Sohecameupwiththecountryfolkandgreetedthem，andtheydidasmuchbyhimincourteouswords：
　　theyweregoodlyandwell-shapen，bothmenandwomen，gayandjoyousofdemeanourandwellcladasforfolkwhoworkafield。
　　SoRalphwentfromonetoanotherandgavethemawordortwo，andwaswellpleasedtowatchthemattheirworkawhile；butyethewouldfainspeaksomewhatmorewithoneorotherofthem。
　　Atlastundertheshadeofatallelm-treehesawanoldmansittingheedingtheouterraimentofthehaymakersandtheirvictualandbottlesofdrink；andhecameuptohimandgavehimtheseleoftheday；andtheoldmanblessedhimandsaid：
　　“Artthoudwellinginmylady’scastle，fairlord？”
　　“Awhileatleast。”saidRalph。Saidtheoldman：
　　“Wethanktheeforcomingtoseeus；andmeseemethfromthelookoftheethouartworthytodwellinmyLady’sHouse。”
　　“Whatsayestthou？”saidRalph。“Issheagoodladyandagracious？”
　　“Oyea，yea。”saidthecarle。SaidRalph：“Thoumeanest，Isuppose，thatsheisfairtolookon，andsoft-spokenwhensheispleased？”
　　“Imeanfarmorethanthat。”saidthecarle；“surelyisshemostheavenlyfair，andhervoiceislikethemusicofheaven：
　　butwithalherdeeds，andthekindnessofhertouspoormenandhusbandmen，arenoworsethanshouldflowforthfromthatloveliness。”
　　“Willyoubeherservants？”saidRalph，“orwhatareye？”Saidthecarle：
　　“Webeyeomenandhervavassors；thereisnothralldominourland。”
　　“Doyeliveingoodpeaceforthemorepart？”saidRalph。
　　Saidthecarle：“Timehasbeenwhencruelbattleswerefoughtinthesewood-lawns，andmanypoorpeopleweredestroyedtherein：
　　butthatwasbeforethecomingoftheLadyofAbundance。”
　　“Andwhenwasthat？”saidRalph。“Iwotnot。”saidtheoldcarle；
　　“Iwasborninpeaceandsuckledinpeace；andinpeaceIfelltothelovingofmaidens，andIweddedinpeace，andbegatchildreninpeace，andinpeacetheydwellaboutme，andinpeaceshallIdepart。”
　　“Whatthen。”saidRalphandagrievousfearwasborninhisheart，“isnottheLadyofAbundanceyoung？”Saidthecarle：
　　“IhaveseenherwhenIwasyoungandalsosinceIhavebeenold，andeverwasshefairandlovely，andslenderhanded，asstraightasaspear，andassweetaswhiteclover，andgentle-voicedandkind，anddeartooursouls。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andshedothnotdwellinthiscastlealways；
　　whereelsethendothshedwell？”“Iwotnot。”saidthecarle，“butitshouldbeinheaven：forwhenshecomethtousallourjoysincreaseinusbythehalf。”
　　“Lookyou，father。”saidRalph，“MayitnothavebeenmorethanoneLadyofAbundancethatthouhastseeninthylife-days；andthatthisonethatnowis，isthedaughter’sdaughteroftheonewhomthoufirstsawest——
　　howsayestthou？”Thecarlelaughed：“Nay，nay。”saidhe，“Itisnotso：
　　neverhastherebeenanotherliketoherinallways，inbodyandvoice，andheartandsoul。ItisasIsay，sheisthesameasshewasalways。”
　　“Andwhen。”saidRalph，withabeatingheart，“doesshecomehither？
　　Isitatsomesetseason？”“Nay，fromtimetotime，atallseasons。”
　　saidthecarle；“andasfairsheiswhenshegoethoverthesnow，aswhenherfeetaresetamidsttheJunedaisies。”
　　NowwasRalphsofullofwonderthathescarceknewwhattosay；
　　buthebethoughthimofthatfairwasteontheothersideoftheforest，thecountrythroughwhichthatwideriverflowed，sohesaid：
　　“Andthatlandnorth-awaybeyondthewildwood，canstthoutellmethetaleofitswars，andifitwerewastedinthesamewarsthattormentedthisland？”Thecarleshookhishead：
　　“Astothelandbeyondthiswood。”quothhe，“Iknownoughtofit，forbeyondthewoodgowenever：nay，mostoftenwegobutalittlewayintoit，nofurtherthanwecanseetheglimmeroftheopendaylightthroughitstrees，——thedaylightofthelandofAbundance——
　　thatisenoughforus。”
　　“Well。”saidRalph，“Ithanktheeforthetalethouhasttoldme，andwishtheemoreyearsofpeace。”
　　“Andtothee，youngman。”saidthecarle，“Iwishagoodwishindeed，towitthatthoumayestseetheLadyofAbundanceherebeforethoudepartest。”
　　HiswordsoncemoremadeRalph’sheartbeatandhischeekflush，andhewentbacktothecastlesomewhatspeedily；forhesaidtohimself，afterthefollyoflovers，“Maybeshewillbecomeevennow，andInottheretomeether。”Yetwhenhecametothecastle-gatehisheartmisgavehim，andhewouldnotenteratonce，butturnedabouttogoroundthewallbythenorthandwest。
　　Inthecastlehesawnosoulsavetheolddamelookingoutofthewindowandnoddingtohim，butinthepastureallaboutwereneatherdsandshepherds，bothmenandwomen；
　　andatthenorth-westcorner，whereastheriverdrewquiteclosetothewall，hecameupontwodamselsofthefield-folkfishingwithanangleinaquietpoolofthestream。Hegreetedthem，andthey，whowereyoungandgoodly，returnedhisgreeting，butwereshamefacedathisgallantpresence，asindeedwasheatthethoughtsofhisheartmingledwiththesightoftheirfairness。
　　Sohepassedonatfirstwithoutmorewordsthanhisgreeting。
　　Yetpresentlyheturnedbackagain，forhelongedtohearsomewordmoreconcerningtheLadywhosecomingheabode。
　　Theystoodsmilingandblushingashecameuptothemagain，andheededtheirangleslittle。
　　SaidRalph：“Fairmaidens，doyeknowatallwhentheLadyofthecastlemaybelookedfor？”Theywereslowtoanswer，butatlastonesaid：
　　“No，fairsir，suchasweknownothingofthecomingsandgoingsofgreatfolk。”
　　SaidRalph，smilingonherforkindness，andpleasureofherfairness：
　　“Isitnotsothatyewillbegladofhercoming？”
　　Butsheansweredneveraword，onlylookedathimsteadily，withhergreatgreyeyesfixedinwonderment，whiletheotheronelookeddownasifintentonheranglingtools。
　　Ralphknewnothowtoaskanotherquestion，soheturnedaboutwithagreetingwordagain，andthistimewentonsteadilyroundaboutthewall。
　　AndnowinhisheartwaxedthedesireofthatLady，onceseen，ashedeemed，insuchstrangewise；buthewonderedwithinhimselfifthedevilhadnotsownthatlongingwithinhim：
　　whereasitmightbethatthiswomanonwhomhehadsethisheartwasherselfnorealwomanbutadevil，andoneofthegoddessesoftheancientworld，andhisheartwassoreandtroubledbymanydoubtsandhopesandfears；
　　buthesaidtohimselfthatwhenhesawherthencouldhejudgebetweenthegoodandtheevil，andcoulddoorforbear，andthatthesightofherwouldcureall。
　　Thusthinkinghewalkedswiftly，andwassoonroundatthecastlegateagain，andentered，andwentintothehall，wherewastheolddame，busiedaboutsomehouseholdmatter。
　　Ralphnoddedtoherandhastenedaway，lestsheshouldfalltotalkwithhim；andhesethimselfnowtogofromchambertochamber，thathemightlearnthecastle，whatitwas。
　　Hecameintotheguard-chamberandfoundthewallsthereofallhungwitharmourandweapons，cleanandingoodorder，thoughtherewasneveraman-at-armsthere，noranysoulexcepttheoldwoman。
　　Hewentupastairtherefromontothebattlements，andwentintothetowersofthewall，andfoundweaponsbothforhand，andforcastandshotineachoneofthem，andallreadyasifforpresentbattle；thenhecamedownintothecourtagainandwentintoaverygoodlyambulatoryoveragainstthehall，andheenteredadoortherefrom，whichwasbutonthelatch，andwentupalittlestairintoachamber，whichwasthegoodliestandtherichestofall。
　　Itsroofwasalldonewithgoldandbluefromoversea，anditspavementwroughtdelicatelyinAlexandrinework。
　　Onthedaiswasathroneofcarvenivory，andaboveitacanopyofbaudekinofthegoodliestfashion，andtherewasafoot-carpetbeforeit，wroughtwithbeastsandthehuntingofthedeer。
　　Asforthewallsofthatchamber，theywerehungwithamarvelloushallingofarras，whereinwaswroughtthegreenwood，andthereamidstinoneplaceapot-herbgarden，andagreengarthwithgoatstherein，andinthatgarthalittlethatchedhouse。
　　Andamidstallthisgreenerywerefiguredoverandoveragaintwowomen，whereofoneoldandtheotheryoung；andtheoldonewascladingrandattire，withgoldchainsandbroochesandrings，andsatwithherhandsbeforeherbythehousedoor，orstoodlookingonastheyoungoneworked，spinningordigginginthegarth，ormilkingthegoatsoutsideofit，orwhatnot；
　　andthisonewascladinsorryandscantyraiment。
　　WhatallthismightmeanRalphknewnot；butwhenhehadlookedlongatthegreeneryanditsimages，hesaidtohimselfthatifhewhowroughtthatclothhadnotdonetheyoungwomanafterthelikenessoftheLadywhomhehadhelpedinthewildwood，thenitmusthavebeendonefromhertwinsister。
　　Longheabodeinthatchamberlookingatthearras，andwonderingwhetherthesitterintheivorythronewouldbeanyotherthanthethrallinthegreenwoodcot。
　　Heabodetheresolongthattheduskbegantogatherinthehouse，andhecouldseetheimagesnomore；forhewasfilledwiththesweetnessofdesirewhenhelookedonthem。
　　Thenhewentbackslowlytothehall，andfoundthecarline，whohadlightedthewaxlightsandmademeatreadyforhim；andwhenshesawhimshecriedoutjoyously：“Ah，Iknewthatthouwouldstcomeback。
　　Artthouwellcontentwithourlittleland？”
　　“Ilikeitwell，dame。”saidhe；“buttellme，ifthoucanst，whatisthemeaningofthehallinginthechamberwiththeivorythrone？”
　　Saidthecarline：“Thereofshallanothertellthee，whocantellofitbetterthanI；butitisnoughttohidethatyonderchamberisthechamberofestateofourLady，andshesitteththeretohearthecasesoffolkandtogivedooms。”
　　Theoldwomancrossedherselfasshespoke，andRalphwonderedthereat，butaskednomorequestions，forhewasscarcesorrythatthecarlinewouldnottellhimthereof，lestsheshouldspoilthetale。
　　Sopassedtheevening，andhewenttobedandsleptasayoungmanshould，andthenextdayhewasupbetimesandwentabroadandmingledwiththecarlesandqueensafield；butthistimehespakenotoftheLady，andheardnoughttoheedfromanyofthatfolk。
　　Sohewentbacktothecastleandgathimabowandarrows，andenteredthethicketofthewoodnighwhereheandRogerfirstcameoutofit。
　　Hehadprayedayoungmanofthefolktogowithhim，buthewasnotoverwillingtogo，thoughhewouldnotsaywherefore。SoRalphwenthimselfbyhimselfandwanderedsomewayintothewood，andsawnoughtworsethanhimself。Ashecameback，makingacircuittowardtheopenmeadows，hehappenedonaherdofdeerinalonelyplace，halfwoodhalfmeadow，andthereheslewahartwithoneshaft，forhewasadeftbowman。
　　Thenhewentandfetchedaleashofcarles，whowentwithhimsomewhatlessthanhalfwillingly，andbetweenthemtheybrokeupthehartandcarriedhimhometothecastle，wherethecarlinemetthem。
　　ShesmiledonRalphandpraisedthevenison，andsaidwithalthatthehuntingwaswelldone；“For，asfondandasfairasthoumaystbe，itisnotgoodthatyoungmenshouldhavetheirmindssetononethingonly。”
　　Therewithsheledhimintohismeat，andsethimdownandservedhim；
　　andallthewhileofhisdinnerhewaslongingtoaskherifshedeemedthattheLadywouldcomethatday，sinceitwasthelastdayofthosewhichRogerhadbiddenhimwait；butthewordswouldnotoutofhismouth。
　　Shelookedathimandsmiled，asthoughshehadaguessofhisthought，andatlastshesaidtohim：“Thytongueistiedto-day。Hastthou，afterall，seensomethingstrangeinthewood？”Heshookhisheadfornaysay。
　　Saidshe：“Why，then，dostthounotaskmoreconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd？”
　　Helaughed，andsaid：“MaybebecauseIthinkthatthoucanstnottellmethereof。”“Well。”shesaid，“ifIcannot，yetthebookmay，andthisevening，whenthesunisdown，thoushalthaveit。”
　　“Ithankthee，mother。”saidhe；“butthisisnowthelastdaythatRogerbademewait。Dostthouthinkthathewillcomebackto-night？”andhereddenedtherewith。“Nay。”shesaid，“Iknownot，andthoucarestnotwhetherhewillcomeornot。