyabodethere，andmadeafirebythewaterside，andwatchedthere，turnandturnabout，tillitwasbroadday。
Naughtbefelltotellof，savethattwiceinthenightRalphdeemedthatheheardalionroar。
Theygottohorsespeedilywhentheywerebothawake，androdeupthestream，andbegantogouphill，andbynoonwerecomeintoaroughandshaggyupland，whencefromtimetotimetheycouldseethehugewallofthemountains，whichyetseemedtoRalphscarcenigher，ifatall，thanwhenhehadbehelditerehehadcometoValeTurris。
Thewaywasroughday-long，andnowandagaintheyfoundithardtokeepthestreaminsight，asespeciallywhenitcleftahill，andranbetweensheercliffswithnolowshoreoneitherside。
Theymadewaybutslowly，sothatatlastRalphlostpatiencesomewhat，andsaidthathehadbutlittlehopeoffallinginwiththeSagethatdayoranyday。ButUrsulawasofgoodcheer，andmockedhimmerrilybutsweetly，tillhisheartwaslightenedagain。
Withalshebadehimseeksomevenison，sincetheyweredrawingoutthetime，andsheknewnothowlongitwouldbeeretheycametotheSage’sdwelling。ThereforehebetookhimtotheTurkbow，andshotaleashofheath-fowl，andtheysuppedonthemeatmerrilyinthewilderness。
Butiftheyweremerry，theyweresoonweary；fortheyjourneyedonaftersunsetthatnight，sincethemoonwasup，andtherewasnothickwoodtoturnduskintodarkforthem。
Theirresting-placewasasmoothpieceofgreenswardbetwixtthewaterandahalfcircleofsteepbentthatwellnighlockeditabout。
Therethentheyabode，andinthestillnessofthenightheardathunderingsoundcomingdownthewindtothem，whichtheydeemedwastheroaringofdistantwaters；andwhentheywenttothelipoftherivertheysawflocksoffoamfloatingby，whereforetheythoughtthemselvestobenearsomegreatmountain-neckwhereoverthewaterwasfallingfromsomehighplace。
Butwithnoto-dotheylaydownuponthegreenswardthissecondnightoftheirfellowship，andwakedlaterthanonthedaybefore；
forsowearyhadtheybeen，thattheyhadkeptbutillwatchinthedarknight，andnoneatallafterdawnbegantoglimmer。
NowRalphsatupandsawUrsulastillsleeping；thenherosetohisfeetandlookedabouthim，andsawtheirtwohorsescroppingthegrassunderthebent，andbesidethemaman，tallandwhitebearded，leaningonhisstaff。
Ralphcaughtuphisswordandwenttowardtheman，andthesungleamedfromthebladejustasthehoary-oneturnedtohim；helifteduphisstaffasifingreetingtoRalph，andcametowardhim，andeventherewithUrsulaawokeandarose，andsawthegreybeardatonce；andshecriedout：
“Takeheedtothysword，fellow-farer，for，praisedbethesaints，thisistheSageofSwevenham！”
SotheystoodtheretogethertilltheSagecameuptothemandkissedthemboth，andsaid：“Iamgladthatyearecomeatlast；
forIlookedforyounolaterthanthis。Sonowmountyourhorsesandcomewithmestraightway；becauselifeisshorttothemwhohavenotyetdrunkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
MoreoverifyechancetocomeontheridersofUtterbol，itshallgohardwithyouunlessIbeathand。”
Ralphsawofhimthatthoughhewasanoldhoarmantolookon，yethewasstrongandsturdy，tall，andofgoodlypresence，withruddycheeks，andredlipsandbrighteyes，andthattheskinofhisfaceandhandswasnowisewrinkled：butabouthisneckwasapairofbeadslikeuntohisowngossip’sgift。
Sonowtheymountedatonce，andwithnomorewordsheledthemaboutthebent，andtheycameinalittlewhileintothewoodagain，butthistimeitwasofbeech，withhereandthereanopenplacesprinkledaboutwithholliesandthorns；andtheyrodedownthewideslopeofalonghill，andupagainontheotherside。
Thustheywentforanhour，andtheelderspakenotagain，thoughitmighthavebeendeemedbyhiseyesthathewaseagerandfain。
Theyalsoheldtheirpeace；forthehopeandfearoftheirheartskeptthemfromwords。
Theycametothehill-top，andfoundaplainland，thoughtheclosewoodstillheldonawhile；butsoontheyrodeintoaclearingofsometwelveacres，wherewerefencedcroftswithgoatstherein，andthreegarthsoftillage，whereinthewheat-shockswereyetstanding，andtherewerecolewortsandotherpot-herbsalso。
Butatthefurtherend，whereasthewoodclosedinagain，wasalittlehousebuildedoftimber，strongandgoodly，andthatchedwithwheat-straw；andbesideitwasabubblingspringwhichraninabrookathwartthesaidclearing；
overthehouse-doorwasacarvenrood，andabowandshortspearwereleanedagainstthewalloftheporch。
Ralphlookedatallclosely，andwonderedwhetherthiswereperchancethecotwhereintheLadyofAbundancehaddweltwiththeevilwitch。
Buttheelderlookedonhim，andsaid：“Iknowthythought，anditisnotso；thathouseisfarawayhence；yetshaltthoucomethereto。
Now，children，welcometothehouseofhimwhohathfoundwhatyeseek，buthathputasidethegiftswhichyeshallgain；andwhobelikeshallrememberwhatyeshallforget。”
Therewithhebroughtthemintothehouse，andintoachamber，theplenishingwhereofwasbothscantyandrude。
Therehebadethemsit，andbroughtthemvictual，towit，cheeseandgoats’milkandbread，andtheyfelltospeechconcerningthewoodlandways，andtheseasons，andotherunweightymatters。
Butasfortheoldmanhespokebutfewwords，andasoneunusedtospeech，albeithewascourteousanddebonair。
Butwhentheyhadeatenanddrunkhespaketothemandsaid：
“YehavesoughttomebecauseyewouldfindtheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andwouldhaveloreofmeconcerningtheroadthereto；butbeforeItellyouwhatyewould，letmeknowwhatyeknowthereofalready。”
QuothRalph：“Forme，littleenoughIknow，savethatImustcometotheRockoftheFightingMan，andthatthouknowestthewaythither。”
“Andthou，damsel。”quoththelong-hoary，“whatknowestthou？
MustItelltheeofthewaythroughthemountainsandtheWalloftheWorld，andtheWinterValley，andtheFolkInnocent，andtheCotontheWay，andtheForestofStrangeThingsandtheDryTree？”
“Nay。”shesaid，“ofallthisIwotsomewhat，butitmaybenotenough。”
SaidtheSage：“Evensoitwaswithme，whenamanyyearsagoIdweltnightoSwevenham，andfolksoughttomeforlore，andItoldthemwhatIknew；butmaybeitwasnotenough，fortheynevercameback；butdiedbelikeorevertheyhadseentheWell。
AndthenImyself，whenIwasgottenveryold，faredthithera-seekingit，andIfoundit；forIwasoneofthosewhoborethechapletoftheseekers。AndnowIknowall，andcanteachall。
Buttellme，damsel，whencehadstthouthislore？”
SaidUrsula：“Ihaditofaveryfairwomanwho，asitseemeth，wasLadyandQueenoftheChampionsofHamptonundertheScaur，notfarfrommineownland。”
“Yea。”quoththeSage，“andwhathathbefallenher？……Nay，nay。”
saidhe，“Ineednotask；forIcanseebyyourfacesthatsheisdead。
Thereforehathshebeenslain，orotherwiseshehadnotbeendead。
SoIaskyouifyewereherfriends？”
QuothUrsula；“Surelyshewasmyfriend，sinceshebefriendedme；
andthismanIdeemwasaltogetherherfriend。”
Ralphhunghishead，andtheSagegazedonhim，butsaidnaught。
Thenhetookahandofeachoftheminhishands，andheldthemawhilesilently，andRalphwasstilldowncastandsad，butUrsulalookedonhimfondly。
ThenspaketheSage：“Soitis，Knight，thatnowIseemtounderstandwhatmannerofmanthouart，andIknowwhatisbetweenyoutwo；
whereofIwillsaynaught，butwillletthetreegrowaccordingtoitsseed。
Moreover，IwotnowthatmyfriendofpastyearswouldhavememakeyoubothwiseintheloreoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd；andwhenIhavedonethis，Icandonomore，butletyourgoodhapprevailifsoitmay。
Abidealittle，therefore。”
Thenhewentuntoanark，andtookthenceabookwrappedinapieceofpreciouswebofsilkandgold，andboundincuir-bouillywroughtinstrangedevices。Thensaidhe：
“ThisbookwasmineheritageatSwevenhamoreverI
becamewise，anditcamefrommyfather’sgrandsire：
andmyfatherbademelookonitasthedearestofpossessions；
butIheededitnaughttillmyyouthhadwaned，andmymanhoodwasfullofwearinessandgrief。ThenIturnedtoit，andreadinit，andbecamewise，andthefolksoughttome，andafterwardsthatbefellwhichwasforedoomed。
Nowhereinamongstothermattersiswrittenofthatwhichyedesiretoknow，andIwillreadthesametoyouandexpoundit。
Yetwereitnotwelltoreadinthisbookunderaroof，nay，thoughitbeashumbleandinnocentasthis。
Moreover，itisnotmeetthatyeshouldhearkentothiswisdomofoldtimescladasyeare；thou，knight，intheraimentofthemanslayer，withtherodofwrathhangingatthyside；
andthou，maiden，attiredinthegarmentsofthetyrant，whichwerewonofhimbylyingandguile。”
Thenhewenttoanotherark，andtookfromittwobundles，whichhegave，theonetoRalph，theothertoUrsula，andsaid：
“Thou，maiden，gothouintotheinnerchamberhereanddoffthyworldlyraiment，anddonthatwhichthouwiltfindwrappedinthiscloth；andthou，knight，takethisotherandgettheeintothethicketwhichisbehindthehouse，andtheredothelike，andabidetheretillwecometothee。”
SoRalphtookthebundle，andcameoutintothethicketandunarmedhim，anddidontheraimentwhichhefoundinthecloth，whichwasbutalonggownofwhitelinen，muchliketoanalb，broideredaboutthewristsandthehemsandcollarwithapparelsofgoldandsilk，girtwitharedsilkgirdle。
Thereheabodealittle，wonderingatallthesethingsandallthathadbefallenhimsincehehadleftUpmeads。
Anonthetwootherscametohim，andUrsulawascladinthesame-likeraimentandtheelderhadthebookinhishand。
HesmiledonRalphandnoddedfriendlytohim。AstoUrsula，sheflushedasredasarosewhensheseteyesonhim，forshesaidtoherselfthathewasasoneoftheangelswhichshehadseenpaintedinthechoirofSt。Mary’satHigham。
