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。
　　OfRalphintheCastleofAbundanceBroadlaythesunupontheplainamidstthewildwoodwhenheawokeandsprangoutofbedandlookedoutofthewindowforthechamberwasinthegableofthehallandtherewasnoughtofthecastlebeyondit。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。