第16章

ForthencehavefolksoughterenowtotheWELLATTHEWORLD’SEND。”

Ralphturnedtohimsharplyandsaid：“ManytimesinthesefewdayshaveIheardthatword。Dostthouknowthemeaningthereof？ForastomeI

knowitnot。”SaidRoger：“ThoumayestwellbeaswiseasIamthereon：

belikemenseektoitfortheirmuchthriving，andoftenestfinditnot。

YethaveIheardthattheybethelikeliestwithwhomallwomenareinlove。”

Ralphheldhispeace，butRogernotedthathereddenedattheword。

Nowtheygotonhorsebackagain，fortheyhadlighteddowntobreathetheirbeasts，andtheyrodeonandon，andneverwasRogeratfault：

longwasthewayandperforcetheyrestedatwhiles，sothatnightfellupontheminthewood，butthemoonrosewithal。Sonightbeingfairlycome，theyrestedagoodwhile，asitwouldbedawnbeforemoonset。

Thentheyrodeonagain，tillnowthesummernightgrewoldandwaned，butthewoodhidthebeginningsofdawn。

Atlasttheycameoutoftheclosewoodsuddenlyintoanopenplain，andnow，asthetwilightofthedawnwaspassingintoearlyday，theysawthatwidegrassymeadowsandtilledfieldslaybeforethem，withalittleriverrunningthroughtheplain；andamidstthemeadows，onagreenmound，wasawhitecastle，strong，andwellbuilt，thoughnotofthebiggest。

Rogerpointedtoit，andsaid，“Nowwearecomehome。”andcriedonhisweariedbeast，whoforhispartseemedtoseetheendofhisjourney。

Theysplashedthroughafordoftheriverandcametothegateofthecastleasdaydrewonapace；Rogerblewablastonagreathornthathungonthegate，andRalphlookingrounddeemedhehadneverseenfairerbuildingthaninthecastle，whathecouldseeofit，andyetitwasbuiltfromofold。Theywaitednolongwhilebeforetheywereanswered；

butwhereasRalphlookedtoseearmedgatewardspeerfromthebattlementsortheshotwindow，andaporterespyingthemthroughalattice，ithappenedinnosuchway，butwithoutmoreadothewicketwasopenedtothembyatalloldwoman，gauntandgrey，whogreetedthemcourteously：

RogerlighteddownandRalphdidinlikewise，andtheyledtheirhorsesthroughthegateintothecourtofthecastle；theoldwomangoingbeforethemtilltheycametothehalldoor，whichsheopenedtothem，andtakingthereinsoftheirhorsesledthemawaytothestable，whilethosetwainenteredthehall，whichwasasgoodlyasmightbe。

RogerledRalphuptoaboardonthedais，whereontherewasmeatanddrinkenow，andRalphmadehisway-leadersitdownbyhim，andtheyfellto。

Therewasnoserving-mantowaitonthemnoracarleofanykinddidtheysee；

theoldwomanonly，comingbackfromthehorses，servedthemattable。

EverasshewentaboutshelookedlongonRalph，andseemedasifshewouldhavespokentohim，butasoften，sheglancedatRogerandforbore。

SowhentheywerewellnighdonewiththeirmeatRalphspaketothecarlineandsaid：“Belikethelordortheladyofthishouseareabedandweshallnotseethemtillthemorrow？”

ErethecarlinecouldspeakRogerbrokeinandsaid：

“Thereisneitherlordnorladyinthecastleasnow，norbelikewilltherebeto-morrowmorning，orrather，beforenoononthisday；

sonowyewerebettertoletthisdameleadtheetobed，andletthenexthourstakecareofthemselves。”

“Sobeit。”saidRalph，whowasbythistimeheartilywearied，“shallwetwolieinthesamechamber？”

“Nay。”saidthecarlineshortly，“lodgingforthemasterandlodgingforthemanaretwodifferentthings。”

Rogerlaughedandsaidnought，andRalphgavehimgoodnight，andfollowedthecarlinenothingloth，wholedhimtoafairchamberoverthesolar，asifhehadbeentheverymasterofthecastle，andhelaydowninaverygoodlybed，nortroubledhimselfastowhereRogerlay，norindeedofaughtelse，nordidhedreamofBurg，orwood，orcastle，orman，orwoman；

butlaystillliketheimageofhisfather’sfatheronthepaintedtombinthechoirofSt。LaurenceofUpmeads。

OfRalphintheCastleofAbundanceBroadlaythesunupontheplainamidstthewildwoodwhenheawokeandsprangoutofbedandlookedoutofthewindow(forthechamberwasinthegableofthehallandtherewasnoughtofthecastlebeyondit)。ItwasbutlittleafternoonofafairJuneday，forRalphhadslumberedasitbehovedayoungman。

Thelightwindboreintothechamberthesweetscentsoftheearlysummer，thechiefofallofthembeingthesavourofthenew-cutgrass，foraboutthewidemeadowsthecarlesandqueenswereaworkatthebeginningofhayharvest；

andlateasitwasintheday，morethanoneblackbirdwassingingfromthebushesofthecastlepleasance。

Ralphsighedforverypleasureoflifebeforehehadyetwellrememberedwherehewasorwhathadbefallenoflate；

butashestoodatthewindowandgazedoverthemeadows，andthememoryofallcamebacktohim，hesighedoncemoreforalackofsomewhatthatcameintohisheart，andhesmiledshamefacedly，thoughtherewasnoonenear，ashisthoughtbadehimwonderifamongstthehaymakingwomenyondertherewereanyasfairasthoseyellow-cladthrall-womenoftheBurg；andasheturnedfromthewindowanewhopemadehisheartbeat，forhedeemedthathehadbeenbroughttothathousethathemightmeetsomeonewhoshouldchangehislifeandmakehimanewman。

Sohedidonhisraimentandwenthiswaysdowntothehall，andlookedaboutforRoger，butfoundhimnot，noranyoneelsesavethecarline，whopresentlycameinfromthebuttery，andofwhomheasked，wherewasRoger。Quothshe：“Hehasbeengonethesesixhours，buthathleftawordforthee，lord，towit，thathebeseechestheetoabidehimherefortwodaysattheleast，andthereafterthouartfreetogoifthouwilt。Butasforme“(andtherewithshesmiledonhimassweetlyasherwrinkledoldfacemightcompass)

“Isaytothee，abidebeyondthosetwodaysifRogercomethnot，andaslongasthouarthereIwillmaketheeallthecheerImay。

Andwhoknowethbutthoumayestmeetworthyadventureshere。

Suchhaveerenowbefallengoodknightsinthishouseoranighit。”

“Ithankthee，mother。”quothRalph，“anditislikethatImayabideherebeyondthetwodaysiftheadventurebefallmenoterethen。

ButatleastIwillbidetheeatingofmydinnerhereto-day。”

“Wellisthee，fairlord。”saidthecarline。“Ifthouwiltbutwalkinthemeadowbutalittlehalfhourallshallbereadyforthee。

Forsoothithadbeendightbeforenow，butthatIwaitedthycomingforthfromthychamber，forIwouldnotwakethee。Andthesaintsbepraisedforthelongsweetsleepthathathpaintedthygoodlycheeks。”

Sosayingshehurriedofftothebuttery，leavingRalphlaughingatheroutspokenflatteringwords。

Thenhegothimoutofthehallandthecastle，fornodoorwasshut，andtherewasnomantobeseenwithinoraboutthehouse。

Sohewalkedtoandfrothemeadowandsawtheneat-herdsinthepasture，andthehay-makingfolkbeyondthem，andthesoundoftheirvoicescametohimonthelittleairsthatwerebreathing。

Hethoughthewouldtalktosomeofthesefolkeretheworldwasmucholder，andalsohenotedbetweentheriverandthewoodmanycotsofthehusbandmentrimlybuildedandthatched，andamidstthemalittlechurch，whiteanddelicateoffashion；

butasnowhisfacewassettowardtheriverbecauseofthehotday。

Hecametoapoolalittlebelowwhereawoodenfoot-bridgecrossedthewater，andaboutthepoolwerewillowsgrowing，whichhadnotbeenshroudedtheseeightyears，andthewaterwasclearasglasswithabottomoffinesand。Therethenhebathedhim，andashesportedinthewaterhebethoughthimofthelongsmoothreachesofUpmeadsWater，andtheswimminglowdownamidstthelongswingingweedsbetweenthechuckleofthereedsparrows，whenthesunwasnewrisenintheJulymorning。

Whenhestoodonthegrassagain，whatwiththebrightweatherandfairlittleland，whatwiththefreshnessofthewater，andhisgoodrest，andthehopeofadventuretocome，hefeltasifhehadneverbeenmerrierinhislife-days。WithalitwasaweightoffhisheartthathehadescapedfromtheturmoilofthewarsoftheBurgoftheFourFriths，andthemenoftheDryTree，andtheWheat-wearers，withthethralldomandstripesandfire-raising，andthehardlifeofstrifeandgainofthewalledtownandstrongplace。

Whenhecamebacktothecastlegatetherewasthecarlineinthewicketpeeringouttorightandleft，seekinghimtobringhimintodinner。

Andwhenshesawhimsojoyous，withhislipssmilingandhiseyesdancingformirth，shealsobecamejoyous，andsaid：“Verily，itisapityoftheethatthereisneverafairdamselorsotolookontheeandlovetheehereto-day。Farwouldmanyamaidenruntokissthymouth，fairlad。

Butnowcometothymeat，thatthoumayestgrowthefairerandlastthelonger。”

Helaughedgailyandwentintothehallwithher，andnowwasitwelldightwithbankersanddorsarsofgoodlyfiguredcloth，andonthewallsagoodlyhallingofarrasoftheStoryofAlexander。

Sohesattotable，andthemeatanddrinkwasofthebest，andthecarlineservedhim，praisinghimeverwithfulsomewordsasheate，tillhewishedheraway。

Afterdinnerherestedawhile，andcalledtothecarlineandbadeherbringhimhisswordandhisbasnet。“Wherefore？”saidshe。

“Whitherwiltthou？”

Saidhe，“Iwouldwalkabroadtodrinktheair。”

“Wiltthouintothewildwood？”saidshe。

“Nay，mother。”hesaid，“Iwillbutwalkaboutthemeadowandlookonthehay-makingfolk。”

“Forthat。”saidthecarline，“thouneedestneitherswordnorhelm。

Iwasafeardthatthouwertaboutdeparting，andthydeparturewouldbeagrieftomyheart：inthedeepwoodthoumightestbesobesteadastoneedaswordinthyfist；butwhatshouldstthoudowithitinthisPlainofAbundance，wherearenoughtbutpeacefulhusbandmenandfrankandkindmaidens？andalltheseareasiftheyhaddrunkadraughtoftheWELLATTHEWORLD’SEND。”

Ralphstartedasshesaidtheword，butheldhispeaceawhile。

Thenhesaid：“Andwhoislordofthisfairland？”

“Thereisnolord，butalady。”saidthecarline。

“Howhightshe？”saidRalph。“WecallhertheLadyofAbundance。”

saidtheoldwoman。SaidRalph：“Issheagoodlady？”

“Sheismylady。”saidthecarline，“anddoethgoodtome，andthereisnotacarleinthelandbutspeakethwellofher——

itmaybeoverwell。”“Isshefairtolookon？”saidRalph。

“Ofwomen-folkthereisnonefairer。”saidthecarline；

“astomen，thatisanotherthing。”

Ralphwassilentawhile，thenhesaid：“WhatistheWellattheWorld’sEnd？”

“Theytalkofithere。”saidshe，“manythingstoolongtotellofnow：butthereisabookinthishousethattellethofit；

IknowitwellbythelookofitthoughImaynotreadinit。

Iwillseekitfortheeto-morrowifthouwilt。”

“Havethouthanks，dame。”saidhe；“andIpraytheeforgetitnot；

butnowIwillgoforth。”

“Yea。”saidthecarline，“butabidealittle。”

Therewithshewentintothebuttery，andcamebackbearingwithheragarlandofrosesofthegarden，intermingledwithgreenleaves，andshesaid：“Thesunisyethotandoverhot，dothisonthineheadtoshadetheefromtheburning。

Iknewthatthouwouldstgoabroadto-day，soImadethisfortheeinthemorning；andwhenIwasyoungIwascalledthegarland-maker。Itisbettersummerwearthanthybasnet。”

Hethankedheranddiditonsmiling，butsomewhatruefully；

forhesaidtohimself：“ThisisoveroldadamethatIshouldwearalove-tokenfromher。”Butwhenitwasonhishead，theolddameclappedherhandsandcried：“Othere，there！NowartthouliketheimageofSt。MichaelintheChoirofOurLadyoftheThorn：

thereisnonesolovelyasthou。IwouldmyLadycouldseetheethus；surelythesightoftheeshouldgladdenherheart。

Andwithalthouartnotillcladotherwise。”

Indeedhisraimentwasgoodly，forhissurcoatwasnew，anditwasoffinegreencloth，andthecoat-armourofUpmeadwasbeatenonit，towit，onagoldgroundanapple-treefruited，standingbyariver-side。

Nowhelaughedsomewhatuneasilyatherwords，andsowentforthfromthecastleagain，andmadestraightforthehay-makingfolkontheothersideofthewater；forallthissidewasbeingfedbybeastsandsheep；butatthepointwherehecrossed，thewindingofthestreambroughtitneartothecastlegate。