’AmItobeslainhereorledtoacruellerprison？’AndIsaid：
　　’Neitheronethingnortheother：forlo！Ihavesettheefree，andIshalllooktoitthatthereshallbenopursuitoftheetillthouhasthadtimetogetclearaway。’Butshesaid：
　　’Whatthankswiltthouhaveforthis？Whereforehastthoudoneit？’
　　AndIsaid，’ItisbecauseofthegladnessIhavegotten。’
　　Saidshe，’AndwouldthatImightgetgladness！’
　　SoIaskedherwhatwasamissnowthatshewasfree。Shesaid：
　　’IhavelostonethingthatIloved，andfoundanotherandlostitalso。’SoIsaid：’Mightestthounotseekforthelost？’
　　Shesaid，’Itisinthiswood，butwhenIshallfinditI
　　shallnothaveit。’’Itislovethatthouartseeking，’
　　saidI。’Inwhatsemblanceishe？’
　　“Whatwiltthou，myfriend？Straightwayshefelltomakingapictureoftheeinwords；sothatIknewthatshehadmetthee，andbelikeafterIhaddepartedfromthee，andmyheartwassorethereat；fornowIwilltelltheetheverytruth，thatshewasayoungwomanandexceedingfair，asifshewereofpearlallover，andassweetaseglantine；andIfearedherlestsheshouldmeettheeagaininthesewildwoods。
　　AndsoIaskedherwhatwouldshe，andshesaidthatshehadamindtoseektotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，whichquenchethallsorrow；
　　andIrejoicedthereat，thinkingthatshewouldbefarawayfromthee，notthinkingthatthouandImustevenmeettoseektoitalso。
　　SoIgaveherthechapletwhichmywitch-mistresstookfromthedeadwoman’sneck；andwentwithherintothewildwood，andtaughtherwisdomofthewayandwhatshewastodo。
　　AndagainIsaytotheethatshewassosweetandyetwithakindofpityinherbothofsoulandbody，andwisewithalandquiet，thatIfearedher，thoughIlovedher；yeaandstilldo：
　　forIdeemherbetterthanme，andmeeterfortheeandthylovethanIbe——Dostthouknowher？”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andfairandlovelysheisinsooth。
　　Yethastthounaughttodotofearher。AndtrueitisthatI
　　sawherandspakewithherafterthouhadstriddenaway。
　　Forshecamebythewant-waysoftheWoodPerilousinthedawnofthedayafterIhaddeliveredthee；andinsoothshetoldmethatshelookedeitherforDeath，ortheWateroftheWelltoendhersorrow。”
　　Thenhesmiledandsaid；“Asforthatwhichthousayest，thatshehadbeenmeeterformethanthou，Iknownotthisword。
　　Forlookyou，beloved，shecame，andpassed，andisgone，butthouartthereandshaltendure。”
　　Shestayed，andturnedandfacedhimatthatword；
　　andlovesoconsumedher，thatallsportivewordsfailedher；
　　yeaanditwasasifmirthandlight-heartednesswereswallowedupinthefireofherlove；andallthoughtofotherfolkdepartedfromhimashefelthertearsofloveandjoyuponhisface，andshekissedandembracedhimthereinthewilderness。
　　OftheDesert-HouseandtheChamberofLoveintheWildernessTheninawhiletheygrewsoberandwentontheirways，andthesunwaswesteringbehindthem，andcastinglongshadows。
　　Andinalittlewhiletheywerecomeoutofthethickwoodsandwereinacountryofsteeplittlevalleys，grassy，besprinkledwithtreesandbushes，withhillsofsandstonegoingupfromthem，whichwereoftenbrokenintocliffsrisingsheerfromthetree-besetbottoms：andtheysawplenteousdeerbothgreatandsmall，andthewildthingsseemedtofearthembutlittle。
　　ToRalphitseemedanexceedingfairland，andhewasasjoyousasitwasfair；buttheLadywaspensive，andatlastshesaid：
　　“Thoudeemestitfair，andsoitis；yetisitthelonesomestofdeserts。Ideemindeedthatitwasonceoneofthefairestoflands，withcastlesandcotsandhomesteadsallabout，andfairpeoplenofew，busywithmanymattersamongstthem。
　　Butnowitisallpassedaway，andthereisnotokenofadwellingofman，saveitmightbethatthosemoundswesee，asyonder，andyonderagain，aretoftsofhouse-wallslongagosunkenintotheearthofthevalley。Andnowfewevenarethehuntersorway-farersthatwendthroughit。”
　　QuothRalph：“Thouspeakestasiftherehadbeenoncehistoriesandtalesofthispleasantwilderness：tellme，hasitanythingtodowiththatlandaboutthewideriverwhichwewentthrough，RogerandI，aswerodetotheCastleofAbundancetheotherday？
　　Forhespokeoftalesofdeedsandmishapsconcerningit。”
　　“Yea。”shesaid，“soitis，andthelittlestreamthatrunsyonderbeneaththosecliffs，ismakingitswaytowardsthatbigriveraforesaid，whichiscalledtheSwellingFlood。
　　Nowtrueitisalsothattherearemanytalesaboutofthewarsandmiseriesthatturnedthislandintoadesert，andthesemaybetrueenough，andbelikearetrue。ButthesesaidtaleshavebecomeblendedwiththestoryofthoseaforesaidwarsoftheLandoftheTower；ofwhichindeedthisdesertisverilyapart，butwasdesertstillinthedayswhenIwasQueenoftheLand；
　　sothoumaystwellthinkthattheywhoholdmetobethecauseofallthislonelinessandbelikeRogerthoughtitwasso
　　havescarcegotholdoftheverysoothofthematter。”
　　“EvensoIdeemed。”saidRalph：“andto-morrowweshallcrossthebigriver，thouandI。Isthereaferryorafordtherewhereasweshallcome，orhowshallwewinoverit？”
　　Shewasgrowingmerrieragainnow，andlaughedatthisandsaid：
　　“Ofairboy！thecrossingwillbeto-morrowandnotto-day；
　　letto-morrowcrossitsownrivers；forsurelyto-dayisfairenough，andfairershallitbewhenthouhastbeenfedandartsittingbymeinrestandpeacetillto-morrowmorning。
　　Sonowhastenyetalittlemore；andwewillkeepthesaidlittlestreaminsightaswellaswemayforthebushes。”
　　Sotheyspedon，tillRalphsaid：“Willthyfeetnevertire，beloved？”
　　“Ochild。”shesaid，“thouhastheardmystory，andmaystwelldeemthattheyhavewroughtmanyaharderday’sworkthanthisday’s。Andmoreovertheyshallsoonrest；forlook！yonderisourhouseforthiseven，andtillto-morrow’ssunishigh：
　　thehouseformeandtheeandnoneelsewithus。”Andtherewithshepointedtoaplacewherethestreamraninachainofpoolsandstickles，andasheercliffroseupsomefiftypacesbeyondit，butbetwixtthestreamandthecliffwasasmoothtableofgreensward，withthreefairthornbushesthereon，anditwentdownateachendtotheleveloftheriver’slipbyagreenslope，butamidmost，thelittlegreenplainwassometenfeetabovethestream，andwasbrokenbyalittleundercliff，whichwentdownsheerintothewater。
　　AndRalphsawinthefaceofthehighcliffthemouthofacave，howeverdeepitmightbe。
　　“Come。”saidtheLady，“tarrynot，forIknowthathungerhathholdofthee，andlook，howlowthesunisgrowing！”
　　Thenshecaughthimbythehand，andfelltorunningwithhimtotheedgeofthestream，whereattheendofthefurtherslopeitranwideandshallowbeforeitenteredintoadeeppooloverhungwithboughsofalderandthorn。Shesteppeddaintilyoverarowofbigstoneslaidintheripplingshallow；
　　andstayingherselfinmid-streamonthebiggestofthem，andgatheringuphergown，lookedupstreamwithahappyface，andthenlookedoverhershouldertoRalphandsaid：
　　“Theyearhasbeengoodtometheseseasons，sothatwhenI
　　stayedhereonmywaytotheCastleofAbundance，Ifoundbutfewstoneswashedaway，andcrossedwellnighdry-shod，butthisstonemyfeetarestandingonnow，Ibroughtdownfromunderthecliff，andsetitamid-most，andIsaidthatwhenIbroughttheehitherIwouldstaythereonandtalkwiththeewhileIstoodabovethefreshnessofthewater，asIamdoingnow。”
　　Ralphlookedonherandstrovetoanswerher，butnowordswouldcometohislips，becauseofthegreatnessofhislonging；shelookedonhimfondly，andthenstoopedtolookattheripplesthatbubbledupabouthershoes，andtouchedthematwhiles；thenshesaid：
　　“Seehowtheylongforthewater，thesefeetthathavewornthewastesolong，andknowhowkinditwillrunoverthemandlapaboutthem：
　　butyemustabidealittle，waste-wearers，tillwehavedoneathingortwo。Come，love！”AndshereachedherhandoutbehindhertoRalph，notlookingback，butwhenshefelthishandtouchit，shesteppedlightlyovertheotherstones，andontothegrasswithhim，andledhimquietlyuptheslopethatwentuptothetableofgreenswardbeforethecave。Butwhentheycameontothelevelgrassshekissedhim，andthenturnedtowardthevalleyandspakesolemnly：
　　“MayallblessingslightonthisHouseofthewildernessandthisHalloftheSummer-tide，andtheChamberofLovethathereis！”
　　Thenwasshesilentawhile，andRalphbrakenotthesilence。
　　Thensheturnedtohimwithafacegrownmerryandsmiling，andsaid：
　　“Lo！howthepoorladyearnethformeat，aswellhemay，solongasthedayhathbeen。Ah，beloved，thoumustbepatientalittle。
　　Forbelikeourservantshavenotyetheardoftheweddingofus。
　　Sowetwainmustfeedeachtheother。Isthatsomuchamiss？”
　　Helaughedinherfaceforlove，andtookherbythewrist，butshedrewherhandawayandwentintothecave，andcameforthanonholdingacopperkettlewithanironbow，andabagofmeal，whichshelaidathisfeet；thenshewentintothecaveagain，andbroughtforthaflaskofwineandabeaker；thenshecaughtupthelittlecauldron，whichwaswell-beaten，andthinandlight，andrandowntothestreamtherewith，andcameupthencepresently，bearingitfullofwateronherhead，goingasstraightandstatelyasthespearisseenonadayoftourney，movingoverthebarriersthathidetheknight，beforehelaysitintherest。
　　Shecameuptohimandsetthewater-kettlebeforehim，andputherhandsonhisshoulders，andkissedhischeek，andthensteppedbackfromhimandsmoteherpalmstogether，andsaid：
　　“Yea，itiswell！Butthereareyetmorethingstodobeforewerest。
　　Thereisthedightingofthechamber，andthegatheringofwoodforthefire，andthemixingofthemeal，andthekneadingandthebakingofcakes；andallthatismywork，andthereisthebringingofthequarryfortheroast，andthatisthine。”
　　Thensheranintothecaveandbroughtforthabowandaquiverofarrows，andsaid：“Artthousomewhatofanarcher？”
　　Quothhe：“Ishootnotill。”“AndI。”shesaid，“shootwell，allwoodcraftcomeshandytome。ButthiseveImusttrusttothyskillformysupper。Goswiftlyandcomebackspeedily。
　　Dooffthinehauberk，andbeatthebushesdowninthevalley，andbringmesomesmalldeer，asroeorhareorconey。
　　Andwashtheeinthepoolbelowthestepping-stones，asI
　　shalldowhilesthouartaway，andbythenthoucomestback，allshallbeready，savetheroastingofthevenison。”
　　Sohedidoffhiswargear，butthereaftertarriedalittle，lookingather，andshesaid：“Whataileththeenottogo？thehunt’sup。”Hesaid：
　　“Iwouldfirstgoseetherock-hallthatisforourchamberto-night；
　　wiltthounotbringmeinthither？”“Nay。”shesaid，“forImustbebusyaboutmanymatters；butthoumaystgobythyself，ifthouwilt。”
　　Sohewentandstoopeddownandenteredthecave，andfoundithighandwidewithin，andcleanandfreshandwell-smelling，andtheflooroffinewhitesandwithoutastain。
　　Sohekneltdownandkissedthefloor，andsaidaloud：
　　“Godblessthisflooroftherock-hallwhereonmyloveshalllieto-night！”Thenhearoseandwentoutofthecave，andfoundtheLadyattheentrystoopingdowntoseewhathewoulddo；andshelookedonhimfondlyandanxiously；