RalphFallethinWithFriendsandRidethtoWhitwallRalphlooksontothefordandseesfolkridingthroughthethorpaforesaidanddowntotheriver，andtheytakethewaterandaremanyincompany，sometwoscorebyhisdeeming，andheseesthesunglitteringontheirweapons。
　　Nowhethoughtthathewouldabidetheircomingandseeifhemightjointheircompany，sinceifhecrossedthewaterhewouldbeonthebackwardway：
　　anditwasbutalittlewhileeretheheadofthemcameupoverthehill，andwerepresentlygoingpastRalph，whoroseuptolookonthem，andbeseenofthem，buttheytooklittleheedofhim。Soheseesthatthoughtheyallboreweapons，theywerenotallmen-at-arms，nay，notmorethanahalfscore，butthosepropermenenough。Oftheothers，somehalf-dozenseemedbytheirattiretobemerchants，andtheresttheirlads；andwithaltheyhadmanysumpterhorsesandmuleswiththem。
　　Theygreetedhimnot，norhethem，nordidheheedthemmuchtilltheywereallgonebysavethree，andthenheleaptintotheroadwithacry，forwhoshouldberidingtherebutBlaise，hiseldestbrother，andRichardtheRedwithhim，bothingoodcasebyseeming；forBlaisewascladinablackcoatweltedwithgold，androdeagoodgreypalfrey，andRichardwasarmedwellandknightly。
　　Theyknewhimatonce，anddrewrein，andBlaiselighteddownfromhishorseandcasthisarmsaboutRalph，andsaid：
　　“Ohappyday！whentwooftheUpmeadskindredmeetthusinanalienland！Butwhatmakeththeehere，Ralph？
　　IthoughtoftheeasmerryandsafeinUpmeads？”
　　Ralphsaidsmiling，forhisheartleaptupatthesightofhiskindred：
　　“Nay，mustInotseekadventuresliketherest？SoIstolemyselfawayfromfatherandmother。”“Illdone，littlelord！”saidBlaise，strokingRalph’scheek。
　　ThenupcameRichard，andifBlaisewereglad，Richardwastwiceglad，andquothhe：“SaidInot，LordBlaise，thatthischickwouldbethehardestofalltokeepunderthecoop？WelcometotheHighways，LordRalph！
　　Butwhereisthinehorse？andwhenceandwhitherisitnow？
　　Hastthoumetwithsomefoilandbeenheldtoransom？”
　　Ralphfoundithardandgrievousanddullworktoanswer；
　　fornowagainhissorrowhadtakenholdofhim：sohesaid：
　　“Yea，Richard，Ihavehadadventures，andhavelostratherthanwon；
　　butatleastIamafreeman，andhavespentbutlittlegoldonmyloss。”
　　“Thatiswell。”saidRichard，“butwhencegatyeanygoldforspending？”
　　Ralphsmiled，butsadly，forhecalledtomindthegladsettingforthandthekindfaceofdameKatherinehisgossip，andhesaid：
　　“ClementChapmandeemeditnotunmeettostakesomewhatonmyluck，thereforeIamnopauper。”
　　“Well。”saidBlaise，“ifthouhastnogreaterrandelsewhere，thoumightestridewithus，brother。Ihavehadgoodhapinthesedays，thoughscarcekinglyorknightly，forIhavebeenbuyingandselling：whatmatter？fewknowUpmeadsanditskingstowitemewithfoulingafairname。
　　Richard，gofetchahorsehitherforLordRalph’sriding，andwewilltarrynolonger。”SoRichardtrottedon，andwhiletheyabodehim，Ralphaskedafterhisbrethren，andBlaisetoldhimthathehadseenorheardnaughtofthem。
　　ThenRalphaskedofwhitheraway，andBlaisetoldhimtoWhitwall，wherewasmuchrecourseofmerchantsfrommanylands，andanoblemarket。
　　BackthencomethRichardleadingagoodhorsewhileRalphwasponderinghismatter，andthinkingthatatsuchatownhemightwellheartidingsconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　NowRalphmounts，andtheyallrideawaytogether。Ontheway，partlyforbrotherhood’ssake，partlythathemightnotbequestionedovermuchhimself，RalphaskedBlaisetotellhimmoreofhisfarings；
　　andBlaisesaid，thatwhenhehadleftUpmeadshehadriddenwithRichardupanddownandroundabout，tillhecametoarichtownwhichhadjustbeentakeninwar，andthattheCompanionswhohadconquereditwerelookingforchapmentocheapentheirbooty，andthathewasthefirstornearlythefirsttocomewhohadwillandmoneytobuy，andtheCompanions，whowereeagertodepart，hadsoldhimthieves’
　　penny-worths，sothathisshareoftheUpmeads’treasurehadgonefar；
　　andthencehehadgonetoanothergoodtownwherehehadthebestofmarketsforhisnewlycheapenedwares，andhadbroughtmorethere，suchashedeemedhandytosell，andsohadgoneonfromtowntotown，andhadeverthriven，andhadgotmuchwealth：andsoatlasthavingheardtellofWhitwallasbetterforchafferthanallhehadyetseen，heandotherchapmenhadarmedthem，andwagedmen-at-armstodefendthem，andsotriedtheadventureofthewildwoods，andcomesafethrough。
　　ThenatlastcamethequestiontoRalphconcerninghisadventures，andheenforcedhimselftospeak，andtoldallastrulyashemight，withouttellingoftheLadyandherwoefulending。
　　Thustheygaveandtookintalk，andRalphdidwhathemighttoseemlikeotherfolk，thathemightnursehisgriefinhisownheartasfarasunderfromothermenasmightbe。
　　Sotheyrodeontillitwaseven，andcametoWhitwallbeforetheshuttingofthegatesandrodeintothestreet，andfounditafairandgreattown，welldefensible，withhighandnewwalls，andmen-at-armsgoodstoretogarnishthem。
　　Ralphrodewithhisbrothertothehostelofthechapmen，andtheretheywerewelllodged。
　　RichardTalkethWithRalphConcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　ConcerningSwevenhamOnthemorrowBlaisewenttohischafferandtovisitthemenofthePortattheGuildhall：hebadeRalphcomewithhim，buthewouldnot，butabodeinthehallofthehostelandsatponderingsadlywhilemencameandwent；butheheardnowordspokenoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　Inlikewisepassedthenextdayandthenext，savethatRichardwasamongthosewhocameintothehall，andhetalkedlongwithRalphatwhiles；
　　thatistosaythathespake，andRalphmadesemblanceoflistening。
　　NowasisaforesaidRichardwasoldandwise，andhelovedRalphmuch，morebelikethanLordBlaisehispropermaster，whereashehadnomindforchaffer，oraughtpertainingtoit：
　　sohetookheedofRalphandsawthathewassadandweary-hearted；
　　soonthesixthdayoftheirabidingatWhitwall，inthemorningwhenallthechapmenweregoneabouttheirbusiness，andheandRalphwereleftaloneintheHall，hespaketoRalphandsaid：
　　“Thisisnoprison，lord。”“Evenso。”quothRalph。
　　“Nay，ifthoudoubtestit。”saidRichard，“letusgotothedoorandtryiftheyhaveturnedthekeyandshottheboltonus。”Ralphsmiledfaintlyandstoodup，andsaid：
　　“Iwillgowiththeeifthouwillestit，butsoothtosayI
　　shallbebutadullfellowofthineto-day。”SaidRichard：
　　“Wouldstthouhavebeenbetteryesterday，lord，orthedaybefore？”
　　“Nay。”saidRalph。“Wiltthoubebetterto-morrow？”saidRichard。
　　Ralphshookhishead。SaidRichard：“Yea，butthouwiltbe，orthoumaystcallmeafoolelse。”“Thouartkind，Richard。”
　　saidRalph；“andIwillcomewiththee，anddowhatthoubiddestme；butImustneedstelltheethatmyheartissick。”
　　“Yea。”quothRichard，“andthouneedestnottellmesomuch，dearyoungling；hewhorunsmightreadthatinthee。
　　Butcomeforth。”
　　Sointothestreettheywent，andRichardbroughtRalphintothemarket-place，andshowedhimwherewasBlaise’sboothforhewasthrivinggreatlybutRalphwouldnotgoanighitlesthisbrothershouldentanglehimintalk；andtheywentintotheGuildhallwhichwasbothgreatandfair，andthesmellofthenew-shavenoakfortheroofwasnotyetpaintedbroughtbacktoRalph’smindthedaysofhischildhoodwhenhewashangingaboutthebuildingofthewater-reeve’snewhouseatUpmeads。
　　ThentheywentintotheGreatChurchandheardaMassatthealtarofSt。Nicholas，Ralph’sveryfriend；andthesaidchurchwasgreattotheletter，andverygoodly，andsomewhatnewalso，sincetheblossom-tideofWhitwallwasnotmanyyearsold：
　　andthealtarsofitschapelswerebeyondanythingforfairnessthatRalphhadseensaveatHighamontheWay。
　　Butwhentheycameforthfromthechurch，RalphlookedonRichardwithafacethatwasbothblankandweary，aswhoshouldsay：“Whatistodonow？”
　　Andforsoothsowoe-begonehelooked，thatRichard，despitehissorrowandtroubleforhim，couldscarcewithholdhislaughter。Buthesaid：
　　“Well，fostersonforthouartprettymuchthattome，sincethegoodtownpleasureththeelittle，gowefurtherafield。”
　　Soheledhimoutofthemarket-place，andbroughthimtotheeastgateofthetownwhichhightPetergateBar，andforththeywentandoutintothemeadowsunderthewalls，andstayedhimatalittlebridgeoveroneofthestreams，foritwasalandofmanywaters；theretheysatdowninanook，andspakeRichardtoRalph，saying：
　　“LordRalph，illitwereiftheUpmeadskindredcametonaught，oreventolittle。NowasformyownmasterBlaise，hehath，sopleaseyou，themakingsofanoblechapman，butnotofanobleknight；thoughhesayeththatwhenheisrightrichhewillcastasideallchaffer；naughtofwhichhewilldo。
　　Asfortheothers，mylordGregoryisnobetter，orindeedworse，savethatheshallnotberichever，havingnomasteryverhimself；
　　whilelordHughisliketobeslaininsomeemptybrawl，unlesshecomebackspeedilytoUpmeads。”
　　“Yea，yea。”saidRalph，“whatthen？Icamenothithertoheartheemissaymymother’ssons。”ButRichardwenton：
　　“Asforthee，lordRalph，oftheeIlookedforsomething；
　　butnowIcannottell；fortheheartintheeseemethtobedead；
　　andthoumustlooktoitlestthebodydiealso。”
　　“Sobeit！”saidRalph。
　　SaidRichard：“Iamoldnow，butIhavebeenyoung，andmanythingshaveIseenandsuffered，ereIcametoUpmeads。
　　OldamI，andIcannotfeelcertainhopesandgriefsasayoungmancan；yethaveIboughttheknowledgeofthemdearenough，andhavenotforgotten。WherebyIwotwellthatmydreariheadisconcerningawoman。Isitnotso？”“Yea。”quothRalph。
　　SaidRichard：“Nowshaltthoutellmethereof，andsolightenthineheartalittle。”“Iwillnottellthee。”
　　saidRalph；“or，rather，tospeakmoretruly，Icannot。”
　　“Yea。”saidRichard，“andthoughitwerenowaneasierthingformetotelltheeofthegriefsofmylifethanfortheetohearkentothetale，yetIbelievethee。Butmayhappenthoumaysttellmeofonethingthatthoudesirestmorethananother。”
　　SaidRalph：“Idesiretodie。”Andthetearsstartedinhiseyestherewith。ButRichardspake，smilingonhimkindly：
　　“Thatwayisopenfortheeonanydayoftheweek。
　　Whyhastthounottakenitalready？”ButRalphanswerednaught。
　　Richardsaid：“Isitnotbecausethouhopesttodesiresomething；
　　ifnotto-day，thento-morrow，orthenextdayorthenext？”
　　StillRalphspakenoword；buthewept。QuothRichard：“MaybeI
　　mayhelptheetoahope，thoughthoumayestthinkmywordswild。
　　InthelandandthethorpwhereIwasbornandbredtherewastalknowandagainofathingtobesought，whichshouldcuresorrow，andmakelifeblossomintheold，andupholdlifeintheyoung。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，lookingupfromhistears，“andwhatwasthat？andwhyhastthounevertoldmethereofbefore？”
　　“Nay。”saidRichard，“andwhyshouldItellittothemerryladIknewinUpmeads？butnowthouartaman，andhastseenthefaceofsorrow，itismeetthatthoushouldesthearofTHE
　　WELLATTHEWORLD’SEND。”