“Sotheyabodetherethatnight，leavingBulllyinglikeadogunburiedinthewilderness；andonthemorrowtheytooktheroadtoUtterbol，andwentswiftly，havingnobaggage，andstayingbutforvictual，andforresteverynight。
　　TheLordhadmebroughttohimonthatfirsteveningofourjourney，andhesawmeprivilyandspaketome，biddingmedoshamefulthings，andIwouldnot；whereforehethreatenedmegrievously；and，Ibeingalonewithhim，badehimbewarelestIshouldslayhimormyself。
　　Thereatheturnedpale，ashehaddonebeforeBullNosy，yetsentfornonetoslayme，butonlybademebacktomykeepers。
　　AndsoIcametoUtterbolunscathed。”
　　“AndatUtterbol。”saidRalph，“whatbefelltheethere？”
　　Ursulasmiledonhim，andheldupherfinger；yetsheanswered：
　　“Utterbolisaverygreathouseinafairland，andtherearesundryroofsandmanyfairchambers。TherewasIbroughttoagoodlychamberamidstagarden；andwomenservantsweregivenmewholedmetothebathandcladmeindaintyraiment，andgavemetoeatandtodrink，andallthatIneeded。
　　Thatisallmytaleforthistime。”
　　TheyComeontheSageofSwevenhamNightwasathandbeforetheycametothestreamthattheysought。
　　Theyfounditcleavingthepine-wood，whichheldontilltheverybankofit，andwasthickagainonthefurthersideinafewyards’space。Thestreamwashigh-bankedandrandeepandstrong。SaidUrsulaastheycameuptoit：
　　“Wemaynotcrossit，butitmattersnot；anditisto-morrowthatwemustrideupalongit。”
　　Sotheyabodethere，andmadeafirebythewaterside，andwatchedthere，turnandturnabout，tillitwasbroadday。
　　Naughtbefelltotellof，savethattwiceinthenightRalphdeemedthatheheardalionroar。
　　Theygottohorsespeedilywhentheywerebothawake，androdeupthestream，andbegantogouphill，andbynoonwerecomeintoaroughandshaggyupland，whencefromtimetotimetheycouldseethehugewallofthemountains，whichyetseemedtoRalphscarcenigher，ifatall，thanwhenhehadbehelditerehehadcometoValeTurris。
　　Thewaywasroughday-long，andnowandagaintheyfoundithardtokeepthestreaminsight，asespeciallywhenitcleftahill，andranbetweensheercliffswithnolowshoreoneitherside。
　　Theymadewaybutslowly，sothatatlastRalphlostpatiencesomewhat，andsaidthathehadbutlittlehopeoffallinginwiththeSagethatdayoranyday。ButUrsulawasofgoodcheer，andmockedhimmerrilybutsweetly，tillhisheartwaslightenedagain。
　　Withalshebadehimseeksomevenison，sincetheyweredrawingoutthetime，andsheknewnothowlongitwouldbeeretheycametotheSage’sdwelling。ThereforehebetookhimtotheTurkbow，andshotaleashofheath-fowl，andtheysuppedonthemeatmerrilyinthewilderness。
　　Butiftheyweremerry，theyweresoonweary；fortheyjourneyedonaftersunsetthatnight，sincethemoonwasup，andtherewasnothickwoodtoturnduskintodarkforthem。
　　Theirresting-placewasasmoothpieceofgreenswardbetwixtthewaterandahalfcircleofsteepbentthatwellnighlockeditabout。
　　Therethentheyabode，andinthestillnessofthenightheardathunderingsoundcomingdownthewindtothem，whichtheydeemedwastheroaringofdistantwaters；andwhentheywenttothelipoftherivertheysawflocksoffoamfloatingby，whereforetheythoughtthemselvestobenearsomegreatmountain-neckwhereoverthewaterwasfallingfromsomehighplace。
　　Butwithnoto-dotheylaydownuponthegreenswardthissecondnightoftheirfellowship，andwakedlaterthanonthedaybefore；
　　forsowearyhadtheybeen，thattheyhadkeptbutillwatchinthedarknight，andnoneatallafterdawnbegantoglimmer。
　　NowRalphsatupandsawUrsulastillsleeping；thenherosetohisfeetandlookedabouthim，andsawtheirtwohorsescroppingthegrassunderthebent，andbesidethemaman，tallandwhitebearded，leaningonhisstaff。
　　Ralphcaughtuphisswordandwenttowardtheman，andthesungleamedfromthebladejustasthehoary-oneturnedtohim；helifteduphisstaffasifingreetingtoRalph，andcametowardhim，andeventherewithUrsulaawokeandarose，andsawthegreybeardatonce；andshecriedout：
　　“Takeheedtothysword，fellow-farer，for，praisedbethesaints，thisistheSageofSwevenham！”
　　SotheystoodtheretogethertilltheSagecameuptothemandkissedthemboth，andsaid：“Iamgladthatyearecomeatlast；
　　forIlookedforyounolaterthanthis。Sonowmountyourhorsesandcomewithmestraightway；becauselifeisshorttothemwhohavenotyetdrunkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　MoreoverifyechancetocomeontheridersofUtterbol，itshallgohardwithyouunlessIbeathand。”
　　Ralphsawofhimthatthoughhewasanoldhoarmantolookon，yethewasstrongandsturdy，tall，andofgoodlypresence，withruddycheeks，andredlipsandbrighteyes，andthattheskinofhisfaceandhandswasnowisewrinkled：butabouthisneckwasapairofbeadslikeuntohisowngossip’sgift。
　　Sonowtheymountedatonce，andwithnomorewordsheledthemaboutthebent，andtheycameinalittlewhileintothewoodagain，butthistimeitwasofbeech，withhereandthereanopenplacesprinkledaboutwithholliesandthorns；andtheyrodedownthewideslopeofalonghill，andupagainontheotherside。
　　Thustheywentforanhour，andtheelderspakenotagain，thoughitmighthavebeendeemedbyhiseyesthathewaseagerandfain。
　　Theyalsoheldtheirpeace；forthehopeandfearoftheirheartskeptthemfromwords。
　　Theycametothehill-top，andfoundaplainland，thoughtheclosewoodstillheldonawhile；butsoontheyrodeintoaclearingofsometwelveacres，wherewerefencedcroftswithgoatstherein，andthreegarthsoftillage，whereinthewheat-shockswereyetstanding，andtherewerecolewortsandotherpot-herbsalso。
　　Butatthefurtherend，whereasthewoodclosedinagain，wasalittlehousebuildedoftimber，strongandgoodly，andthatchedwithwheat-straw；andbesideitwasabubblingspringwhichraninabrookathwartthesaidclearing；
　　overthehouse-doorwasacarvenrood，andabowandshortspearwereleanedagainstthewalloftheporch。
　　Ralphlookedatallclosely，andwonderedwhetherthiswereperchancethecotwhereintheLadyofAbundancehaddweltwiththeevilwitch。
　　Buttheelderlookedonhim，andsaid：“Iknowthythought，anditisnotso；thathouseisfarawayhence；yetshaltthoucomethereto。
　　Now，children，welcometothehouseofhimwhohathfoundwhatyeseek，buthathputasidethegiftswhichyeshallgain；andwhobelikeshallrememberwhatyeshallforget。”
　　Therewithhebroughtthemintothehouse，andintoachamber，theplenishingwhereofwasbothscantyandrude。
　　Therehebadethemsit，andbroughtthemvictual，towit，cheeseandgoats’milkandbread，andtheyfelltospeechconcerningthewoodlandways，andtheseasons，andotherunweightymatters。
　　Butasfortheoldmanhespokebutfewwords，andasoneunusedtospeech，albeithewascourteousanddebonair。
　　Butwhentheyhadeatenanddrunkhespaketothemandsaid：
　　“YehavesoughttomebecauseyewouldfindtheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andwouldhaveloreofmeconcerningtheroadthereto；butbeforeItellyouwhatyewould，letmeknowwhatyeknowthereofalready。”
　　QuothRalph：“Forme，littleenoughIknow，savethatImustcometotheRockoftheFightingMan，andthatthouknowestthewaythither。”
　　“Andthou，damsel。”quoththelong-hoary，“whatknowestthou？
　　MustItelltheeofthewaythroughthemountainsandtheWalloftheWorld，andtheWinterValley，andtheFolkInnocent，andtheCotontheWay，andtheForestofStrangeThingsandtheDryTree？”
　　“Nay。”shesaid，“ofallthisIwotsomewhat，butitmaybenotenough。”
　　SaidtheSage：“Evensoitwaswithme，whenamanyyearsagoIdweltnightoSwevenham，andfolksoughttomeforlore，andItoldthemwhatIknew；butmaybeitwasnotenough，fortheynevercameback；butdiedbelikeorevertheyhadseentheWell。
　　AndthenImyself，whenIwasgottenveryold，faredthithera-seekingit，andIfoundit；forIwasoneofthosewhoborethechapletoftheseekers。AndnowIknowall，andcanteachall。
　　Buttellme，damsel，whencehadstthouthislore？”
　　SaidUrsula：“Ihaditofaveryfairwomanwho，asitseemeth，wasLadyandQueenoftheChampionsofHamptonundertheScaur，notfarfrommineownland。”
　　“Yea。”quoththeSage，“andwhathathbefallenher？……Nay，nay。”
　　saidhe，“Ineednotask；forIcanseebyyourfacesthatsheisdead。
　　Thereforehathshebeenslain，orotherwiseshehadnotbeendead。
　　SoIaskyouifyewereherfriends？”
　　QuothUrsula；“Surelyshewasmyfriend，sinceshebefriendedme；
　　andthismanIdeemwasaltogetherherfriend。”
　　Ralphhunghishead，andtheSagegazedonhim，butsaidnaught。
　　Thenhetookahandofeachoftheminhishands，andheldthemawhilesilently，andRalphwasstilldowncastandsad，butUrsulalookedonhimfondly。
　　ThenspaketheSage：“Soitis，Knight，thatnowIseemtounderstandwhatmannerofmanthouart，andIknowwhatisbetweenyoutwo；
　　whereofIwillsaynaught，butwillletthetreegrowaccordingtoitsseed。
　　Moreover，IwotnowthatmyfriendofpastyearswouldhavememakeyoubothwiseintheloreoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd；andwhenIhavedonethis，Icandonomore，butletyourgoodhapprevailifsoitmay。
　　Abidealittle，therefore。”
　　Thenhewentuntoanark，andtookthenceabookwrappedinapieceofpreciouswebofsilkandgold，andboundincuir-bouillywroughtinstrangedevices。Thensaidhe：
　　“ThisbookwasmineheritageatSwevenhamoreverI
　　becamewise，anditcamefrommyfather’sgrandsire：
　　andmyfatherbademelookonitasthedearestofpossessions；
　　butIheededitnaughttillmyyouthhadwaned，andmymanhoodwasfullofwearinessandgrief。ThenIturnedtoit，andreadinit，andbecamewise，andthefolksoughttome，andafterwardsthatbefellwhichwasforedoomed。
　　Nowhereinamongstothermattersiswrittenofthatwhichyedesiretoknow，andIwillreadthesametoyouandexpoundit。
　　Yetwereitnotwelltoreadinthisbookunderaroof，nay，thoughitbeashumbleandinnocentasthis。
　　Moreover，itisnotmeetthatyeshouldhearkentothiswisdomofoldtimescladasyeare；thou，knight，intheraimentofthemanslayer，withtherodofwrathhangingatthyside；
　　andthou，maiden，attiredinthegarmentsofthetyrant，whichwerewonofhimbylyingandguile。”
　　Thenhewenttoanotherark，andtookfromittwobundles，whichhegave，theonetoRalph，theothertoUrsula，andsaid：
　　“Thou，maiden，gothouintotheinnerchamberhereanddoffthyworldlyraiment，anddonthatwhichthouwiltfindwrappedinthiscloth；andthou，knight，takethisotherandgettheeintothethicketwhichisbehindthehouse，andtheredothelike，andabidetheretillwecometothee。”
　　SoRalphtookthebundle，andcameoutintothethicketandunarmedhim，anddidontheraimentwhichhefoundinthecloth，whichwasbutalonggownofwhitelinen，muchliketoanalb，broideredaboutthewristsandthehemsandcollarwithapparelsofgoldandsilk，girtwitharedsilkgirdle。
　　Thereheabodealittle，wonderingatallthesethingsandallthathadbefallenhimsincehehadleftUpmeads。
　　Anonthetwootherscametohim，andUrsulawascladinthesame-likeraimentandtheelderhadthebookinhishand。
　　HesmiledonRalphandnoddedfriendlytohim。AstoUrsula，sheflushedasredasarosewhensheseteyesonhim，forshesaidtoherselfthathewasasoneoftheangelswhichshehadseenpaintedinthechoirofSt。Mary’satHigham。