“Beloved。”hesaid，“thoudostnotwhollyknowthyself；
　　andIdeemthatthemirrorsofsteelservetheebutill；
　　andnowmustthouhavesomewhatelseforamirror，towit，theuprisingandincreaseoftroubleconcerningtheeandthyfairness，andthestrifeofthemthatlovetheeovermuch，whoshallstrivetotaketheefromme；andthenthebladethathathseentheWellattheWorld’sEndshallcomeoutofhissheathandtakemeandtheefromthehubbub，andintothequietfieldsofmyfather’shome，andthenshaltthoubelearnedofthyself，whenthouseestthatthouartthedesireofallhearts。”
　　“Ah，thewisdomofthee。”shesaid，“andthyvaliancy，andIambecomefeebleandfoolishbeforethee！
　　WhatshallIdothen？”
　　Hesaid：“Manyatimeshallitbeshownwhatthoushaltdo；buthereandnowisthehighwaydryandlong，andtheplainmeadsandacresoneitherhand，andaglimmerofWhitwallafaroff，andthelittlecloudofdustaboutustwointhelatespringweather；andtheSageandMichaelridingbehindus，andsmitingdustfromthehardroad。
　　Andnowifthisalsobeadream，letitspeedilybegone，andletuswakeupintheancientHouseatUpmeads，whichthouhastneverseen——
　　andthouandIineachother’sarms。”
　　CHAPTER13
　　TheyCometoWhitwallAgainHerewiththeywerecometoalittlethorpwherethewaysundered，forthehighwaywentontoWhitwall，andabywayturnedofftoSwevenham。Therebywasapoorhostel，wheretheystayedandrestedforthenight，becauseeveningwasathand。
　　Sowhenthosefourhadeatenanddrunktheretogether，Ralphspokeandsaid：“Michael-a-dale，thouartforSwevenhamto-morrow？”
　　“Yea，lord。”saidMichael，“belikeIshallyetfindkindredthere；
　　andIcalltothymindthatIcravedoftheetoleadmetoSwevenhamaspaymentforallifIhaddoneaughtforthyservice。”
　　“Soothisthat。”saidRalph，“thoushaltgowithmygood-will；
　　and，asIdeem，thoushaltnotlackcompanybetwixthereandSwevenham，whereasourdearfriendhere，thefriendofthyfather’sfather，isgoingthesameroad。”
　　ThentheSageofSwevenhamleanedacrosstheboard，andsaid：
　　“Whatwordhathcomeoutofthymouth，myson？”SaidRalph，smilingonhim：“Itisthelastwordwhichwehaveheardfromtheeofthismatter，thoughverilyitwasspokenawhileago。
　　Whatwiltthouaddtoitasnow？”“This。”quoththeSage，“thatIwillleavetheenomoretillthoubiddestmegofromthee。
　　Wasthiswordneedful？”
　　Ralphreachedhishandtohimandsaid：“Itiswellandmore；
　　buttheroadhencetoUpmeadsmayyetbearoughone。”
　　“Yea。”saidtheSage，“yetshallwecomethitherallliving，unlessmysightnowfaileth。”
　　ThenUrsularoseupandcametotheoldman，andcastherarmsabouthimandsaid：“Yea，father，comewithus，andletthywisdomblessourroof-tree。
　　Wiltthounotteachourchildrenwisdom；yea，maybeourchildren’schildren，sincethouartafriendoftheWell？”
　　“Iknownotoftheteachingofwisdom。”saidtheSage；
　　“butastomygoingwiththee，itshallbeasIsaide’en-now；
　　andforsoothIlookedforthisbiddingoftheetomakenaughtofthewordwhichIspokeereyetIhadlearnedwisdomofthee。”
　　Therewithweretheymerry，andfainofeachother，andtheeveningworeamidstgreatcontent。
　　Butwhenmorningwascometheygattohorse，andRalphspaketoMichaelandsaid：“Well，friend，nowmustthouridealonetothykindred，andmayfairdaysbefalltheeinSwevenham。
　　Butifthoudeematanytimethatmattersgonotsowellwiththeeasthouwouldst，thenturnthineheadtoUpmeads，andtryitthere，andweshallfurthertheeallwemay。”
　　ThencametheSagetoMichaelashesatuponhishorse，astalwarthmanofsomefortywinters，andsaid：“Michael-a-dale，reachmethinehand。”
　　Sodidhe，andtheSagelookedintothepalmthereof，andsaid：
　　“Thismanshallmakeoldbones，anditismorelikethannot，King’sson，thatheshallseektotheeatUpmeadserehedie。”
　　SaidRalph：“Hiscomingshallbeajoytous，howpleasantsoeverourlifemaybeotherwise。Farewell，Michael！allgoodgowiththeeforthinewholesomeredes。”
　　SothenMichaelgavethemfarewell，androdehiswaystoSwevenham，goinghastily，asonewhoshouldhurryawayfromagrief。
　　ButthethreeheldontheirwaytoWhitwall，anditwasbarelynoonwhentheycametothegatethereofonaSaturdayoflatterMay，Itwasamarket-day，andthestreetswerethronged，andtheylookedonthefolkandwerefainofthem，sincetheyseemedtothemtobesomethingmorethanaliens。
　　Thefolkalsolookedonthemcuriously，anddeemedthemgoodly，boththeoldmanandthetwoknights，fortheythoughtnootherwiseofUrsulathanthatshewasacarle。
　　Butnowastheyrode，slowlybecauseofthecrowd，upPetergate，theyheardacryofonebesidethem，asofamanastonishedbutjoyful；
　　soRalphdrewrein，andturnedthitherwhencethecrycame，andUrsulasawamanwide-shouldered，grey-haired，blue-eyed，andruddyofcountenance——amanwarrior-liketolookon，andgirtwithalongsword。Ralphlighteddownfromhishorse，andmettheman，whowascomingtowardhim，casthisarmsabouthisneck，andkissedhim，andlo，itwasRichardtheRed。
　　Thepeopleroundabout，whentheysawit，clappedtheirhands，andcrowdedaboutthetwocryingout：“Hailtothefriendslongparted，andnowunited！”ButRichard，whommostknew，criedout：“Makeway，mymasters！willyesunderusagain？”
　　ThenhesaidtoRalph：“Getintothysaddle，lad；forsurelythouhastataletotelloverlongfortheopenstreet。”
　　Ralphdidashewasbidden，andwithoutmoreadotheywentonalltowardthathostelrywhereRalphhaderstbornetheburdenofgrief。
　　RichardwalkedbyRalph’sside，andashewenthesaid：
　　“Moreover，lad，Icanseethatthytaleisnoillone；thereforemyheartisnotwrungfortheeorme，thoughIwaitforitawhile。”
　　Thenagainhesaid：“Thoudoestwelltohideherlovelinessinwar-weedeveninthistownofpeace。”
　　Ursulareddened，andRichardlaughedandsaid：
　　“Well，itisafairrosewhichthouhastbroughtfromeast-away。
　　Therewillbeneveranothercoupleinthesepartslikeyou。
　　NowIseethewordsonthylips；soItelltheethatBlaisethybrotherisaliveandwellandhappy；whichlastwordmeansthathiscofferisbothdeepandfull。Forsooth，hewouldmakeapoorbargaininbuyinganykingshipthatIwotof，sorichheis，yea，andmightywithal。”
　　SaidRalph：“AndhowwentthewarwithWaltertheBlack？”
　　Evenashespakehisfacechanged，forhebethoughthimovercloselyofthepastdays，andhisdreamoftheLadyofAbundanceandofDorothea，whorodebyhimnowasUrsula。ButRichardspake：“Shortisthetaletotell。
　　Islewhiminshockofbattle，andhismencravedpeaceofthegoodtown。
　　Manyweregladofhisdeath，andfewsorrowedforit；for，fairashisyoungbodywas，hewasacrueltyrant。”
　　TherewithweretheycometothehosteloftheLambwhichwastheverysamehousewhereinRalphhadabidedaforetime；andasheenteredit，itisnottobesaidbutthatinwardlyhisheartbledfortheoldsorrow。
　　Ursulalookedonhimlovinglyandblithely；andwhentheywerewithindoorsRichardturnedtotheSageandsaid：“Hailtothee，reverendman！
　　wertthoufortyyearsoldertobehold，outwornandforgottenofdeath，IshouldhavesaidthatthouwertliketotheSagethatdweltaloneamidstthemountainsnightoSwevenhamwhenIwasalittlelad，andfearsomewasthesightoftheeuntome。”
　　TheSagelaughedandsaid：“Yea，somewhatlikeamIyettomyselfoffortyyearsago。Goodisthymemory，greybeard。”
　　ThenRichardshookhishead，andspakeunderhisbreath：
　　“Yea，thenitwasnodreamorcolouredcloud，andhehathdrankofthewaters，andsothenhathmydearlord。”
　　Thenhelookedupbright-faced，andcalledontheserving-men，andbadeoneleadthemintoafairchamber，andanothergoforthandprovideabanquettobebroughtinthither。
　　Sotheywentupintoagoodlychamberhighaloft；andUrsulawentforthfromitawhile，andcamebackpresentlycladinveryfairwoman’sraiment，whichRalphhadboughtforheratGoldburg。
　　Richardlookedonherandnothingelseforawhile；
　　thenhewalkedaboutthechamberuneasily，nowspeakingwiththeSage，nowwithUrsula，butneverwithRalph。
　　AtlasthespaketoUrsula，andsaid：“Grantmeagrace，lady，andbenotwrothifItakethymanintothewindowyonderthatI
　　maytalkwithhimprivilywhileyeholdconversetogether，thouandtheSageofSwevenham。”
　　Shelaughedmerrilyandsaid：“Sirnurse，takethybantlingandcossethiminwhatsocornerthouwilt，andIwillturnawaymineeyesfromthycaresses。”
　　SoRichardtookRalphintoawindow，andsatdownbesidehimandsaid：
　　“MayhappenIshallsaddentheebymyquestion，butImindmewhatourlasttalkingtogetherwasabout，andthereforeImustneedsasktheethis，wasthatotheronefairerthanthisoneis？”
　　Ralphknithisbrows：“Iwotnot。”quothhe，“sincesheisgone，thatotherone。”
　　“Yea。”saidRichard，“butthisIsay，thatsheiswithoutablemish。
　　DidyedrinkoftheWelltogether？”
　　“Yea，surely。”saidRalph。SaidRichard：“Andisthiswomanofagoodheart？Isshevaliant？”“Yea，yea。”
　　saidRalph，flushingred。
　　“Asvaliantaswasthatother？”saidRichard。SaidRalph：
　　“HowmayItell，unlesstheyweretriedinoneway？”
　　YetRichardspake：“Areyewedded？”“Evenso。”saidRalph。
　　“Dostthoudeemhertrue？”saidRichard。“Truerthanmyself。”
　　saidRalph，inavoicewhichwassomewhatangry。
　　QuothRichard：“Thenisitbetterthanwell，andbetterthanwell；
　　fornowhastthouweddedintotheWorldoflivingmen，andnottoadreamoftheLandofFairy。”
　　Ralphsatsilentalittle，andasifhewereswallowingsomewhat；
　　atlasthesaid：“Oldfriend，Iwerewellcontentifthouwerttospeaksuchwordsnomore；foritirksme，andwoundethmyheart。”
　　SaidRichard：“Well，Iwillsaynomorethereof；becontenttherefore，fornowIhavesaidit，andthouneedestnotfearme，whatIhavetosaythereonanymore，andthoumaystwellwotthatImustneedshavesaidsomewhatofthis。”
　　Ralphnoddedtohimfriendly，andeventherewithcameinthebanquet，whichwasrichlyserved，asforaKing’sson，andwinewaspouredforthofthebest，andtheyfeastedandweremerry。AndthenRalphtoldallthetaleofhiswanderingshowithadbetid，bringinginallthatUrsulahadtoldhimofUtterbol；whileasforhersheputinnowordofit。
　　SothatatlastRalph，beingwishfultohearhertellsomewhat，mademoreofsomethingsthanwasreallyinthem，sothatshemightsethimright；
　　butnowordmoreshesaidforallthat，butonlysmiledonhimnowandagain，andsatblushinglikearoseoverhergolden-floweredgown，whileRichardlookedonherandpraisedherinhisheartexceedingly。
　　ButwhenRalphhaddonethestorywhichwaslong，sothatbythenitwasoverithadbeendarknightsomewhile，Richardsaid：
　　“Well，fosterling，thouhastseenmuch，anddonemuch，andmanywouldsaythatthouartaluckyman，andthatmoreandmuchmoreliethreadytothinehand。Whithernowwiltthouwend，orwhatwiltthoudo？”
　　Ralph’sfacereddened，asitswonthadbeenwhenitwastwoyearsyounger，atcontentiondrawingnigh，andheanswered：
　　“WherethenshouldIgosavetotheHouseofmyFathers，andthefieldsthatfedthem？WhatshouldIdobutliveamongstmypeople，wardingthemfromevil，andlovingthemandgivingthemgoodcounsel？
　　ForwhereforeshouldIlovethemlessthanheretofore？
　　Havetheybecomedastards，andthefoolsofmankind？”