第2章

RalphComethtotheCheaping-TownHesleptinanupperchamberinaturretoftheHouse，whichchamberwashisown，andnonemightmeddlewithit。

Therethenextdayheawokeinthedawning，andaroseandcladhimself，andtookhiswargearandhisswordandspear，andboreallawaywithoutdoorstothesideoftheFordinthatingleoftheriver，andlaiditforawhileinalittlewillowcopse，sothatnochance-comermightseeit；thenhewentbacktothestableoftheHouseandtookhisdestrierfromthestall(itwasadapple-greyhorsecalledFalcon，andwasrightgood，)

andbroughthimdowntothesaidwillowcopse，andtiedhimtoatreetillhehadarmedhimselfamongstthewillows，whencehecameforthpresentlyasbrisk-lookingandlikelyaman-at-armsasyoumightseeonasummerday。Thenheclombupintothesaddle，andwenthiswayssplashingacrosstheford，beforethesunhadarisen，whilethethrostle-cockswereyetamidsttheirfirstsong。

Thenherodeonalittletrotsouthaway；andbythenthesunwasuphewaswithouttheboundsofUpmeads；albeitinthelandthereaboutdweltnonewhowerenotfriendstoKingPeterandhissons：

andthatwaswell，fornowwerefolkstirringandwereabroadinthefields；

asabandofcarlesgoingwiththeirscythestothehay-field；oramaidenwithhermilking-pailsgoingtoherkine，barefootthroughtheseedinggrass；

oracompanyofnoisylittleladsontheirwaytothenearestpoolofthestreamthattheymightbatheinthewarmmorningafterthewarmnight。

AlltheseandmoreknewhimandhisarmourandFalconhishorse，andgavehimtheseleoftheday，andhewasnowisetroubledatmeetingthem；

forbesidesthattheythoughtitnowondertomeetoneofthelordsofUpmeadsgoingarmedabouthiserrands，theirownerrandswerecloseathome，anditwaslittlelikelythattheyshouldgothatdaysofarastoUpmeadsWater，seeingthatitranthroughthemeadowsahalf-scoremilestothenorth-ward。

SoRalphrodeon，andcameintothehighroad，thatledonewaybackagainintoUpmeads，andcrossedtheWaterbyafairbridgelatebuildedbetweenKingPeterandahouseofCanonsonthenorthside，andtheotherwayintoagoodcheaping-townhightWulstead，beyondwhichRalphknewlittleoftheworldwhichlaytothesouth，andseemedtohimawondrousplace，fulloffairthingsandmarvellousadventures。

Soherodetillhecameintothetownwhenthefairmorningwasstillyoung，thefirstmassover，andmaidsgatheredaboutthefountainamidstthemarket-place，andtwoorthreedamessittingunderthebuttercross。

Ralphrodestraightuptothehouseofamanwhomheknew，andhadoftengivenhimguestingthere，andhehimselfwasnotseldomseenintheHighHouseofUpmeads。Thismanwasamerchant，whowentandcamebetwixtmen’shouses，andboughtandsoldmanythingsneedfulandpleasanttofolk，andKingPeterdealtwithhimmuchandoften。

Nowhestoodinthedoorofhishouse，whichwasnewandgoodly，sniffingthesweetscentswhichthemorningwindboreintothetown；

hewascladinagoodlylonggownofgreyweltedwithsilver，ofthinclothmeetforthesummer-tide：forlittlehewroughtwithhishands，butmuchwithhistongue；hewasamanoffortysummers，ruddy-facedandblack-bearded，andhewascalledClementChapman。

WhenhesawRalphhesmiledkindlyonhim，andcameandheldhisstirrupashelighteddown，andsaid：“Welcome，lord！

Artthoucometogivemeamessage，andeatanddrinkinapoorhuckster’shouse，andthouarmedsogallantly？”

Ralphlaughedmerrily，forhewashungry，andhesaid：

“Yea，Iwilleatanddrinkwiththeeandkissmygossip，andgomyways。”

Therewiththecarleledhimintothehouse；andifitweregoodlywithout，withinitwasbetter。Fortherewasafairchamberpanelledwithwainscotwellcarven，andacupboardofnosorryvesselsofsilverandlatten：

thechairsandstoolsasfairasmightbe；noking’smightbebetter：

thewindowswereglazed，andtherewereflowersandknotsandposiesinthem；

andthebedwashungwithgoodlywebfromoverseasuchasthesoldanuseth。

Also，whereasthechapman’sware-bowerswerehardbythechamber，therewasapleasantmingledsmelltherefromfloatingabout。Thetablewassetwithmeatanddrinkandvesselofpewterandearth，allfairandgood；

andtherebystoodthechapman’swife，averygoodlywomanoftwo-scoreyears，whohadheldRalphatthefontwhenshewasaslimdamselnewwedded；

forshewascomeofnomeankindredoftheKingdomofUpmeads：

hernamewasDameKatherine。

NowshekissedRalph’scheekfriendly，andsaid：

“Welcome，gossip！thouarthereingoodtimetobreakthyfast；

andwewillgivetheeatrimdinnerthereafter，whenthouhastbeenhereandthereinthetownanddonethineerrand；

andthenshaltthoudrinkacupandsingmeasong，andsohomeagaininthecooloftheevening。”

Ralphseemedalittletroubledatherword，andhesaid：

“Nay，gossip，thoughIthanktheeforallthesegoodthingsasthoughIhadthem，yetmustIrideawaysouthstraightwayafterIhavebreakfasted，andsaidonewordtothegoodman。

Goodman，howcallyethenexttownsouthward，andhowfarisitthither？”

QuothClement：“Myson，whathastthoutodowithridingsouth？

Asthouwottest，goinghencesouthyemustpresentlyridethehill-country；

andthatisnosafejourneyforalonelyman，evenifhebeadoughtyknightliketothee，lord。”

SaidRalph，reddeningwithal：“Ihaveanerrandthatway。”

“AnerrandofKingPeter’sorthineown？”saidClement。

“OfKingPeter’s，ifyemustwot。”saidRalph。

Clementwerenochapmanhadhenotseenthattheladwaslying；

sohesaid：

“Fairlord，savingyourworship，howwoulditbeastothespeedingofKingPeter’serrand，ifIbroughttheebeforeourmayor，andsworethepeaceagainstthee；sothatImightkeeptheeincourteousprisontillIhadsenttothyfatherofthywhereabouts？”

Theyoungmanturnedredwithanger；buterehecouldspeakDameKatherinesaidsharply：“Holdthypeace，Clement！

Whathastthoutomeddleormakeinthematter？Ifouryounglordhathwilltorideoutandseetheworld，whyshouldwelethim？

Yea，whyshouldhisfatherlethim，ifitcometothat？

Takemywordforitthatmygossipshallgothroughtheworldandcomebacktothosethatlovehim，asgoodlyashewentforth。

Andhold！hereisforatokenthereof。”

Therewithshewenttoanarkthatstoodinthecorner，andgropedinthetillthereofandbroughtoutalittlenecklaceofblueandgreenstoneswithgoldknobsbetwixt，likeapairofbeads；albeitneitherpopenorpriesthadblessedthem；

andtiedtothenecklacewasalittleboxofgoldwithsomethinghiddentherein。ThisgaudshegavetoRalph，andsaidtohim：

“Gossip，wearthisaboutthyneck，andletnomantakeitfromthee，andIthinkitwillbesalvationtotheeinperil，andgoodlucktotheeinthetimeofquesting；sothatitshallbetotheeasifthouhadstdrunkoftheWELLATTHEWORLD’SEND。”

“Whatisthatwater？”saidRalph，“andhowmayIfindit？”

“Iknownotrightly。”shesaid，“butifabodymightcomebyit，Ihearsayitsavethfromwearinessandwoundingandsickness；

anditwinnethlovefromall，andmaybelifeeverlasting。

Hastthounotheardtellofit，myhusband？”

“Yea。”saidthechapman，“manytimes；andhowthatwhosohathdrunkthereofhaththetonguethatnonemaywithstand，whetherinbuyingorselling，orprevailingovertheheartsofmeninanywise。

Butasforitswheraebouts，yeshallnotfinditintheseparts。

MensaythatitisbeyondtheDryTree；andthatisafar，Godwot！

Butnow，lordRalph，IredetheegobackagainthiseveningwithAndrew，mynephew，forcompany：forsooth，hewilldolittlelessgainfulthanridingwiththeetoUpmeadsthanifheabideinWulstead；

forheisidle。But，mylord，takeitnotamissthatIspakeaboutthemayorandthetipstaves；foritwasbutajest，asthoumayestwellwot。”

Ralph’sfaceclearedatthatword，andhestoodsmiling，weighingthechapletinhishand；butDameKatherinesaid：

“Deargossip，doitonspeedily；foritisagiftfrommeuntothee：

andfromagossipevenking’ssonsmaytakeagift。”

QuothRalph：“Butisitlawfultowearit？istherenowizardrywithinit？”

“Hearkentohim！”shesaid，“andhowlikeuntoamanhespeaketh；

iftherewereabrawlinthestreet，hewouldstrikeinandasknowordthereof，notevenwhichwerethebetterside：

whereashereismyfalcon-chickfrightedatalittlegoldboxandapairofSaracenbeads。”

“Well。”quothRalph，“thefirstholymanImeetshallblessthemforme。”

“Thatshallhenot。”saidthedame，“thatshallhenot。

Whowottethwhatshallbetidetotheeormeifhedoso？

Come，dothemon，andthentotable！Forseestthounotthatthegoodmaniswearyingformeat？andeventhineeyeswillshinethebrighterforamouthful，king’ssonandgossip。”

Shetookhimbythehandanddidthebeadsonhisneckandkissedandfondledhimbeforehesatdown，whilethegoodmanlookedon，grinningrathersheepishly，butsaidnoughttothem；

andonlycalledonhisboytoleadthedestriertostable。

Sowhentheyweresetdown，thechapmantookupthewordwhereithadbeendropped，andsaid：“So，LordRalph，thoumustneedstaketoadventures，being，asthoudeemest，fullgrown。Thatisalloneastheducktakethtowaterdespiteofthehenthathathhatchedher。Well，itwasnottobethoughtthatUpmeadswouldholdyoulordsmuchlonger。

Orwhatisgonewithmylordsyourbrethren？”

SaidRalph：“Theyhavedepartedatalladventure，northeast，andwest，eachbearingourfather’sblessingandabagofpennies。

Andtospeakthetruth，goodman，forIperceiveIamnodoctoratlying，myfatherandmotherwouldhavemestayathomewhenmybrethrenweregone，andthatlikethmenot；

thereforeamIcomeouttoseekmyluckintheworld：

forUpmeadsisgoodforastar-gazer，maybe，orasimpler，orapriest，oraworthygoodcarleofthefields，butnotforaking’ssonwiththebloodrunninghotinhisveins。

Orwhatsayestthou，gossip？”

Quoththedame：“Icouldweepforthymother；butfortheenoughtatall。

Itisgoodthatthoushouldestdothywillintheseasonofyouthandthedaysofthypleasure。Yea，andIdeemthatthoushaltcomebackagaingreatandworshipful；andIamcalledsomewhatforeseeing。

OnlylooktoitthatthoukeeptheprettythingthatIhavejustgiventhee。”

“Well。”saidthechapman，“thisisfinetalkaboutpleasureandthedoingofone’swill；neverthelessawholeskinisgoodwares，thoughitbenottobecheapenedinanymarketoftheworld。

Now，lord，gothouwherethouwilt，whetherIsaygoorabide；

andforsoothIamnomanofKingPeter’s，thatIshouldstaythee。

Asforthenameofthenexttown，itiscalledHigham-on-the-Way，andisabigtownplenteousofvictuals，withstrongwallsandacastle，andaveryrichabbeyofmonks：andthereispeacewithinitswalls，becausethefatherabbotwagesamanymentoguardhimandhis，andtoupholdhisrightsagainstallcomers；whereinhedothwisely，andalsowell。Formuchfolkflockethtohistownandlivewelltherein；

andthereisgreatrecourseofchapmenthither。NobettermarketistherebetwixtthisandBabylon。Well，SirRalph，IredetheeifthoucomestunhurttoHigham-on-the-Way，gonofurtherforthistime，buttakeservicewiththelordabbot，andbeoneofhismenofwar；

thoumay’stthenbecomehiscaptainifthoushouldestlive；

whichwouldbenobadadventureforonewhocomethfromUpmeads。”

Ralphlookednobrighterforthisword，andheanswerednoughttoit：

butsaidpresently：

“AndwhatistobelookedforbeyondHighamifonegoethfurther？

Dostthouknowthelandanyfurther？”

Thecarlesmiled：“Yeaforsooth，anddowntotheWoodPerilous，andbeyondit，andthelandsbeyondtheWood；andfarawaythroughthem。

IsaynotthatIhavebeentotheDryTree；butIhavespokentoonewhohathheardofhimwhohathseenit；thoughhemightnotcomebyadraughtoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。”

Ralph’seyesflashed，andhischeeksreddenedashelistenedhereto；

buthespakequietly：