Orhastthouperchanceheardanyeviltalesconcerningher？”
　　NowRalphwasconfusedathisword，andknewnotwhattosay；forthoughinhismindhehadbeenpiecingtogetherallthathehadheardoftheladybothforgoodandforevil，hehadnocleartaletotelleventohimself：
　　soheanswerednothing。
　　Butthepriestwenton：“Son，IshalltelltheethatsuchtalesIhaveheard，butfromwhosemouthforsooth？Iwilltellthee；
　　fromasortofidlejades，youngwomenwhowouldbethoughtfairerthantheybe，whoareafraidofeverythingsaveanakedman，andwhocanlieeasierthantheycansaytheirpaternoster：
　　fromsuchasthesecomethestories；orfromoldcroneswholiveinsourangerwiththemselvesandallelse，becausetheyhavelivednogoodlylifeintheiryouth，andhavenotlearnedthelovelinessofholychurch。Now，son，shallthetalesofsuchwomen，oldandyoung，weighinthymindbesidethewordItelltheeofwhatI
　　haveseenandknowconcerningthismostexcellentofladies？
　　Itrownot。AndformypartItellthee，thatthoughsheisverilyasfairasVenusGodsaveusyetissheaschasteasAgnes，aswiseasKatherine，andashumbleandmeekasDorothy。
　　Shebestowethhergoodsplentifullytothechurch，andismercifultopoormentherewith；andsofarasoccasionmayservehersheisconstantattheHolyOffice；neitherdothshesparetoconfesshersins，andtodoallpenancewhichisbiddenher，yeaandmore。
　　ForthoughIcannotsaytomyknowledgethatshewearethahair；
　　yetonceandagainhaveIseenherwendingthiswoodlandtowardthechapelofherfriendSt。Anthonybynightandcloud，sothatfewmightseeher，obedienttotheScripturewhichsayeth，’Letnotthyrighthandknowwhatthylefthanddoeth，’andshebarefootinhersmockamidsttheruggedwood，andsoarrayedfairerthananyqueeninagoldengown。Yea，asfairasthewoodwivesoftheancientheathen。”
　　Therewiththeprieststayedhiswords，andseemedasifhewerefallenintoadream；andhesighedheavily。
　　ButRalphwalkedonbyhisbridle-reindreamynoless；
　　forthewordsthathehadheardheheedednot，saveastheymadepicturesforhimofthewaysofthatwomanoftheforest。
　　Sotheywentonsoberlytillthepriestlifteduphisheadandlookedaboutlikeonecomeoutofslumber，andsaidinafirmvoice：
　　“Itellthee，myson，thatthoumayestsetthyloveuponherwithoutsin。”Andtherewithsuddenlyhefella-weeping；
　　andRalphwasillateaseofhisweeping，andwentalongbyhimsayingnought；tillthepriestpluckedupheartagain，andsaid，turningtoRalph，butnotmeetinghiseye：
　　“Myson，Iweepbecausemenandwomenaresoevil，andmis-sayeachothersosorely，evenastheydobythisholywoman。”
　　Ashespakehistearsbrakeoutagain，andRalphstrodeonfast，soastooutgohim，thinkingitunmannerlytoseemasifhenotednothissorrow；yetwithalunabletosayaughttohimthereof。
　　Moreoveritirkedhimtohearagrownmanweepingforgrief，eventhoughitwerebutapriest。
　　Withinawhilethepriestcaughtupwithhim，histearsallstaunched，andfelltotalkwithhimcheerfullyconcerningthewood，andtheLittleLandandthedwellersthereinandtheconditionsofthem，andhepraisedthemmuch，savethewomen。
　　Ralphansweredhimwithgoodcheerinlikewise；andthustheycametothecotoftheoldwoman，andbothsheandthemaidenwerewithoutthehouse，theoldcarlinehitheringandthitheringonsomeerrand，themaidenleaningagainstatreeasifponderingsomematter。
　　Astheypassedby，thepriestblessedtheminwords，buthiseyesscowledonthem，whereatthecarlinegrinned，butthedamselheededhimnot，butlookedwistfullyonRalph。
　　Thepriestmutteredsomewhatashepassed，whichRalphcaughtnotthemeaningof，andfellmoodyagain；
　　andwhenhewasalittlepastthefordhedrewreinandsaid：
　　“Now，son，Imusttomycellhardbythechurchyonder：
　　butyetIwillsayonewordtotheeerewesunder；towit，thattomymindtheHolyLadywilllovenoonebutthesaintsofheaven，saveitbesomemanwithwhomallwomenareinlove。”
　　Therewithheturnedawaysuddenly，androdesmartlytowardshischurch；andRalphdeemedthathewasweepingoncemore。
　　AsforRalph，hewentquietlyhometowardthecastle，forthesunwassettingnow，andashewentheponderedallthesethingsinhisheart。
　　RalphWearethAwayThreeDaysUneasilyHereadagaininthebookthatnight，tillhehadgottenthewholetaleintohishead，andhespeciallynotedthisofit，thatittoldnotwhencethatLadycame，norwhatshewas，noraughtelsesavethatthereshewasinthewoodbyherself，andwasfoundthereinbytheking’sson：
　　neithertoldthetaleinwhatyearoftheworldshewasfoundthere，thoughittoldconcerningallthewarandmiserieswhichshehadbred，andwhichlongendured。Again，hecouldnotgatherfromthatbookwhyshehadgonebacktotheloneplaceinthewoods，whereasshemighthaveweddedoneofthosewarringbaronswhosorelydesiredher：
　　norwhyshehadyieldedherselftothewitchofthatplaceandenduredwithpatienceherthralldom，withstripesandtormentsofherbody，liketheworstofthethrallsoftheancientheathenmen。
　　Lastly，hemightnotlearnfromthebookwhereintheworldwasthatloneplace，oraughtoftheroadtotheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　Butamidstallhisthinkinghisheartcamebacktothis：
　　“WhenImeether，shewilltellmeofitall；Ineedbenowiserthantolearnhowtomeetherandtomakeherloveme；thenshallsheshowmethewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andIshalldrinkthereofandnevergrowold，evenassheendurethinyouth，andsheshalllovemeforever，andIherforever。”
　　Sohethought；butyetamidstthesehappythoughtscameinthisevilone，thatwhereasallthemen-folkspokewellofherandworshippedher，thewomen-folkfearedherorhatedher；eventothelecherousoldwomanwhohadpraisedthebeautyofherbodyforhistorment。
　　Sohethoughttillhisheadgrewheavy，andhewentandlaydowninhisbedandslept，anddreamedofthedaysofUpmead；
　　andthingsforgotteninhiswakingtimecamebetweenhimandanymemoriesofhispresentlongingandthedaysthereof。
　　Heawokeandarosebetimesinthemorning，andwhenhehadbreakfastedhebadethecarlinebringhimhisweapons。“Wiltthouagaintothewood？”saidshe。
　　“Didstthounotbidmefarethitheryesterday？”saidhe。“Yea。”shesaid；
　　“butto-dayIfearlestthoudepartandcomenotback。”Helaughedandsaid：
　　“Seestthounot，mother，thatIgoafoot，andIinhauberkandhelm？
　　Icannotrunfarorfastfromthee。Also“andherehebrokeoffhisspeechalittle“whereshouldIbebuthere？”
　　“Ah。”shesaid，“butwhoknowswhatmayhappen？”Neverthelessshewentandfetchedhiswar-gearandlookedathimfondlyashediditon，andwenthiswaysfromthehall。
　　Nowheenteredthewoodmoretothesouththanhehaddoneyesterday，andwentsoftlyasbefore，andstillwasheturningoverinhismindthethoughtsoflastnight，andevertheycameback。“MightIbutseeher！
　　Wouldshebutloveme！OforadraughtoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，thatthelovemightlastlongandlong！”
　　Sohewentonawhilebetwixtthetreesandthethickets，tillitwasalittlepastnoon。Butallonasuddenapanicfeartookhim，lestsheshouldindeedcometothecastlewhilehewasaway，andnotfindinghim，departagain，whoknowswhither；andwhenthisthoughtcameuponhim，hecriedaloud，andhastenedathisswiftestbackagaintothecastle，andcametherebreathlessandwearied，andrantotheoldwoman，andcriedouttoher；“Isshecome？isshecome？”
　　Thecarlinelaughedandsaid，“Nay，sheisnot，butthouartcome：
　　praisebetothesaints！Butwhataileththee？Nay，fearnot，sheshallcomeatlast。”
　　ThengrewRalphshamefacedandturnedawayfromher，andmiscalledhimselfforafoolandadastardthatcouldnotabidethepleasureofhisladyattheveryplacewheretoshehadletleadhim。
　　Soheworethroughtheremnantofthedayhowsohemight，withoutgoingout-adoorsagain；andthecarlinecameandspakewithhim；butwhateverheaskedheraboutthelady，shewouldnottellaughtofanyimport，soherefrainedhimfromthattalk，andmadeashowofhearkeningwhenshespakeofothermatters；
　　astalesconcerningthefolkoftheland，andtheFathersoftheThorn，andsoforth。
　　Onthenextmorninghearoseandsaidtohimself，thatwhateverbetid，hewouldbideinthecastleandthePlainofAbundancetilltheladycame；
　　andhewentamongstthehaymakingfolkinthemorningandatehisdinnerwiththem，andstrovetobeofgoodcheer，andbelikethecarlesandqueensthoughthimmerrycompany；buthewasnowwearyinghisheartwithlonging，andmightnotabideanygreatwhileinoneplace；sowhen，dinnerover，theyturnedtotheirworkagain，hewentbacktotheCastle，andreadinthatbook，andlookedatthepicturesthereof，andkeptturninghiswonderandhopeandfearoverandoveragaininhismind，andmakingtohimselfstoriesofhowheshouldmeettheLadyandwhatshewouldsaytohim，andhowheshouldanswerher，tillatlastthenightcame，andhewenttohisbed，andsleptfortheverywearinessofhislonging。
　　Whenthenewdaycamehearoseandwentintothehall，andfoundthecarlinethere，whosaidtohim，“Fairsir，willthoutothewoodagainto-day？”“Nay。”saidRalph，“Imustnot，Idarenot。”
　　“Well。”shesaid，“thoumayestifthouwilt；whyshouldstthounotgo？”
　　SaidRalph，reddeningandstammering：“BecauseIfearto；
　　thricehaveIbeenawaylongfromthecastleandallhasgonewell；
　　butthefourthtimeshewillcomeandfindmegone。”
　　Thecarlinelaughed：“Well。”shesaid，“Ishallbehereifthougoest；
　　forIpromisetheenottostiroutofthehousewhilesthouartaway。”
　　SaidRalph：“Nay，Iwillabidehere。”“Yea。”shesaid，“Isee：
　　thoutrustestmenot。Well，nomatter；andto-dayitwillbehandyifthouabidest。ForIhaveanerrandtomybrotherintheflesh，whoisoneofthebrethrenoftheThornoveryonder。Ifthouwiltgivemeleave，itwillbetomypleasureandgain。”
　　Ralphwasgladwhenheheardthis，deemingthatifshelefthimalonethere，hewouldbethelesstemptedtostrayintothewoodagain。
　　Besides，hedeemedthattheLadymightcomethatdaywhenhewasaloneintheCastle，andthathimseemedwouldmakethemeetingsweeteryet。
　　Soheyea-saidthecarline’saskingjoyously，andinanhour’stimeshewentherwaysandlefthimalonethere。
　　Ralphsaidtohimself，whenhesawherdepart，thathewouldhavethemorejoyinthecastleofhisLadyifhewerealone，andwouldwearawaythedayinbetterpatiencetherefor。
　　Butinsooththehoursofthatdaywereworsetowearthananydaytherehadyetbeen。Hewentnotwithoutthehouseatallthatday，forhedeemedthatthefolkabroadwouldnoteofhimthathewassochangedandrestless。
　　Whileshereadinthatbook，orturnedtheleavesover，notreadingit；whileshewentintotheChamberofEstate，andporedoverthewovenpicturestherewhereintheLadywasfigured。
　　Whileshewanderedfromchambertochamber，notknowingwhattodo。
　　Atlast，alittleafterdark，backcomesthecarlineagain，andhemetheratthedoorofthehall，forhewaswearyofhisowncompany，andtheceaselessturningoverandoverofthesamethoughts。
　　Asforher，shewassojoyousofhimthatshefairlythrewherarmsabouthimandkissedandclippedhim，asthoughshehadbeenhisverymother。
　　Whereofhehadsomeshame，butnotmuch，forhedeemedthathergoodwilltohimwasabundant，whichindeeditwas。
　　Nowshelooksonhimandsays：“Trulyitdoesmyheartgoodtoseethee：
　　butthoupoorboy，thouartwearingthyselfwiththylonging，andthydoubting，andifthouwiltdoaftermyrede，thouwiltcertainlygointothewoodto-morrowandseewhatmaybefall；
　　andindeedandinsooththouwiltleavebehindtheeatrustyfriend。”
　　Helookedonherkindly，andsmiled，andsaid，“Insooth，mother，Ideemthouartbutright；thoughitbehardformetoleavethishouse，towhichinawaymyLadyhathbiddenme。
　　YetIwilldothybiddingherein。”Shethankedhim，andhewenttohisbedandslept；fornowthathehadmadeuphismindtogo，hewassomewhatmoreatrest。