Orhastthouperchanceheardanyeviltalesconcerningher？”
NowRalphwasconfusedathisword，andknewnotwhattosay；forthoughinhismindhehadbeenpiecingtogetherallthathehadheardoftheladybothforgoodandforevil，hehadnocleartaletotelleventohimself：
soheanswerednothing。
Butthepriestwenton：“Son，IshalltelltheethatsuchtalesIhaveheard，butfromwhosemouthforsooth？Iwilltellthee；
fromasortofidlejades，youngwomenwhowouldbethoughtfairerthantheybe，whoareafraidofeverythingsaveanakedman，andwhocanlieeasierthantheycansaytheirpaternoster：
fromsuchasthesecomethestories；orfromoldcroneswholiveinsourangerwiththemselvesandallelse，becausetheyhavelivednogoodlylifeintheiryouth，andhavenotlearnedthelovelinessofholychurch。Now，son，shallthetalesofsuchwomen，oldandyoung，weighinthymindbesidethewordItelltheeofwhatI
haveseenandknowconcerningthismostexcellentofladies？
Itrownot。AndformypartItellthee，thatthoughsheisverilyasfairasVenusGodsaveusyetissheaschasteasAgnes，aswiseasKatherine，andashumbleandmeekasDorothy。
Shebestowethhergoodsplentifullytothechurch，andismercifultopoormentherewith；andsofarasoccasionmayservehersheisconstantattheHolyOffice；neitherdothshesparetoconfesshersins，andtodoallpenancewhichisbiddenher，yeaandmore。
ForthoughIcannotsaytomyknowledgethatshewearethahair；
yetonceandagainhaveIseenherwendingthiswoodlandtowardthechapelofherfriendSt。Anthonybynightandcloud，sothatfewmightseeher，obedienttotheScripturewhichsayeth，’Letnotthyrighthandknowwhatthylefthanddoeth，’andshebarefootinhersmockamidsttheruggedwood，andsoarrayedfairerthananyqueeninagoldengown。Yea，asfairasthewoodwivesoftheancientheathen。”
Therewiththeprieststayedhiswords，andseemedasifhewerefallenintoadream；andhesighedheavily。
ButRalphwalkedonbyhisbridle-reindreamynoless；
forthewordsthathehadheardheheedednot，saveastheymadepicturesforhimofthewaysofthatwomanoftheforest。
Sotheywentonsoberlytillthepriestlifteduphisheadandlookedaboutlikeonecomeoutofslumber，andsaidinafirmvoice：
“Itellthee，myson，thatthoumayestsetthyloveuponherwithoutsin。”Andtherewithsuddenlyhefella-weeping；
andRalphwasillateaseofhisweeping，andwentalongbyhimsayingnought；tillthepriestpluckedupheartagain，andsaid，turningtoRalph，butnotmeetinghiseye：
“Myson，Iweepbecausemenandwomenaresoevil，andmis-sayeachothersosorely，evenastheydobythisholywoman。”
Ashespakehistearsbrakeoutagain，andRalphstrodeonfast，soastooutgohim，thinkingitunmannerlytoseemasifhenotednothissorrow；yetwithalunabletosayaughttohimthereof。
Moreoveritirkedhimtohearagrownmanweepingforgrief，eventhoughitwerebutapriest。
Withinawhilethepriestcaughtupwithhim，histearsallstaunched，andfelltotalkwithhimcheerfullyconcerningthewood，andtheLittleLandandthedwellersthereinandtheconditionsofthem，andhepraisedthemmuch，savethewomen。
Ralphansweredhimwithgoodcheerinlikewise；andthustheycametothecotoftheoldwoman，andbothsheandthemaidenwerewithoutthehouse，theoldcarlinehitheringandthitheringonsomeerrand，themaidenleaningagainstatreeasifponderingsomematter。
Astheypassedby，thepriestblessedtheminwords，buthiseyesscowledonthem，whereatthecarlinegrinned，butthedamselheededhimnot，butlookedwistfullyonRalph。
Thepriestmutteredsomewhatashepassed，whichRalphcaughtnotthemeaningof，andfellmoodyagain；
andwhenhewasalittlepastthefordhedrewreinandsaid：
“Now，son，Imusttomycellhardbythechurchyonder：
butyetIwillsayonewordtotheeerewesunder；towit，thattomymindtheHolyLadywilllovenoonebutthesaintsofheaven，saveitbesomemanwithwhomallwomenareinlove。”
Therewithheturnedawaysuddenly，androdesmartlytowardshischurch；andRalphdeemedthathewasweepingoncemore。
AsforRalph，hewentquietlyhometowardthecastle，forthesunwassettingnow，andashewentheponderedallthesethingsinhisheart。
RalphWearethAwayThreeDaysUneasilyHereadagaininthebookthatnight，tillhehadgottenthewholetaleintohishead，andhespeciallynotedthisofit，thatittoldnotwhencethatLadycame，norwhatshewas，noraughtelsesavethatthereshewasinthewoodbyherself，andwasfoundthereinbytheking’sson：
neithertoldthetaleinwhatyearoftheworldshewasfoundthere，thoughittoldconcerningallthewarandmiserieswhichshehadbred，andwhichlongendured。Again，hecouldnotgatherfromthatbookwhyshehadgonebacktotheloneplaceinthewoods，whereasshemighthaveweddedoneofthosewarringbaronswhosorelydesiredher：
norwhyshehadyieldedherselftothewitchofthatplaceandenduredwithpatienceherthralldom，withstripesandtormentsofherbody，liketheworstofthethrallsoftheancientheathenmen。
Lastly，hemightnotlearnfromthebookwhereintheworldwasthatloneplace，oraughtoftheroadtotheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
Butamidstallhisthinkinghisheartcamebacktothis：
“WhenImeether，shewilltellmeofitall；Ineedbenowiserthantolearnhowtomeetherandtomakeherloveme；thenshallsheshowmethewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andIshalldrinkthereofandnevergrowold，evenassheendurethinyouth，andsheshalllovemeforever，andIherforever。”
Sohethought；butyetamidstthesehappythoughtscameinthisevilone，thatwhereasallthemen-folkspokewellofherandworshippedher，thewomen-folkfearedherorhatedher；eventothelecherousoldwomanwhohadpraisedthebeautyofherbodyforhistorment。
Sohethoughttillhisheadgrewheavy，andhewentandlaydowninhisbedandslept，anddreamedofthedaysofUpmead；
andthingsforgotteninhiswakingtimecamebetweenhimandanymemoriesofhispresentlongingandthedaysthereof。
Heawokeandarosebetimesinthemorning，andwhenhehadbreakfastedhebadethecarlinebringhimhisweapons。“Wiltthouagaintothewood？”saidshe。
“Didstthounotbidmefarethitheryesterday？”saidhe。“Yea。”shesaid；
“butto-dayIfearlestthoudepartandcomenotback。”Helaughedandsaid：
“Seestthounot，mother，thatIgoafoot，andIinhauberkandhelm？
Icannotrunfarorfastfromthee。Also“andherehebrokeoffhisspeechalittle“whereshouldIbebuthere？”
“Ah。”shesaid，“butwhoknowswhatmayhappen？”Neverthelessshewentandfetchedhiswar-gearandlookedathimfondlyashediditon，andwenthiswaysfromthehall。
Nowheenteredthewoodmoretothesouththanhehaddoneyesterday，andwentsoftlyasbefore，andstillwasheturningoverinhismindthethoughtsoflastnight，andevertheycameback。“MightIbutseeher！
Wouldshebutloveme！OforadraughtoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，thatthelovemightlastlongandlong！”
Sohewentonawhilebetwixtthetreesandthethickets，tillitwasalittlepastnoon。Butallonasuddenapanicfeartookhim，lestsheshouldindeedcometothecastlewhilehewasaway，andnotfindinghim，departagain，whoknowswhither；andwhenthisthoughtcameuponhim，hecriedaloud，andhastenedathisswiftestbackagaintothecastle，andcametherebreathlessandwearied，andrantotheoldwoman，andcriedouttoher；“Isshecome？isshecome？”
Thecarlinelaughedandsaid，“Nay，sheisnot，butthouartcome：
praisebetothesaints！Butwhataileththee？Nay，fearnot，sheshallcomeatlast。”
ThengrewRalphshamefacedandturnedawayfromher，andmiscalledhimselfforafoolandadastardthatcouldnotabidethepleasureofhisladyattheveryplacewheretoshehadletleadhim。
Soheworethroughtheremnantofthedayhowsohemight，withoutgoingout-adoorsagain；andthecarlinecameandspakewithhim；butwhateverheaskedheraboutthelady，shewouldnottellaughtofanyimport，soherefrainedhimfromthattalk，andmadeashowofhearkeningwhenshespakeofothermatters；
astalesconcerningthefolkoftheland，andtheFathersoftheThorn，andsoforth。
Onthenextmorninghearoseandsaidtohimself，thatwhateverbetid，hewouldbideinthecastleandthePlainofAbundancetilltheladycame；
andhewentamongstthehaymakingfolkinthemorningandatehisdinnerwiththem，andstrovetobeofgoodcheer，andbelikethecarlesandqueensthoughthimmerrycompany；buthewasnowwearyinghisheartwithlonging，andmightnotabideanygreatwhileinoneplace；sowhen，dinnerover，theyturnedtotheirworkagain，hewentbacktotheCastle，andreadinthatbook，andlookedatthepicturesthereof，andkeptturninghiswonderandhopeandfearoverandoveragaininhismind，andmakingtohimselfstoriesofhowheshouldmeettheLadyandwhatshewouldsaytohim，andhowheshouldanswerher，tillatlastthenightcame，andhewenttohisbed，andsleptfortheverywearinessofhislonging。
Whenthenewdaycamehearoseandwentintothehall，andfoundthecarlinethere，whosaidtohim，“Fairsir，willthoutothewoodagainto-day？”“Nay。”saidRalph，“Imustnot，Idarenot。”
“Well。”shesaid，“thoumayestifthouwilt；whyshouldstthounotgo？”
SaidRalph，reddeningandstammering：“BecauseIfearto；
thricehaveIbeenawaylongfromthecastleandallhasgonewell；
butthefourthtimeshewillcomeandfindmegone。”
Thecarlinelaughed：“Well。”shesaid，“Ishallbehereifthougoest；
forIpromisetheenottostiroutofthehousewhilesthouartaway。”
SaidRalph：“Nay，Iwillabidehere。”“Yea。”shesaid，“Isee：
thoutrustestmenot。Well，nomatter；andto-dayitwillbehandyifthouabidest。ForIhaveanerrandtomybrotherintheflesh，whoisoneofthebrethrenoftheThornoveryonder。Ifthouwiltgivemeleave，itwillbetomypleasureandgain。”
Ralphwasgladwhenheheardthis，deemingthatifshelefthimalonethere，hewouldbethelesstemptedtostrayintothewoodagain。
Besides，hedeemedthattheLadymightcomethatdaywhenhewasaloneintheCastle，andthathimseemedwouldmakethemeetingsweeteryet。
Soheyea-saidthecarline’saskingjoyously，andinanhour’stimeshewentherwaysandlefthimalonethere。
Ralphsaidtohimself，whenhesawherdepart，thathewouldhavethemorejoyinthecastleofhisLadyifhewerealone，andwouldwearawaythedayinbetterpatiencetherefor。
Butinsooththehoursofthatdaywereworsetowearthananydaytherehadyetbeen。Hewentnotwithoutthehouseatallthatday，forhedeemedthatthefolkabroadwouldnoteofhimthathewassochangedandrestless。
Whileshereadinthatbook，orturnedtheleavesover，notreadingit；whileshewentintotheChamberofEstate，andporedoverthewovenpicturestherewhereintheLadywasfigured。
Whileshewanderedfromchambertochamber，notknowingwhattodo。
Atlast，alittleafterdark，backcomesthecarlineagain，andhemetheratthedoorofthehall，forhewaswearyofhisowncompany，andtheceaselessturningoverandoverofthesamethoughts。
Asforher，shewassojoyousofhimthatshefairlythrewherarmsabouthimandkissedandclippedhim，asthoughshehadbeenhisverymother。
Whereofhehadsomeshame，butnotmuch，forhedeemedthathergoodwilltohimwasabundant，whichindeeditwas。
Nowshelooksonhimandsays：“Trulyitdoesmyheartgoodtoseethee：
butthoupoorboy，thouartwearingthyselfwiththylonging，andthydoubting，andifthouwiltdoaftermyrede，thouwiltcertainlygointothewoodto-morrowandseewhatmaybefall；
andindeedandinsooththouwiltleavebehindtheeatrustyfriend。”
Helookedonherkindly，andsmiled，andsaid，“Insooth，mother，Ideemthouartbutright；thoughitbehardformetoleavethishouse，towhichinawaymyLadyhathbiddenme。
YetIwilldothybiddingherein。”Shethankedhim，andhewenttohisbedandslept；fornowthathehadmadeuphismindtogo，hewassomewhatmoreatrest。