thenterrorseizedonmyheart，butIsteppedoverthethreshold，andasthedoorofthechamberwasopen，Ilookedasideandsawthereinthewomansittingstarknakedonthefloorwithagreatopenbookbeforeher，anditwasfromhermouththatthesongwascoming：
　　grimshelooked，andawful，forshewasabigwoman，black-hairedandsternofaspectinherdailywont，speakingtomeasfewwordsasmightbe，andthoseharshenough，yeaharsherthanwhenIwasbutlittle。
　　Istoodforonemomentafraidbeyondmeasure，thoughthewomandidnotlookatme，andIhopedshehadnotseenme；thenIranbackintothestorm，thoughitwasnowwilderthanever，andranandhidmyselfinthethicketofthewood，half-deadwithfear，andwonderingwhatwouldbecomeofme。
　　Butfindingthatnoonefollowedafterme，Igrewcalmer，andthestormalsodrewoff，andthesunshoneoutalittlebeforehissetting：
　　soIsatandspun，withfearinmyheart，tillIhadfinishedmytaleofthread，andwhenduskcame，stolebackagaintothehouse，thoughmylegswouldscarcebearmeoverthethresholdintothechamber。
　　“Theresatthewomaninherrichattirenootherwisethanherwont，nordidshesayaughttome；butlookedattheyarnthatIhadspun，toseethatIhaddonemytask，andnoddedsternlytomeasherwontwas，andlwenttobedamongstmygoatsasIwasusedtodo，butsleptnottilltowardsmorning，andthenimagesofdreadfulthings，andofmiseriesthatImaynottelltheeof，mingledwithmysleepforlong。
　　“SoIawokeandatemymeatanddrankofthegoats’milkwithaheavyheart，andthenwentintothehouse；andwhenIcameintothechamberthewomanlookedatme，andcontrarytoherwontspoketome，andI
　　shookwithterrorathervoice；thoughshesaidnaughtbutthis：
　　’Gofetchthywhitegoatandcomebacktometherewith。’
　　Ididso，andfollowedafterher，sickwithfear；andsheledmethroughthewoodintoalawnwhichIknewwell，roundwhichwasawall，asitwere，ofgreatyewtrees，andamidst，atableofstone，madeoffouruprightsandagreatstoneplankonthetopofthem；
　　andthiswastheonlythinginallthewoodwhereinIwasusedtowanderwhichwasofman’shandiwork，saveandexceptourhouse，andtheshedsandfencesaboutit。
　　“Thewomanstayedandleanedagainstthisstoneworkandsaidtome：
　　’Goaboutnowandgatherdrysticksforafire。’Idurstdonaughtelse，andsaidtomyselfthatIshouldbewhippedifI
　　weretardy，though，forsooth，Ithoughtshewasgoingtokillme；
　　andIbroughtherabundle，andshesaid，’Fetchmore。’
　　AndwhenIhadbroughthersevenbundles，shesaid：’Itisenough：
　　standoveragainstmeandhearken。’SoIstoodtherequaking；
　　formyfear，whichhadsomewhatabatedwhileIwenttoandfroafterthewood，nowcamebackuponmetenfold。
　　“Shesaid：’ItwerethyduethatIshouldslaytheehereandnow，asthouslayestthepartridgeswhichthoutakestinthyspringes：
　　butforcertaincausesIwillnotslaythee。Again，itwerenomorethanthyearningswereItotormenttheetillthoushouldstcryoutfordeathtodelivertheefromtheanguish；
　　andifthouwertawomangrown，evensowouldIdealwiththee。
　　Butthouartyetbutachild，thereforeIwillkeeptheetoseewhatshallbefallbetwixtus。YetmustIdosomewhattogrievethee，andmoreoversomethingmustbeslainandoffereduphereonthisaltar，lestallcometonaught，boththouandI，andthatwhichwehavetodo。
　　Holdthywhitegoatnow，whichthoulovestmorethanaughtelse，thatImayreddentheeandmeandthisaltarwiththebloodthereof。’
　　“Idurstdonaughtbutobeyher，andIheldthepoorbeast，thatlickedmyhandsandbleatedforloveofme：
　　andnowsincemyterrorandthefearofdeathwaslessenedatherwords，Iweptsoreformydearfriend。
　　“Butthewomandrewastrongsharpknifefromhergirdleandcutthebeast’sthroat，anddippedherfingersinthebloodandreddenedbothherselfandmeonthebreast，andthehands，andthefeet；andthensheturnedtothealtarandsmotebloodupontheuprights，andthefaceofthestoneplank。
　　Thenshebademehelpher，andwelaidthesevenfaggotsonthealter，andlaidthecarcaseofthegoatuponthem：
　　andshemadefire，butIsawnothow，andsetittothewood，andwhenitbegantoblazeshestoodbeforeitwithherarmsoutspread，andsangloudandhoarsetoastrangetune；
　　andthoughIknewnotthewordsofhersong，itfilledmewithdread，sothatIcastmyselfdownonthegroundandhidmyfaceinthegrass。
　　“Soshewentontillthebeastwasallburnedupandthefirebecamenaughtbutredembers，andthensheceasedhersongandsankdownuponthegrass，andlaidherheadbackandsofellasleep；
　　butIdurstnotmovefromtheplace，butcoweredinthegrassthere，Iknownothowlong，tillshearoseandcametome，andsmotemewithherfootandcried：’Riseup，fool！whatharmhastthou？
　　Gomilkthygoatsandleadthemtopasture。’Andtherewithshestrodeawayhome，notheedingme。
　　“Asforme，Iaroseanddealtwithmygoatsasshebademe；
　　andpresentlyIwasgladthatIhadnotbeenslain，yetthenceforthwasthejoyofmylifethatIhadhadamongstmygoatsmarredwithfear，andthesoundsofthewoodlandcametomemingledwithterror；andIwassoreafraidwhenIenteredthehouseinthemorningandtheevening，andwhenIlookedonthefaceofthewoman；thoughshewasnohardertomethanheretofore，butmaybesomewhatsofter。
　　“Soworetheautumn，andwintercame，andIfaredasI
　　waswont，settingspringesforfowlandsmall-deer。Andforalltheroughnessoftheseason，atthattimeitpleasedmebetterthantheleafydays，becauseIhadlessmemorythenofthesharpnessofmyfearonthatdayofthealtar。
　　NowonedayasIwentunderthesnow-ladentrees，Isawsomethingbrightandbiglyingontheground，anddrawingnearerIsawthatitwassomechildofman：soIstoppedandcriedout，’Awakeandarise，lestdeathcomeontheeinthisbittercold，’
　　Butitstirrednot；soIpluckedupheartandcameuptoit，andlo！awomancladinfairraimentofscarletandfur，andIkneltdownbyhertoseeifImighthelpher；
　　butwhenItouchedherIfoundhercoldandstiff，anddead，thoughshehadnotbeendeadlong，fornosnowhadfallenonher。
　　Itstillwantedmorethananhouroftwilight，andIbynomeansdurstgohometillnightfall；soIsatonthereandwatchedher，andputthehoodfromherfaceandtheglovesfromherhands，andIdeemedheragoodlyandlovelything，andwassorrythatshewasnotalive，andIweptforher，andformyselfalso，thatIhadlostherfellowship。
　　SowhenIcamebacktothehouseatdarkwiththevenison，Iknewnotwhethertotellmymistressandtyrantconcerningthismatter；butshelookedonmeandsaidatonce：
　　’Wertthougoingtotellmeofsomethingthatthouhastseen？’
　　SoItoldherall，evenasitwas，andshesaidtome：
　　’Hastthoutakenaughtfromthecorpse？’’Nay，’saidI。’ThenmustIhasten，’shesaid，’andbebeforethewolves。’
　　Therewithshetookabrandfromthefire，andbademebearonealsoandleadher：sodidIeasilyenough，forthemoonwasup，andwhatwithmoonandsnow，itwaswellnighasbrightastheday。
　　Sowhenwecametothedeadwoman，mymistresskneeleddownbyherandundidthecollarofhercloak，whichIhadnottouched，andtooksomethingfromherneckswiftly，andyetI，whowasholdingthetorch，sawthatitwasanecklaceofbluestonesandgreen，withgoldbetween——Yea，dearChampion，likeuntothineasonepeascodistoanother。”quothshe。
　　AndtherewiththedistressfulnessofherfacewhichhadwornRalph’sheartwhileshehadbeentellinghertalechanged，andshecame，asitwere，intohernewlifeandtheloveofhimagain，andshekissedhimandlaidhercheektohisandhekissedhermouth。
　　Andthenshefetchedasigh，andbeganwithherstoryagain。
　　“Mymistresstookthenecklaceandputitinherpouch，andsaidastoherself：’Here，then，isanotherseekerwhohathnotfound，unlessoneshoulddigapitforherherewhenthethawcomes，andcallittheWellattheWorld’sEnd：
　　belikeitwillbeforherashelpfulastherealone。’
　　Thensheturnedtomeandsaid：’Dothouwiththerestwhatthouwilt，’andtherewithshewentbackhastilytothehouse。
　　Butasforme，Iwentbackalso，andfoundapickandamattockinthegoat-house，andcamebackinthemoonlightandscrapedthesnowaway，anddugapit，andburiedthepoordamseltherewithallhergear。
　　“WorethewinterthencewithnaughtthatIneedtellof，onlyIthoughtmuchofthewordsthatmymistresshadspoken。
　　Springcameandwent，andsummeralso，wellnightidingless。
　　ButonedayasIdravethegoatsfromourhousetherecamefromthewoodfourmen，a-horsebackandweaponed，butsocoveredwiththeirarmourthatImightseelittleoftheirfaces。
　　Theyrodepastmetoourhouse，andspakenottome，thoughtheylookedhardatme；butastheywentpastIheardonesay：
　　’IfshemightbutbeourguidetotheWellattheWorld’sEnd！’
　　Idurstnottarrytospeakwiththem，butasIlookedovermyshoulderIsawthemtalkingtomymistressinthedoor；
　　butmeseemedshewascladbutinpoorhomespunclothinsteadofherrichapparel，andIamfar-sightedandclear-sighted。Afterthistheautumnandwinterthatfolloweditpassedawaytidingless。
　　CHAPTER4
　　TheLadyTellsofHerDeliverance“NowIhadoutgrownmyoldfear，andnotmuchbefelltoquickenit：
　　andeverIwasasmuchoutofthehouseasIcouldbe。
　　Butaboutthistimemymistress，frombeingkindertomethanbefore，begantogrowharder，andofttimesusedmecruelly：butofherdeedstome，myfriend，thoushaltaskmenomorethanItellthee。
　　OnadayofMay-tideIfaredabroadwithmygoats，andwentfarwiththem，furtherfromthehousethanIhadbeenasyet。
　　Thedaywasthefairestoftheyear，andIrejoicedinit，andfeltasifsomeexceedinggreatgoodwereabouttobefallme；
　　andtheburdenoffearsseemedtohavefallenfromme。
　　SoIwenttillIcametoalittleflowerydell，besetwithblossomingwhitethornsandwithafairstreamrunningthroughit；
　　aplacesomewhatliketothis，savethatthestreamtherewasbigger。
　　Andthesunwashotaboutnoontide，soIdidoffmyraiment，whichwasroughandpoor，andmoremeetforwinterthanMay-tide，andIenteredapooloftheclearwater，andbathedmeandsportedtherein，smellingthesweetscentofthewhitethornsandhearkeningtothesongofthemanybirds；andwhenIcameforthfromthewater，theairwassosoftandsweettome，andtheflowerygrasssokindtomyfeet，andtheMay-bloomsfelluponmyshoulders，thatIwaslothtodoonmyroughraimenthastily，andwithalIlookedtoseenochildofmaninthatwilderness：
　　soIsportedmyselftherealongwhile，andmilkedagoatanddrankofthemilk，andcrownedmyselfwithwhite-thornandhare-bells；
　　andheldtheblossomsinmyhand，andfeltthatIalsohadsomemightinme，andthatIshouldnotbeathrallofthatsorceressforever。
　　Andthatday，myfriend，belikewasthespring-tideofthelifeandthelovethatthouholdestinthykindarms。
　　“ButasIabodethusinthatfairplace，andhadjusttakenmyrockandspindleinhandthatImightgoonwithmytaskandgiveaslittleoccasionasImightformymistresstochastiseme，Ilookedupandsawachildofmancomingdownthesideofthelittledaletowardsme，soIsprangup，andrantomyraimentandcastthemonmehastily，forIwasashamed；andwhenIsawthatitwasawoman，Ithoughtatfirstthatitwasmymistresscomingtoseekme；
　　andIthoughtwithinmyselfthatifshesmotemeIwouldbearitnomore，butletitbeseenwhichofthetwainwasthemightier。
　　ButIlookedagainandsawthatitwasnotshebutawomansmallerandolder。SoIstoodwhereIwasandabodehercoming，smilingandunafraid，andhalf-clad。
　　“ShedrewnearandIsawthatitwasanoldwomangreyhaired，uncomelyofraiment，butwithshiningbrighteyesinherwrinkledface。
　　Andshemadeanobeisancetomeandsaid：’IwaspassingthroughthislonelywildernessandIlookeddownintothelittlevalleyandsawthesegoatsthereandthelovelyladylyingnakedamongstthem，andIsaidIamtoooldtobeafraidofaught；forifshebeagoddesscomebackagainfromyoreagone，shecanbutmakeanendofapooroldcarline，agangrelbody，whohathnojoyofherlifenow。
　　Andifshebeofthedaughtersofmen，shewillbelikemethinkherofhermother，andbekindtomeforhersake，andgivemeapieceofbreadandadraughtofhergoats’milk。’