RalphComethtotheCheaping-TownHesleptinanupperchamberinaturretoftheHouse，whichchamberwashisown，andnonemightmeddlewithit。
Therethenextdayheawokeinthedawning，andaroseandcladhimself，andtookhiswargearandhisswordandspear，andboreallawaywithoutdoorstothesideoftheFordinthatingleoftheriver，andlaiditforawhileinalittlewillowcopse，sothatnochance-comermightseeit；thenhewentbacktothestableoftheHouseandtookhisdestrierfromthestallitwasadapple-greyhorsecalledFalcon，andwasrightgood，
andbroughthimdowntothesaidwillowcopse，andtiedhimtoatreetillhehadarmedhimselfamongstthewillows，whencehecameforthpresentlyasbrisk-lookingandlikelyaman-at-armsasyoumightseeonasummerday。Thenheclombupintothesaddle，andwenthiswayssplashingacrosstheford，beforethesunhadarisen，whilethethrostle-cockswereyetamidsttheirfirstsong。
Thenherodeonalittletrotsouthaway；andbythenthesunwasuphewaswithouttheboundsofUpmeads；albeitinthelandthereaboutdweltnonewhowerenotfriendstoKingPeterandhissons：
andthatwaswell，fornowwerefolkstirringandwereabroadinthefields；
asabandofcarlesgoingwiththeirscythestothehay-field；oramaidenwithhermilking-pailsgoingtoherkine，barefootthroughtheseedinggrass；
oracompanyofnoisylittleladsontheirwaytothenearestpoolofthestreamthattheymightbatheinthewarmmorningafterthewarmnight。
AlltheseandmoreknewhimandhisarmourandFalconhishorse，andgavehimtheseleoftheday，andhewasnowisetroubledatmeetingthem；
forbesidesthattheythoughtitnowondertomeetoneofthelordsofUpmeadsgoingarmedabouthiserrands，theirownerrandswerecloseathome，anditwaslittlelikelythattheyshouldgothatdaysofarastoUpmeadsWater，seeingthatitranthroughthemeadowsahalf-scoremilestothenorth-ward。
SoRalphrodeon，andcameintothehighroad，thatledonewaybackagainintoUpmeads，andcrossedtheWaterbyafairbridgelatebuildedbetweenKingPeterandahouseofCanonsonthenorthside，andtheotherwayintoagoodcheaping-townhightWulstead，beyondwhichRalphknewlittleoftheworldwhichlaytothesouth，andseemedtohimawondrousplace，fulloffairthingsandmarvellousadventures。
Soherodetillhecameintothetownwhenthefairmorningwasstillyoung，thefirstmassover，andmaidsgatheredaboutthefountainamidstthemarket-place，andtwoorthreedamessittingunderthebuttercross。
Ralphrodestraightuptothehouseofamanwhomheknew，andhadoftengivenhimguestingthere，andhehimselfwasnotseldomseenintheHighHouseofUpmeads。Thismanwasamerchant，whowentandcamebetwixtmen’shouses，andboughtandsoldmanythingsneedfulandpleasanttofolk，andKingPeterdealtwithhimmuchandoften。
Nowhestoodinthedoorofhishouse，whichwasnewandgoodly，sniffingthesweetscentswhichthemorningwindboreintothetown；
hewascladinagoodlylonggownofgreyweltedwithsilver，ofthinclothmeetforthesummer-tide：forlittlehewroughtwithhishands，butmuchwithhistongue；hewasamanoffortysummers，ruddy-facedandblack-bearded，andhewascalledClementChapman。
WhenhesawRalphhesmiledkindlyonhim，andcameandheldhisstirrupashelighteddown，andsaid：“Welcome，lord！
Artthoucometogivemeamessage，andeatanddrinkinapoorhuckster’shouse，andthouarmedsogallantly？”
Ralphlaughedmerrily，forhewashungry，andhesaid：
“Yea，Iwilleatanddrinkwiththeeandkissmygossip，andgomyways。”
Therewiththecarleledhimintothehouse；andifitweregoodlywithout，withinitwasbetter。Fortherewasafairchamberpanelledwithwainscotwellcarven，andacupboardofnosorryvesselsofsilverandlatten：
thechairsandstoolsasfairasmightbe；noking’smightbebetter：
thewindowswereglazed，andtherewereflowersandknotsandposiesinthem；
andthebedwashungwithgoodlywebfromoverseasuchasthesoldanuseth。
Also，whereasthechapman’sware-bowerswerehardbythechamber，therewasapleasantmingledsmelltherefromfloatingabout。Thetablewassetwithmeatanddrinkandvesselofpewterandearth，allfairandgood；
andtherebystoodthechapman’swife，averygoodlywomanoftwo-scoreyears，whohadheldRalphatthefontwhenshewasaslimdamselnewwedded；
forshewascomeofnomeankindredoftheKingdomofUpmeads：
hernamewasDameKatherine。
NowshekissedRalph’scheekfriendly，andsaid：
“Welcome，gossip！thouarthereingoodtimetobreakthyfast；
andwewillgivetheeatrimdinnerthereafter，whenthouhastbeenhereandthereinthetownanddonethineerrand；
andthenshaltthoudrinkacupandsingmeasong，andsohomeagaininthecooloftheevening。”
Ralphseemedalittletroubledatherword，andhesaid：
“Nay，gossip，thoughIthanktheeforallthesegoodthingsasthoughIhadthem，yetmustIrideawaysouthstraightwayafterIhavebreakfasted，andsaidonewordtothegoodman。
Goodman，howcallyethenexttownsouthward，andhowfarisitthither？”
QuothClement：“Myson，whathastthoutodowithridingsouth？
Asthouwottest，goinghencesouthyemustpresentlyridethehill-country；
andthatisnosafejourneyforalonelyman，evenifhebeadoughtyknightliketothee，lord。”
SaidRalph，reddeningwithal：“Ihaveanerrandthatway。”
“AnerrandofKingPeter’sorthineown？”saidClement。
“OfKingPeter’s，ifyemustwot。”saidRalph。
Clementwerenochapmanhadhenotseenthattheladwaslying；
sohesaid：
“Fairlord，savingyourworship，howwoulditbeastothespeedingofKingPeter’serrand，ifIbroughttheebeforeourmayor，andsworethepeaceagainstthee；sothatImightkeeptheeincourteousprisontillIhadsenttothyfatherofthywhereabouts？”
Theyoungmanturnedredwithanger；buterehecouldspeakDameKatherinesaidsharply：“Holdthypeace，Clement！
Whathastthoutomeddleormakeinthematter？Ifouryounglordhathwilltorideoutandseetheworld，whyshouldwelethim？
Yea，whyshouldhisfatherlethim，ifitcometothat？
Takemywordforitthatmygossipshallgothroughtheworldandcomebacktothosethatlovehim，asgoodlyashewentforth。
Andhold！hereisforatokenthereof。”
Therewithshewenttoanarkthatstoodinthecorner，andgropedinthetillthereofandbroughtoutalittlenecklaceofblueandgreenstoneswithgoldknobsbetwixt，likeapairofbeads；albeitneitherpopenorpriesthadblessedthem；
andtiedtothenecklacewasalittleboxofgoldwithsomethinghiddentherein。ThisgaudshegavetoRalph，andsaidtohim：
“Gossip，wearthisaboutthyneck，andletnomantakeitfromthee，andIthinkitwillbesalvationtotheeinperil，andgoodlucktotheeinthetimeofquesting；sothatitshallbetotheeasifthouhadstdrunkoftheWELLATTHEWORLD’SEND。”
“Whatisthatwater？”saidRalph，“andhowmayIfindit？”
“Iknownotrightly。”shesaid，“butifabodymightcomebyit，Ihearsayitsavethfromwearinessandwoundingandsickness；
anditwinnethlovefromall，andmaybelifeeverlasting。
Hastthounotheardtellofit，myhusband？”
“Yea。”saidthechapman，“manytimes；andhowthatwhosohathdrunkthereofhaththetonguethatnonemaywithstand，whetherinbuyingorselling，orprevailingovertheheartsofmeninanywise。
Butasforitswheraebouts，yeshallnotfinditintheseparts。
MensaythatitisbeyondtheDryTree；andthatisafar，Godwot！
Butnow，lordRalph，IredetheegobackagainthiseveningwithAndrew，mynephew，forcompany：forsooth，hewilldolittlelessgainfulthanridingwiththeetoUpmeadsthanifheabideinWulstead；
forheisidle。But，mylord，takeitnotamissthatIspakeaboutthemayorandthetipstaves；foritwasbutajest，asthoumayestwellwot。”
Ralph’sfaceclearedatthatword，andhestoodsmiling，weighingthechapletinhishand；butDameKatherinesaid：
“Deargossip，doitonspeedily；foritisagiftfrommeuntothee：
andfromagossipevenking’ssonsmaytakeagift。”
QuothRalph：“Butisitlawfultowearit？istherenowizardrywithinit？”
“Hearkentohim！”shesaid，“andhowlikeuntoamanhespeaketh；
iftherewereabrawlinthestreet，hewouldstrikeinandasknowordthereof，notevenwhichwerethebetterside：
whereashereismyfalcon-chickfrightedatalittlegoldboxandapairofSaracenbeads。”
“Well。”quothRalph，“thefirstholymanImeetshallblessthemforme。”
“Thatshallhenot。”saidthedame，“thatshallhenot。
Whowottethwhatshallbetidetotheeormeifhedoso？
Come，dothemon，andthentotable！Forseestthounotthatthegoodmaniswearyingformeat？andeventhineeyeswillshinethebrighterforamouthful，king’ssonandgossip。”
Shetookhimbythehandanddidthebeadsonhisneckandkissedandfondledhimbeforehesatdown，whilethegoodmanlookedon，grinningrathersheepishly，butsaidnoughttothem；
andonlycalledonhisboytoleadthedestriertostable。
Sowhentheyweresetdown，thechapmantookupthewordwhereithadbeendropped，andsaid：“So，LordRalph，thoumustneedstaketoadventures，being，asthoudeemest，fullgrown。Thatisalloneastheducktakethtowaterdespiteofthehenthathathhatchedher。Well，itwasnottobethoughtthatUpmeadswouldholdyoulordsmuchlonger。
Orwhatisgonewithmylordsyourbrethren？”
SaidRalph：“Theyhavedepartedatalladventure，northeast，andwest，eachbearingourfather’sblessingandabagofpennies。
Andtospeakthetruth，goodman，forIperceiveIamnodoctoratlying，myfatherandmotherwouldhavemestayathomewhenmybrethrenweregone，andthatlikethmenot；
thereforeamIcomeouttoseekmyluckintheworld：
forUpmeadsisgoodforastar-gazer，maybe，orasimpler，orapriest，oraworthygoodcarleofthefields，butnotforaking’ssonwiththebloodrunninghotinhisveins。
Orwhatsayestthou，gossip？”
Quoththedame：“Icouldweepforthymother；butfortheenoughtatall。
Itisgoodthatthoushouldestdothywillintheseasonofyouthandthedaysofthypleasure。Yea，andIdeemthatthoushaltcomebackagaingreatandworshipful；andIamcalledsomewhatforeseeing。
OnlylooktoitthatthoukeeptheprettythingthatIhavejustgiventhee。”
“Well。”saidthechapman，“thisisfinetalkaboutpleasureandthedoingofone’swill；neverthelessawholeskinisgoodwares，thoughitbenottobecheapenedinanymarketoftheworld。
Now，lord，gothouwherethouwilt，whetherIsaygoorabide；
andforsoothIamnomanofKingPeter’s，thatIshouldstaythee。
Asforthenameofthenexttown，itiscalledHigham-on-the-Way，andisabigtownplenteousofvictuals，withstrongwallsandacastle，andaveryrichabbeyofmonks：andthereispeacewithinitswalls，becausethefatherabbotwagesamanymentoguardhimandhis，andtoupholdhisrightsagainstallcomers；whereinhedothwisely，andalsowell。Formuchfolkflockethtohistownandlivewelltherein；
andthereisgreatrecourseofchapmenthither。NobettermarketistherebetwixtthisandBabylon。Well，SirRalph，IredetheeifthoucomestunhurttoHigham-on-the-Way，gonofurtherforthistime，buttakeservicewiththelordabbot，andbeoneofhismenofwar；
thoumay’stthenbecomehiscaptainifthoushouldestlive；
whichwouldbenobadadventureforonewhocomethfromUpmeads。”
Ralphlookednobrighterforthisword，andheanswerednoughttoit：
butsaidpresently：
“AndwhatistobelookedforbeyondHighamifonegoethfurther？
Dostthouknowthelandanyfurther？”
Thecarlesmiled：“Yeaforsooth，anddowntotheWoodPerilous，andbeyondit，andthelandsbeyondtheWood；andfarawaythroughthem。
IsaynotthatIhavebeentotheDryTree；butIhavespokentoonewhohathheardofhimwhohathseenit；thoughhemightnotcomebyadraughtoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。”
Ralph’seyesflashed，andhischeeksreddenedashelistenedhereto；
buthespakequietly：