RalphComethtotheCheaping-TownHesleptinanupperchamberinaturretoftheHouse，whichchamberwashisown，andnonemightmeddlewithit。
　　Therethenextdayheawokeinthedawning，andaroseandcladhimself，andtookhiswargearandhisswordandspear，andboreallawaywithoutdoorstothesideoftheFordinthatingleoftheriver，andlaiditforawhileinalittlewillowcopse，sothatnochance-comermightseeit；thenhewentbacktothestableoftheHouseandtookhisdestrierfromthestallitwasadapple-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：