第18章

YetIknowthatthouwiltabideheretillsomeoneelsecome，whetherthatbeearlyorlate。”Againhereddened，andsaid，inacoaxingway：“Andwiltthougivemeguesting，mother，forafewmoresummerdays？”

“Yea。”shesaid，“andtillsummerisover，ifneedbe，andthecorniscutandcarried，andtillthewinteriscomeandthelatterendofwinterisgone。”Hesmiledfaintly，thoughhisheartfell，andhesaid：

“Nay，mother，andcanitbyanychancebesolonga-coming？”

“O，fairboy。”shesaid，“thouwiltmakeitlong，howsoevershortitbe。AndnowIwillgivetheearede，lestthouvexthyselfsickandfretthyveryheart。

To-morrowgoseeifthoucanstmeetthyfateinsteadofabidingit。

Doonthywar-gearandtakethyswordandtrytheadventureofthewildwood；butgonotoverdeepintoit。”Saidhe：

“ButhowiftheLadycomewhileIamawayfromthishouse？”

“Soothtosay。”saidthecarline，“Ideemnotthatshewill，forthewayislongbetwixtusandher。”

“Dostthoumean。”saidRalph，standingupfromtheboard，“thatshewillnotcomeever？Iadjuretheenottobeguilemewithsoftwords，buttellmetheverysooth。”

“There，there！”saidshe，“sitdown，king’sson；eatthymeatanddrinkthywine；forto-morrowisanewday。

Shewillcomesoonorlate，ifshebeyetintheworld。

AndnowIwillsaynomoretotheeconcerningthismatter。”

Therewithshewentherwaysfromthehall，andwhenshecamebackwithhand-basinandtowel，shesaidnowordtohim，butonlysmiledkindly。

Hewentoutpresentlyintothemeadow(foritwasyetbutearlyafternoon)

andcameamongthehaymakingfolkandspakewiththem，hopingthatperchancesomeofthemmightspeakagainoftheLadyofAbundance；

butnoneofthemdidso，thoughtheoldcarlehehadspokenwithwasthere，andtherealsowerethetwomaidenswhomhehadseenfishing；andasforhim，hewasoverfaint-heartedtoaskthemanymorequestionsconcerningher。

Yetheabodewiththemlong，andateanddrankamidstthehaywiththemtillthemoonshonebrightly。Thenhewentbacktothecastleandfoundthecarlineinthehall，andshehadthebookwithherandgaveittohim，andhesatdownintheshot-windowunderthewaxlightsandfelltoreadingofit。

RalphReadethinaBookConcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEndFairlywrittenwasthatbook，withmanypicturestherein，themeaningofwhichRalphknewnot；butamongstthemwastheimageofthefairwomanwhomhehadholpenatthewant-waysofthewood，andbutfourdaysagowasthat，yetitseemedlongandlongtohim。

ThebooktoldnotmuchabouttheWellattheWorld’sEnd，butmuchittoldofacertainwomanwhomnomanthatsawhercouldforbeartolove：ofherittoldthaterewhileshedweltlonelyinthewildwood(thoughhowshecametherewasnotsaid)

andhowaking’ssonfoundherthereandbroughthertohisfather’skingdomandweddedher，whetherotherswerelieforloth：

andinalittlewhile，whenthefameofherhadspread，hewasputoutofhiskingdomandhisfather’shousefortheloveofher，becauseotherkingsandlordshankeredafterher；

whereofbefellongandgrievouswarwhichsheabodenottotheend，butsoughttoheroldplaceinthewildwood；andhowshefoundthereanotherwomanasorceress，whomadeherherthrall；

andtormentedhergrievouslywithtoilandstripes。

AndhowagaintherecameaknighttothatplacewhowasseekingtheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andboreherawaywithhim；andhowthesaidknightwasslainontheway，andshewastakenbytyrantsandrobbersofthefolk：

butthesebeingentangledinherlovefoughtamongstthemselvesandsheescaped，andwentseekingthatWell，andfounditatthelonglast，anddrankthereof，andthroveeverafter：

andhowshelivethyet，andisbecometheservantoftheWelltoentangletheseekersinherloveandkeepthemfromdrinkingthereof；becausetherewasnomanthatbeheldher，butanonhewasthethrallofherlove，andmightnotpluckhisheartawayfromhertodoanyofthedeedswherebymenthriveandwinthepraiseofthepeople。

Ralphreadonandontilltheshortnightwaned，andthewax-lightsfailedoneaftertheother，andthewindowsofthehallgrewgreyanddaylightcame，andthethrostlesburstouta-singingatonceinthecastlepleasaunce，andthesuncameupoverthewood，andthesoundofmen-folkbestirringthemselvesa-fieldcametohisearsthroughtheopenwindows；andatlasthewasdonewiththetale，andthecarlinecamenotnearhimthoughthesunhadclombhighuptheheavens。

AsforRalph，whathehadreadwassweetpoisontohim；forifbeforehewassomewhattormentedbylove，nowwashisheartsickandsorewithit。

ThoughheknewnotforcertainwhetherthistalehadtodowiththeLadyoftheForest，andthoughheknewnotiftheLadywhoshouldcometothecastlewereevenshe，yetheneedsmustdeemthatsoitwas，andhisheartwaswearywithlove，andhismanhoodseemedchanged。

RalphMeetethaManintheWoodButthemorningbegantowearashesatdeepinthesethoughtsandstilltheCarlinecamenottohim；andhethought：

“SheleavethmealonethatImaydoherbidding：

sowillIwithouttarrying。”Andhearoseanddidonhishauberkandbasnet，andgirthisswordtohisside，andwentforth，a-footasbefore。Hecrossedtheriverbyawidefordandsteppingstonessomewhatbelowthepoolwhereinhehadbathedonthatfirstday；andalreadybythenhehadgotsofar，whatwiththefreshairofthebeauteousmorning，whatwiththecheerfultinklingofhisswordandhauberk，hewassomewhatamendedofhistroubleandheavinessofspirit。

Alittlewayacrosstheriver，butnighertothewood，wasahouseorcotofthatcountry-folk，andanoldwomansatspinninginthedoor。SoRalphwentupthither，andgreetedher，andcravedofheradraughtofmilk；sothegoodyturnedaboutandcriedouttoonewithin，andtherecameforthoneofthemaidenswhomRalphhadmetfishingthatotherday，andtheoldwomanbadeherbringforthmilkandbread。

ThenthecarlinelookedhardatRalph，andsaid：“Ah！Ihaveheardtellofthee：thouartabidingtheturnofthedaysupatthecastleyonder，asothershavedonebeforethee。

Well，well，belikethoushalthavethywish，thoughwhetheritshallbetothyprofit，whoshallsay？”

ThereatRalph’sheartfellagain，andhesaid：“Sayestthou，mother，thattherehavebeenothersabidinglikemeinthetower？

Iknownotwhatthywordsmean。”

Thecarlinelaughed。“Well。”saidshe，“herecomesthymorning’sbaitbornebyshapelyhandsenough；eatanddrinkfirst；

andthenwillItelltheemymeaning。”

Therewithcamethemaidenforthwiththebowlandtheloaf；

andindeedshewasfairenough，andshyandkind；butRalphheededherlittle，norwashisheartmovedbyheratall。

Shesetastoolforhimbesidethedoorandhesatdownandateanddrank，thoughhisheartwastroubled；andthemaidenhungabout，andseemedtofinditnoeasymattertokeephereyesoffhim。

Presentlythecarline，whohadbeenwatchingthetwo，said：

“Thouaskestofthemeaningofmywords；well，deemestthouthatI

havehadmorementhanonetoloveme？”“Iknownot，mother。”

saidRalph，whocouldscarceholdhimselfpatient。“Therenow！”

quoththecarline，“lookatmydamsel！(sheisnotmydaughter，butmybrother’s，)thereisaman，andabriskladtoo，whomshecallethherbatchelor，andisasIverilydeemwell-pleasedwithhim：

yetloyouhowsheeyeththee，thoufairman，anddothsowithherraimentthatthoumaystbestseehowshapelysheisoflimbandfoot，andtoyethherrighthandwithherleftwrist，andthelike——Well，asforme，Ihavehadmoreloversthanoneortwo。AndwhyhaveIhadjustsomanyandnomore？

Nay，thouneedestnotmakeanylonganswertome。

Iamoldnow，andevenbeforeIwasoldIwasnotyoung：

Iamnowfouloffavour，andevenbeforeIbecamefoul，Iwasnotsofair——wellthen？”

“Yea，whatthen？”saidRalph。“Thisthen，fairyoungfool。”saidshe：

“theonewhomthoulovest，longhathshelived，butsheisnotoldtolookon，norfoul；butfair——Ohowfair！”

ThenRalphforgothisfear，andhisheartgrewgreedyandhiseyesglistened，andhesaid，yethespokefaintly：

“Yea，isshefair？”“What！hastthounotseenher？”saidthecarline。

Ralphcalledtomindtheguiseinwhichhehadseenherandflushedbrightred，asheanswered：“Yea，IdeemthatIhave：

surelyitwasshe。”Thecarlinelaughed：“Well。”saidshe；

“howeverthouhastseenher，thouhastscarceseenherasIhave。”

SaidRalph，“Howwasthat？”Saidshe：“Itisherwayhereinthesummer-tidetobatheherinyonderpoolupthewater：“

(anditwasthesamepoolwhereinRalphhadbathed)“Andshehathmeandmynieceandtwootherwomentoholdupthesilkenclothbetwixtherbodyandtheworld；sothatIhaveseenherasGodmadeher；andIshalltelltheethatwhenhewasaboutthatworkhewasmindedtobeacraftsmaster；forthereisnoblemishaboutherthatsheshouldhideheratalloranywhere。

Hersidesaresleek，andherthighsnorougherthanherface，andherfeetasdaintyasherhands：yea，sheisapearlallover，withalsheisasstrongasaknight，andIwarrantherhardierofheartthanmostknights。Ahappymanshaltthoube；

forsurelyIdeemthouhastnotcomehithertoabideherwithoutsometokenorwarrantofher。”

Ralphhelddownhishead，andhecouldnotmeettheoldwoman’seyesasshespakethus；andthemaidentookherselfoutofearshotatthefirstwordsofthecarlinehereof，andwashalfwaydowntotheriverbynow。

Ralphspakeafterawhileandsaid：“Tellme，isshegood，andagoodwoman？”Thedamelaughedscornfullyandsaid：

“Surely，surely；sheisthesaintoftheForestLand，andtheguardianofallpoorfolk。Askthecarleselse！”

Ralphheldhispeace，androsetobegoneandturningsawthedamselwadingtheshallowford，andlookingoverhershoulderathim。

Hegavethedamegoodday，anddepartedlight-footbutheavyhearted。

Yetashewent，hekeptsayingtohimself：“DidshenotsendthatRogertoturnmywayshither？yetshecomethnot。Surelyshehathchangedintheselastdays，oritmaybeintheselasthours：

yea，orthisveryhour。”

Amidstsuchthoughtshecameintothewood，andmadehiswaybythepathsandopenplaces，goingsouthandeastoftheHouse：

Whereasthelastdayhehadgonewestandnorth。Hewentasoftpace，butwanderedonwithoutanystaytillitwasnoon，andhehadseennoughtbutthewildthingsofthewood，normanyofthem。

Butatlastheheardthetinkleofalittlebellcomingtowardshim：

sohestoodstillandgotthehiltofhisswordreadytohishand；

andthetinkledrewnearer，andheheardwithalthetrampleofsomeriding-beast；sohewenttowardthesound，andpresentlyinaclearerplaceofthewoodcameuponamanofreligion，aclerk，ridingonahackney，towhoseneckhungahorse-bell：

thepriesthadsaddlebagsbesidehimandcarriedinhisrighthandabookinabag。WhenhemetRalphheblessedhim，andRalphgavehimtheseleoftheday，andaskedhimwhitherhewould。

SaidthePriest：“IamfortheLittlePlainandtheLandofAbundance；whenceartthou，myson，andwhitherwiltthou？”

“FromthatverylandIcome。”saidRalph，“andastowhither，Iseekadventures；butunlessIseemorethanIhavethisforenoon，orthoucansttellmeofthem，backwillIwhenceIcame：

yettosaysooth，Ishallnotbesorryforafellowtohelpmeback，forthesewoodlandwaysaresome-whatblind。”

SaidthePriest：“Iwillbeartheecompanywithagoodwill；

andIknowtheroadrightwell；forIamtheVicarappointedbythefathersoftheThorntoservethechurchoftheLittlePlain，andthechapelofSt。Anthonyyonderinthewood，andto-dayI

gotothechurchofthegoodfolkthere。”

SoRalphturned，andwentalongwithhim，walkingbyhisbridle-rein。Andastheywentthepriestsaidtohim：“Artthouoneofmylady’slords？”

Ralphreddenedashesighed，andsaid：“Iamnocaptainofhers。”

Thensmiledthepriestandsaid：“ThenwillInotasktheeofthineerrand；

forbelikethouwouldestnottellmethereof。”

Ralphsaidnought，butwaxedshamefacedashedeemedthatthepriesteyedhimcuriously。Atlasthesaid：“Iwillasktheeaquestioninturn，father。”“Yea。”saidthepriest。

SaidRalph：“Thisladyoftheland，theLadyofAbundance，issheaverywoman？”“HolySaints！”quoththepriest，blessinghimself，“whatmeanestthou？”SaidRalph：

“Imean，issheofthosewhooutwardlyhaveawoman’ssemblance，butwithinareoftheraceoftheancientdevils，thegodsoftheGentiles？”

Thenthepriestcrossedhimselfagain，andspakeassolemnlyasajudgeonthebench：“Son，Ipraythatifthouartnotinthyrightmind，thouwillcomethereintoanon。Knowthis，thatwhateverelseshemaybe，sheisarightholywoman。