YetIhavemadeupmymindalreadythatIwouldsodoasifItrowedinit。SoIamnonearertoitthanerst。
　　NowistherenaughtforitsavetoabideMasterClement’scoming；
　　andwhenhehathbroughtmetoGoldburg，thenshallIseehowthequestlooksbythedaylightofthatsamecity。”
　　HespakesocheerfullythatRichardlookedathimaskance，wonderingwhatwastowardwithhim，andifmayhappenanythinglayunderneaththosewordsofhis。
　　ButinhisheartRalphwasthinkingofthatlasttaleofthewomanwhomtheyoungmanhadmetsuchalittlewhileago；anditseemedtohimthatshemusthavebeeninWhitwallwhenhefirstcamethere；
　　andhescarceknewwhetherheweresorryornotthathehadmissedher：
　　forthoughitseemedtohimthatitwouldbelittlemorethanmeregriefandpain，nay，thatitwouldbewickedandeviltobeledtotheWellattheWorld’sEndbyanyotherthanherwhowastohavebroughthimthere；
　　yethelonged，orthoughthelongedtospeakwithherconcerningthatloveofhisheart，soearlyrewarded，sospeedilybeggared。
　　ForindeedhedoubtednotthatthesaidwomanwasthedamselofBourtonAbbas，whoseimagehadnamedherselfDorotheatohiminthatdream。
　　RichardBringethTidingsofDepartingFellthetalkbetweenthematthattime，andthreedayswore，andonthemorningofthefourthdaycameRichardtoRalph，andsaidtohim：
　　“Foster-son，IamsorryforthewordImustsay，butClementChapmancamewithinthegatesthismorningearly，andthecompanywithwhichheisridingarealbounfortheroad，andwilldepartatnoonto-day，sothattherearebutfourhourswhereinwetwainmaybetogether；
　　andthereafterwhatsomaybetidethee，itmaywellbe，thatIshallseethyfacenomore；sowhatthouwilttellmemustbetoldstraightway。
　　AndnowIwillsaythistothee，thatofallthingsIwerefaintoridewiththee，butImaynot，becauseitisBlaisewhomIamboundtoserveinallways。AndIdeem，moreover，thattroubloustimesmaybeathandhereinWhitwall。ForthereisanEarlhightWaltertheBlack，afairyoungmanoutwardly，butfalseatheartandatyrant，andhehadsomeoccasionagainstthegoodtown，anditwaslookedforthatheshouldsendhisheraldheretodefythePortmorethanahalfmoonago；
　　butaboutthattimehewashurtinafrayaswehear，andmaynotbackahorseinbattleyet。Albeit，fristedisnotforgotten，assaiththesaw；andwhenheiswholeagain，wemaylookforhimatourgates；
　　andwhereasBlaiseknowsmeforadeftman-at-armsorsomethingmore，itisnottobelookedforthathewillgivemetotheeforthisquest。
　　Nay，oftheealsoitwillbelookedforthatthoushouldestdoknightlyservicetothePort，andevensoBlaisemeansittobe；thereforehaveI
　　liedtohimonthybehalf，andbiddenClementalsotoliewhichforsoothhemaydobetterthanI，sincehewottethnotwhollywhitherthouartminded，andIhavesaidthouwouldstgowithClementnofurtherthanCheapingKnowe，whichliethclosetothefurthersideofthesemountains，andwillbebackagaininsomewhatmorethanahalf-moon’swearing。
　　Sonowthouartwarnedhereof。”
　　RalphwasmovedbythesewordsofRichard，andhespake：
　　“Forsooth，oldfriend，Iamsorrytodepartfromthee；
　　yetthoughIshallpresentlybeallaloneamongstaliens，yetnowismanhoodrisingagaininme。SoforthatcauseatleastshallIbegladtobeontheway；andasatokenthatIammorewholethanIwas，Iwillnowtelltheethetaleofmygrief，ifthouwilthearkentoit，whichtheotherdayImightnottellthee。”
　　“Iwillhearkenitgladly。”saidRichard。Andtherewiththeysatdowninawindow，fortheywerewithindoorsinthehostel，andRalphtoldallthathadbefallenhimasplainlyandshortlyashemight；
　　andwhenhehaddone，Richardsaid：
　　“Thouhashadmuchadventureinashortspace，lord，andifthoumightestnowrefrainthylongingforthatwhichisgone，andsetitonthatwhichistocome，thoumayestyethardenintoafamousknightandahappyman。”
　　SaidRalph：“Yea？nowtellmeallthythought。”
　　SaidRichard：“Mythoughtisthatthisladywhowasslain，wasscarcewhollyoftheraceofAdam；butthatattheleasttherewassomeblendinginherofthebloodofthefays。
　　Orhowdeemestthou？”
　　“Iwotnot。”saidRalphsadly；“tomesheseemedbutawoman，thoughshewerefairerandwiserthanotherwomen。”SaidRichard：
　　“Well，furthermore，ifIheardtheearight，thereisanotherwomaninthetalewhoisalsofairerandwiserthanotherwomen？”
　　“Iwouldsheweremysister！”saidRalph。“Yea。”quothRichard，“anddostthoubearinmindwhatshewaslike？Imeanthefashionofherbody。”
　　“Yea，verily。”saidRalph。
　　AgainsaidRichard：“DothitseemtotheeasiftheLadyoftheDryTreehadsomeinklingthatthoushouldsthappenuponthisotherwoman：
　　whereassheshowedheroftheroadtotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andgaveherthatpairofbeads，andmeantthatthoualsoshouldestgothither？
　　Andthousayestthatshepraisedher，——herbeautyandwisdom。
　　Inwhatwisedidshepraiseher？howcamethewordsforthfromher？
　　wasitsweetly？”
　　“Likehoneyandrosesforsweetness。”saidRalph。
　　“Yea。”saidRichard，“andshemighthavepraisedherinsuchwisethatthewordshadcameforthlikegallandvinegar。
　　NowIwilltelltheeofmythought，sincewebeatpointofsundering，thoughthoutakeitamissandbewrothwithme：
　　towit，thatthouwouldsthavelosttheloveofthisladyastimewore，evenhadshenotbeenslain：andshebeing，ifnofay，yetwiserthanotherwomen，andforeseeing，knewthatsoitwouldbe。”
　　Ralphbrakein：“Nay，nay，itisnotso，itisnotso！”
　　“Hearken，youngling！”quothRichard；“Ideemthatitwasthus。
　　Herlovefortheewassokindthatshewouldhavetheehappyafterthesundering：thereforeshewasmindedthatthoushouldestfindthedamsel，whoasIdeemloveththee，andthatthoushouldestlovehertruly。”
　　“Onay，nay！”saidRalph，“allthisguessofthineisnaught，sayingthatshewaskindindeed。Evenasheaveniskindtothemwhohavediedmartyrs，andenterintoitsblissaftermanytorments。”
　　Andtherewithhefella-weepingattheverythoughtofhergreatkindness：
　　forindeedtothisyoungmanshehadseemedgreat，andexaltedfarabovehim。
　　Richardlookedathimawhile；andthensaid：“Now，IpraytheebenotwrothwithmeforthewordIhavespoken。
　　ButsomethingmoreshallIsay，whichshallliketheebetter。
　　Towit，whenIcamebackfromSwevenhamonWednesdayIdeemeditmostlikethattheWellattheWorld’sEndwasatale，acolouredcloudonly；orthatatmostifitwereindeedontheearth，thatthoushouldestneverfindit。
　　Butnowismymindchangedbythehearingofthytale，andIdeemboththattheWellverilyis，andthatthouthyselfshaltfindit；andthatthewiseLadyknewthis，andsetthegreaterstorebythyyouthandgoodliness，asaricherandmoregloriousgiftthanithadbeen，wereitasfleetingassuchthingsmostlybe。NowofthismatterwillIsaynomore；
　　butIthinkthatthewordsthatIhavesaid，andwhichnowseemsovaintothee，shallcomeintothymindonsomelaterday，andavailtheesomewhat；andthatiswhyIhavespokenthem。
　　Butthisagainisanotherword，thatIhavegotarightgoodhorseforthee，andothergear，suchasthoumayestneedfortheroad，andthatClement’sfellowshipwillmeetinPetergatehardbythechurch，andIwillbethysquiretillthoucomestthither，andridestthenceouta-gates。
　　NowIsupposethatthouwillwanttobidBlaisefarewell：
　　yetthoumustlooktoitthathewillnotdeemthyfarewellofgreatmoment，sinceheswimmethinflorinsandgoodlywares；
　　andmoreoverdeemeththatthouwiltsoonbebackhere。”
　　“Nevertheless。”saidRalph，“Imustneedscastmyarmsaboutmyownmother’ssonbeforeIdepart：sogowenow，asallthistalkhathwornawaymorethananhourofthosefourthatwereleftme。”
　　CHAPTER18
　　RalphDepartethFromWhitwallWiththeFellowshipofClementChapmanTherewithaltheywenttogethertoBlaise’shouse，andwhenBlaisesawthem，hesaid：“Well，Ralph，sothoumustneedsworkatalittlemoreidlingbeforethoufallesttoinearnest。
　　ForsoothIdeemthatwhenthoucomestbackthouwiltfindthatwehavecuttheeoutagoodlypieceofworkforthysewing。
　　Forthegoodtownisgatheringagallanthostofmen；andweshalllooktotheetodowellinthehardhand-play，whensothatbefalleth。
　　Butnowcomeandlookatmyhousewithin，howfairitis，andthouwiltseethatthouwilthavesomewhattofightfor，whereasIam。”
　　Therewithheledthemupastairintothegreatchamber，whichwasallnewlydightandhungwithricharrasoftheStoryofHercules；
　　andtherewasagoodlycupboardofsilvervessel，andsomegold，andthecupboardwasoffiveshelvesaswasbutmeetforaking’sson。
　　SoRalphpraisedall，butwaswishfultodepart，forhisheartwassore，andheblamedhimselfinamannerthathemustneedslietohisbrother。
　　ButBlaisebroughtthemtotheupperchamber，andshowedthemthegoodlybedswiththeircloths，andhangings，andallwasasfairasmightbe。
　　ThenBlaisebadebringwineandmadethemdrink；andhegaveRalphapurseofgold，andananlaceveryfairoffashion，andbroughthimtothedoorthereafter；andRalphcasthisarmsabouthim，andkissedhimandstrainedhimtohisbreast。ButBlaisewassomewhatmovedthereat，andsaidtohim：“Whylad，thouartsorrytodepartfrommeforalittlewhile，andwhatwoulditbe，wereitforlong？
　　Buteverwertthouakindandtender-heartedyoungling，andwetwainarealoneinanalienland。Forsooth，Iwotthatthouhast，asitwere，embracedtheUpmeadskindred，father，motherandall；andgoodisthat！
　　SonowGodandtheSaintskeepthee，andbearinmindthehostingofthegoodtown，andtheraisingofthebanner，thatshallbenogreatwhile。
　　Faretheewell，lad！”
　　Sotheyparted，andRalphwentbacktothehostel，andgatheredhisstufftogether，andlaiditonasumpterhorse，andarmedhim，andsowentintoPetergatetojoinhimselftothatcompany。
　　Therehefoundthechapmen，fiveoftheminall，andtheirlads，andascoreofmen-at-arms，withwhomwasClement，notcladlikeamerchant，butweaponed，andbearingacoatofproofandabrightsalletonhishead。
　　Theygreetedeachtheother，andRalphsaid：“Yea，masterClement，andbeweridingtobattle？”“Maybe。”quothClement；
　　“thewayislong，andourgoodsworththelifting，andtherearesomeroughplacesthatwemustneedspassthrough。
　　Butifyelikenotthejourney，abidehereinthistowntheonsetofWaltertheBlack。”
　　Therewithhelaughed，andRalphunderstandingthejape，laughedalso；
　　andsaid：“Well，masterClement，buttellmewhobethesethatweshallmeet。”“Yea，andIwilltelltheethewholetaleofthem。”
　　saidClement，“butabidetillwearewithoutthegates；Iambusymane’ennow，forallisreadyfortheroad，savewhatImustdo。
　　SonowbidthyUpmeadssquirefarewell，andthentohorsewiththee！”
　　SoRalphcasthisarmsaboutRichard，andkissedhimandsaid：
　　“ThisisalsoafarewelltotheHousewhereIwasbornandbred。”
　　AndashespakethethoughtoftheHouseandthegarden，andthepleasantfieldsofUpmeadscameintohisheartsobitter-sweet，thatitmingledwithhissorrow，andwell-nighmadehimweep。
　　ButasforRichardheforeborewords，forhewassadatheartforthesundering。
　　Thenhegattohorse，andthewholecompanyofthembestirredthem，andtheyrodeouta-gates。AndmasterClementitwasthatorderedthem，ridingupanddownalongthearray。
　　ButRalphfelltospeechwiththechapmenandmen-at-arms；
　　andbothofthesewereverycourteouswithhim；fortheyrejoicedinhiscompany，andespeciallythechapmen，whoweresomewhattimorousoftheperilsoftheroad。