Ralphsprangtohisfeetashesaidtheword，andcriedouteagerly：
　　“Oldfriend，andwherethenwertthoubredandborn？”Richardlaughedandsaid：“See，then，thereisyetadeedandadaybetwixttheeanddeath！
　　Butturnaboutandlookstraightoverthemeadowsinalinewithyonderwillow-tree，andtellmewhatthouseest。”SaidRalph：
　　“Thefairplainspreadingwide，andariverrunningthroughit，andlittlehillsbeyondthewater，andbluemountainsbeyondthem，andsnowyetlyingonthetopsofthem，thoughtheyearisinyoungJuly。”
　　“Yea。”quothRichard；“andseestthouonthefirstofthelittlehillsbeyondtheriver，agreatgreytowerrisingupandhousesanighit？”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“thetowerIsee，andthehouses，forIamfar-sighted；
　　butthehousesaresmall。”“Soitis。”saidRichard；“nowyondertowerisoftheChurchofSwevenham，whichisundertheinvocationoftheSevenSleepersofEphesus；andthehousesarethehousesofthelittletown。
　　Andwhathasthattodowithme？sayestthou：whythis，thatIwasbornandbredatSwevenham。AndindeedIitwaswhobroughtmylordBlaiseheretoWhitwall，withtalesofhowgoodaplaceitwasforchaffer，thatImightseethelittletownandthegreatgreytoweroncemore。
　　ForsoothIliednot，forthybrotherishappyhere，whereasheispilingupthecoinsoneupontheother。Forsooththoushouldestgointohisbooth，fairlord；itisagoodlysight。”
　　ButRalphwaswalkingtoandfrohastily，andheturnedtoRichardandsaid：
　　“Well，well！butwhydostthounottellmemoreoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd？”
　　SaidRichard：“Iwasgoingtotelltheesomewhatwhichmightbeworththynoting；ormightnotbeworthit：hearken！WhenI
　　dweltatSwevenhamoveryonder，andwasbutofeighteenwinters，whoamnowofthreescoreandeight，threefolkofourtownship，twoyoungmenandoneyoungwoman，setoutthencetoseekthesaidWell：
　　andmuchloretheyhadconcerningit，whichtheyhadlearnedofanoldman，anighkinsmanofoneofthem。ThisancientcarleIhadneverseen，forhedweltinthemountainsawayoff，andthesemenweresomefiveyearsolderthanI，sothatIwasaboywhentheyweremengrown；
　　andsuchthingsIheedednot，butrathersportandplay；andaboveall，Ilongedfortheplayofwarandbattle。GodwotIhavehadmybellyfulofitsincethosedays！HowbeitImindmethesettingforthofthesethree。
　　Theyhadasumpter-asswiththemfortheirlivelihoodonthewaste；
　　buttheywentafootcrownedwithflowers，andthepipeandtabourplayingbeforethem，andmuchpeoplebroughtthemontheway。
　　BySt。Christopher！Icanseeitallasifitwereyesterday。
　　Iwassorryofthedepartureofthedamsel；forthoughIwasaboyI
　　hadlovedher，andshehadsufferedmetokissherandtoywithher；
　　butitwassoonover。NowIcalltomindthattheyhadprayedourpriest，SirCyprian，toblessthemontheirdeparture，buthenaysaidthem；
　　forheheldthatsuchaquestcameoftheinspirationofthedevils，andwasbutamemoryofthecustomsoftheancientgentilesandheathen。
　　Butastome，Ideemeditnaught，andwassorrythatmywhite-bosomed，sweet-breathedfriendshouldwalkawayfrommethusintotheclouds。”
　　“Whatcameofit？”saidRalph，“didtheycomeback，oranyofthem？”
　　“Iwotnot。”saidRichard，“forIwaswearyofSwevenhamafterthat，soIgirtmyselftoaswordandlaidaspearuponmyshoulderandwentmywaystotheCastleoftheWasteMarch，sixtymilesfromSwevenhamtown，andtheBarontookmeinandmademehisman：
　　andalmostaslittleprofitwereinmytellingtheeagainofmydeedsthere，astherewasinmydoingthem：butthegreytowerofSwevenhamIhaveneverseenagaintillthishour。”
　　SaidRalph：“NowthenitbehovethmetogotoSwevenhamstraightway：
　　wiltthoucomewithme？itseemethtobebutsomefourmileshence。”
　　Richardheldhispeaceandknithisbrowsasifponderingthematter，andRalphabidedtillhespake：sohesaid：
　　“Foster-son，sotocallthee，thouknowestthemannerofup-countrycarles，thattalesflowforthfromthemthebetteriftheycomewithoutovermuchdiggingandhoeingoftheground；thatis，withoutquestioning；
　　someseemsbetteritwillbeifIgotoSwevenhamalone，andbetterifIbeaskedtogo，thanifIgoofmyself。
　　Nowto-morrowisSaturday，andhighmarketinWhitwall；
　　andIamnotsooldbutthatitislikeliestthattherewillbesomeofmyfellowsaliveandontheirlegsinSwevenham：
　　andifsuchtherebe，therewillbeoneattheleastinthemarketto-morrow，andIwillbetheretofindhimout：
　　andthenitwillgohardifhebringmenottoSwevenhamasawell-belovedguest；andwhenIamthere，andtellingmytidings，andaskingthemoftheirs，iftherebeanytalesconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEndworkingintheirbellies，thenshallIbethemidwifetobringthemtobirth。Ha？Willitdo？”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“buthowlongwiltthoube？”SaidRichard：
　　“IshallcomebackspeedilyifIfindthelandbarren；
　　butifthefieldbeinearIshalltarrytoharvestit。
　　Sokeepthouthysoulinpatience。”“AndwhatshallIdonow？”
　　saidRalph。“Wearawaythehours。”saidRichard。
　　Andtobeginwith，comebackwithinthegateswithmeandletusgolookatthybrother’sboothinthemarket-place：itisthenethermostofagoodlyhousewhichheismindedtodwellin；
　　andhewillmarryawifeandsitdowninWhitwall，sowellheseemethliketothrive；fortheyhavealreadybiddenhimtothefreedomofthecity，andtoabrotheroftheFaring-Knights，whereasheisnotonlyastirringman，butofgoodlineagealso：
　　fornowhehidethnotthatheisoftheUpmeadskindred。”
　　RalphFallethinWithAnotherOldFriendRalphwentwithRichardnowwithoutmorewords，andtheycameintothemarket-placeanduntoBlaise’sboothandhouse，whichwasnoworsethanthebestintheplace；andthepaintersandstainerswereatworkontheupperpartofittomakeitasbrightandgoodlyasmightbewithredandblueandgreenandgold，andallfaircolours，andalreadywasthereasignhungoutofthefruitfultreebythewater-side。Asforthebooth，itwasfullwithinofmanywaresandfar-fetchedanddear-boughtthings；
　　aspiecesofgoodandfineclothplumbedwiththesealofthegreatestofthecities；andsilkofBabylon，andspicesofthehotburningislands，andwondersofthesilversmith’sandthegoldsmith’sfashioning，andfair-wroughtweaponsandarmourofthebest，andeverythingthatarichchapmanmaydealin。
　　AndamidstofitallstoodBlaisecladinfineblackclothweltedwithneedlework，andagoldchainabouthisneck。
　　HewastalkingwiththreehonourablemenofthePort，andtheyweredoinghimhonourwithkindwordsandthebiddingofhelp。
　　WhenhesawRalphandRichardcomein，henoddedtothem，astomenwhomheloved，butwerebeneathhimindignity，andleftnottalkingwiththegreatmen。Richardgrinnedalittlethereat，asalsodidRalphinhisheart；forhethought：
　　“HerethenisoneoftheUpmeadskinprovidedfor，sothatsoonhemaybuywithhismoneytwodomainsasbigasUpmeadsandcallthemhismanors。”
　　NowRalphlooksabouthim，andpresentlyheseesamancomeforwardtomeethimfromtheinnermostofthebooth，andlo！therewascomeClementChapman。Hisheartroseatthesightofhim，andhethoughtofhiskindgossiptillhecouldscarcewithholdhistears。ButClementcametohimandcasthisarmsabouthim，andkissedhim，andsaid：“Thoushaltpardonmeforthis，lord，foritisthekissofthegossipwhichshebademegivethee，ifIfellinwiththee，asnowIhave，praisedbetheSaints！
　　YetitirksmethatIshallseelittlemoreoftheeatthistime，forto-morrowearlyImustneedsjoinmyselftomycompany；
　　forwearegoingsouthawhiletoagoodtownsomefiftymileshence。Nevertheless，ifthoudwellestheresomeeightdaysIshallseetheeagainbelike，sincethereafterIgetmeeastwardonahardandlongjourneynotwithoutperil。
　　Howsayestthou？”
　　“Iwotnot。”quothRalphlookingatRichard。SaidRichard：
　　“Thoumaystwotwell，masterClement，thatmylordisanhungeredofthepraiseofthefolks，andisnotliketoabideinameremerchant-towntillthemouldgrowonhisback。”“Well，well。”
　　saidClement，“howeverthatmaybe，Ihavenowdonemymatterswiththiscloth-lord，Blaise，andhehasmyflorinsinhispouch：
　　sowillnotyetwaincomewithmeanddrinkacuptillhehathdonehistalkwiththesemagnates？”
　　Ralphwasnothingloth，forbesidesthathelovedmasterClement，andthathisbeingincompanywaslikehavingapieceofhishomeanighhim，hehopedtohearsometidingsconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　SoheandRichardwentwithmasterClementtotheChristopher，afairale-houseoveragainsttheGreatChurch，andsatdowntogoodwine；
　　andRalphaskedofClementmanythingsconcerningdameKatherinehisgossip，andClementtoldhimall，andthatshewaswell，andhadbeentoUpmeads，andhadseenKingPeterandthemotherofRalph；andhowshehadassuagedhismother’sgriefathisdeparturebyforecastingfairdaysforherson。
　　AllthisRalphheardgladly，thoughhewassomewhatshamefacedwithal，andsatsilentandthinkingofmanymatters。ButRichardtookupthewordandsaid：
　　“WhichwaycamestthoufromWulstead，masterClement？”“ThenighestwayIcame。”saidClement，“throughtheWoodsPerilous。”SaidRichard：
　　“AndtheyoftheDryTree，heardestthouaughtofthem？”“Yea，certes。”
　　quothClement，“forIfellinwiththeirBailiff，andpaidhimduescotforthepassageoftheWood；heknowethmewithal，andwetalkedtogether。”
　　“Andhadheanytidingstotelltheeofthechampions？”saidRichard。
　　SaidClement，“Greattidingsmaybe，howthattherewasarumourthattheyhadlosttheiryoungQueenandLady；andifthatbetrue，itwillgonightobreaktheirhearts，sosoreastheylovedher。Andthatwillmakethembitterandfierce，tilltheirgriefhasbeenslakedbythebloodofmen。
　　AndthatthemoreastheiroldQueenabidethstill，andsheherselfiseverofthatmind。”
　　Ralphhearkened，andhisheartwaswoundedthatothermenshouldspeakofhisbeloved：butheheardhowRichardsaid：“HastthoueverknownwhythatcompanyofchampionstookthenameoftheDryTree？”“Why，whoshouldknowthat，ifthouknowestitnot，RichardofSwevenham？”saidClement：
　　“IsitnotbythetokenoftheDryTreethatstandethinthelandsonthehithersideoftheWalloftheWorld？”Richardnoddedhishead；butRalphcriedout：“OMasterClement，andhastthouseenit，theWalloftheWorld？”
　　“Yea，afaroff，myson。”saidhe；“orwhatthefolkwithmecalledso；
　　astotheDryTree，IhavetoldtheeatWulsteadthatIhaveseenitnot，thoughIhaveknownmenwhohavetoldmethattheyhaveseenit。”
　　“AndmusttheywhofindtheWellattheWorld’sEndcomebytheDryTree？”
　　“Yea，surely。”saidClement。QuothRichard：“Andthushavesomeheard，whohavegoneonthatquest，andtheyhaveheardoftheChampionsofHampton，andhavegonethither，beingdeceivedbythatnameoftheDryTree，andwhileshavebeenslainbythechampions，whileshaveenteredtheircompany。”
　　“Yea。”saidClement，“soitisthattheirfirsterrorhathendedtheirquest。
　　Butnow，lordRalph，Iwilltelltheeonething；towit，thatwhenIreturnhitheraftereightdayswearing，Ishallbewendingeast，asIsaide’ennow，andwhatwillthatmeansavegoingsomewhatnighertotheWalloftheWorld；
　　formywayliethbeyondthemountainsthatyeseefromhence，andbeyondthemountainsthatlietheothersideofthose；andIbidtheecomewithus，andIwillbethywarrantthatsofarthoushalthavenoharm：
　　butwhenthouhastcomesofar，andhastseenthreeveryfaircities，besidestownsandcastlesandthorpsandstrangemen，andfairmerchandize，Godforbidthatthoushouldestwendfurther，andsocastawaythyyounglifeforagay-colouredcloud。Thenwillbethetimetocomebackwithme，thatImaybringtheethroughtheperilsofthewaytoWulstead，andUpmeadsatthelast，andthefolkthatlovethee。”
　　Richardheldhispeaceatthisword，butRalphsaid：
　　“Ithankthee，MasterClement，forthyloveandthyhelpinghand；
　　andwillpromisetheetoabidetheehereeightdaysattheleast；
　　andmeanwhileIwillponderthematterwell。”