thenterrorseizedonmyheart，butIsteppedoverthethreshold，andasthedoorofthechamberwasopen，Ilookedasideandsawthereinthewomansittingstarknakedonthefloorwithagreatopenbookbeforeher，anditwasfromhermouththatthesongwascoming：
grimshelooked，andawful，forshewasabigwoman，black-hairedandsternofaspectinherdailywont，speakingtomeasfewwordsasmightbe，andthoseharshenough，yeaharsherthanwhenIwasbutlittle。
Istoodforonemomentafraidbeyondmeasure，thoughthewomandidnotlookatme，andIhopedshehadnotseenme；thenIranbackintothestorm，thoughitwasnowwilderthanever，andranandhidmyselfinthethicketofthewood，half-deadwithfear，andwonderingwhatwouldbecomeofme。
Butfindingthatnoonefollowedafterme，Igrewcalmer，andthestormalsodrewoff，andthesunshoneoutalittlebeforehissetting：
soIsatandspun，withfearinmyheart，tillIhadfinishedmytaleofthread，andwhenduskcame，stolebackagaintothehouse，thoughmylegswouldscarcebearmeoverthethresholdintothechamber。
“Theresatthewomaninherrichattirenootherwisethanherwont，nordidshesayaughttome；butlookedattheyarnthatIhadspun，toseethatIhaddonemytask，andnoddedsternlytomeasherwontwas，andlwenttobedamongstmygoatsasIwasusedtodo，butsleptnottilltowardsmorning，andthenimagesofdreadfulthings，andofmiseriesthatImaynottelltheeof，mingledwithmysleepforlong。
“SoIawokeandatemymeatanddrankofthegoats’milkwithaheavyheart，andthenwentintothehouse；andwhenIcameintothechamberthewomanlookedatme，andcontrarytoherwontspoketome，andI
shookwithterrorathervoice；thoughshesaidnaughtbutthis：
’Gofetchthywhitegoatandcomebacktometherewith。’
Ididso，andfollowedafterher，sickwithfear；andsheledmethroughthewoodintoalawnwhichIknewwell，roundwhichwasawall，asitwere，ofgreatyewtrees，andamidst，atableofstone，madeoffouruprightsandagreatstoneplankonthetopofthem；
andthiswastheonlythinginallthewoodwhereinIwasusedtowanderwhichwasofman’shandiwork，saveandexceptourhouse，andtheshedsandfencesaboutit。
“Thewomanstayedandleanedagainstthisstoneworkandsaidtome：
’Goaboutnowandgatherdrysticksforafire。’Idurstdonaughtelse，andsaidtomyselfthatIshouldbewhippedifI
weretardy，though，forsooth，Ithoughtshewasgoingtokillme；
andIbroughtherabundle，andshesaid，’Fetchmore。’
AndwhenIhadbroughthersevenbundles，shesaid：’Itisenough：
standoveragainstmeandhearken。’SoIstoodtherequaking；
formyfear，whichhadsomewhatabatedwhileIwenttoandfroafterthewood，nowcamebackuponmetenfold。
“Shesaid：’ItwerethyduethatIshouldslaytheehereandnow，asthouslayestthepartridgeswhichthoutakestinthyspringes：
butforcertaincausesIwillnotslaythee。Again，itwerenomorethanthyearningswereItotormenttheetillthoushouldstcryoutfordeathtodelivertheefromtheanguish；
andifthouwertawomangrown，evensowouldIdealwiththee。
Butthouartyetbutachild，thereforeIwillkeeptheetoseewhatshallbefallbetwixtus。YetmustIdosomewhattogrievethee，andmoreoversomethingmustbeslainandoffereduphereonthisaltar，lestallcometonaught，boththouandI，andthatwhichwehavetodo。
Holdthywhitegoatnow，whichthoulovestmorethanaughtelse，thatImayreddentheeandmeandthisaltarwiththebloodthereof。’
“Idurstdonaughtbutobeyher，andIheldthepoorbeast，thatlickedmyhandsandbleatedforloveofme：
andnowsincemyterrorandthefearofdeathwaslessenedatherwords，Iweptsoreformydearfriend。
“Butthewomandrewastrongsharpknifefromhergirdleandcutthebeast’sthroat，anddippedherfingersinthebloodandreddenedbothherselfandmeonthebreast，andthehands，andthefeet；andthensheturnedtothealtarandsmotebloodupontheuprights，andthefaceofthestoneplank。
Thenshebademehelpher，andwelaidthesevenfaggotsonthealter，andlaidthecarcaseofthegoatuponthem：
andshemadefire，butIsawnothow，andsetittothewood，andwhenitbegantoblazeshestoodbeforeitwithherarmsoutspread，andsangloudandhoarsetoastrangetune；
andthoughIknewnotthewordsofhersong，itfilledmewithdread，sothatIcastmyselfdownonthegroundandhidmyfaceinthegrass。
“Soshewentontillthebeastwasallburnedupandthefirebecamenaughtbutredembers，andthensheceasedhersongandsankdownuponthegrass，andlaidherheadbackandsofellasleep；
butIdurstnotmovefromtheplace，butcoweredinthegrassthere，Iknownothowlong，tillshearoseandcametome，andsmotemewithherfootandcried：’Riseup，fool！whatharmhastthou？
Gomilkthygoatsandleadthemtopasture。’Andtherewithshestrodeawayhome，notheedingme。
“Asforme，Iaroseanddealtwithmygoatsasshebademe；
andpresentlyIwasgladthatIhadnotbeenslain，yetthenceforthwasthejoyofmylifethatIhadhadamongstmygoatsmarredwithfear，andthesoundsofthewoodlandcametomemingledwithterror；andIwassoreafraidwhenIenteredthehouseinthemorningandtheevening，andwhenIlookedonthefaceofthewoman；thoughshewasnohardertomethanheretofore，butmaybesomewhatsofter。
“Soworetheautumn，andwintercame，andIfaredasI
waswont，settingspringesforfowlandsmall-deer。Andforalltheroughnessoftheseason，atthattimeitpleasedmebetterthantheleafydays，becauseIhadlessmemorythenofthesharpnessofmyfearonthatdayofthealtar。
NowonedayasIwentunderthesnow-ladentrees，Isawsomethingbrightandbiglyingontheground，anddrawingnearerIsawthatitwassomechildofman：soIstoppedandcriedout，’Awakeandarise，lestdeathcomeontheeinthisbittercold，’
Butitstirrednot；soIpluckedupheartandcameuptoit，andlo！awomancladinfairraimentofscarletandfur，andIkneltdownbyhertoseeifImighthelpher；
butwhenItouchedherIfoundhercoldandstiff，anddead，thoughshehadnotbeendeadlong，fornosnowhadfallenonher。
Itstillwantedmorethananhouroftwilight，andIbynomeansdurstgohometillnightfall；soIsatonthereandwatchedher，andputthehoodfromherfaceandtheglovesfromherhands，andIdeemedheragoodlyandlovelything，andwassorrythatshewasnotalive，andIweptforher，andformyselfalso，thatIhadlostherfellowship。
SowhenIcamebacktothehouseatdarkwiththevenison，Iknewnotwhethertotellmymistressandtyrantconcerningthismatter；butshelookedonmeandsaidatonce：
’Wertthougoingtotellmeofsomethingthatthouhastseen？’
SoItoldherall，evenasitwas，andshesaidtome：
’Hastthoutakenaughtfromthecorpse？’’Nay，’saidI。’ThenmustIhasten，’shesaid，’andbebeforethewolves。’
Therewithshetookabrandfromthefire，andbademebearonealsoandleadher：sodidIeasilyenough，forthemoonwasup，andwhatwithmoonandsnow，itwaswellnighasbrightastheday。
Sowhenwecametothedeadwoman，mymistresskneeleddownbyherandundidthecollarofhercloak，whichIhadnottouched，andtooksomethingfromherneckswiftly，andyetI，whowasholdingthetorch，sawthatitwasanecklaceofbluestonesandgreen，withgoldbetween——Yea，dearChampion，likeuntothineasonepeascodistoanother。”quothshe。
AndtherewiththedistressfulnessofherfacewhichhadwornRalph’sheartwhileshehadbeentellinghertalechanged，andshecame，asitwere，intohernewlifeandtheloveofhimagain，andshekissedhimandlaidhercheektohisandhekissedhermouth。
Andthenshefetchedasigh，andbeganwithherstoryagain。
“Mymistresstookthenecklaceandputitinherpouch，andsaidastoherself：’Here，then，isanotherseekerwhohathnotfound，unlessoneshoulddigapitforherherewhenthethawcomes，andcallittheWellattheWorld’sEnd：
belikeitwillbeforherashelpfulastherealone。’
Thensheturnedtomeandsaid：’Dothouwiththerestwhatthouwilt，’andtherewithshewentbackhastilytothehouse。
Butasforme，Iwentbackalso，andfoundapickandamattockinthegoat-house，andcamebackinthemoonlightandscrapedthesnowaway，anddugapit，andburiedthepoordamseltherewithallhergear。
“WorethewinterthencewithnaughtthatIneedtellof，onlyIthoughtmuchofthewordsthatmymistresshadspoken。
Springcameandwent，andsummeralso，wellnightidingless。
ButonedayasIdravethegoatsfromourhousetherecamefromthewoodfourmen，a-horsebackandweaponed，butsocoveredwiththeirarmourthatImightseelittleoftheirfaces。
Theyrodepastmetoourhouse，andspakenottome，thoughtheylookedhardatme；butastheywentpastIheardonesay：
’IfshemightbutbeourguidetotheWellattheWorld’sEnd！’
Idurstnottarrytospeakwiththem，butasIlookedovermyshoulderIsawthemtalkingtomymistressinthedoor；
butmeseemedshewascladbutinpoorhomespunclothinsteadofherrichapparel，andIamfar-sightedandclear-sighted。Afterthistheautumnandwinterthatfolloweditpassedawaytidingless。
CHAPTER4
TheLadyTellsofHerDeliverance“NowIhadoutgrownmyoldfear，andnotmuchbefelltoquickenit：
andeverIwasasmuchoutofthehouseasIcouldbe。
Butaboutthistimemymistress，frombeingkindertomethanbefore，begantogrowharder，andofttimesusedmecruelly：butofherdeedstome，myfriend，thoushaltaskmenomorethanItellthee。
OnadayofMay-tideIfaredabroadwithmygoats，andwentfarwiththem，furtherfromthehousethanIhadbeenasyet。
Thedaywasthefairestoftheyear，andIrejoicedinit，andfeltasifsomeexceedinggreatgoodwereabouttobefallme；
andtheburdenoffearsseemedtohavefallenfromme。
SoIwenttillIcametoalittleflowerydell，besetwithblossomingwhitethornsandwithafairstreamrunningthroughit；
aplacesomewhatliketothis，savethatthestreamtherewasbigger。
Andthesunwashotaboutnoontide，soIdidoffmyraiment，whichwasroughandpoor，andmoremeetforwinterthanMay-tide，andIenteredapooloftheclearwater，andbathedmeandsportedtherein，smellingthesweetscentofthewhitethornsandhearkeningtothesongofthemanybirds；andwhenIcameforthfromthewater，theairwassosoftandsweettome，andtheflowerygrasssokindtomyfeet，andtheMay-bloomsfelluponmyshoulders，thatIwaslothtodoonmyroughraimenthastily，andwithalIlookedtoseenochildofmaninthatwilderness：
soIsportedmyselftherealongwhile，andmilkedagoatanddrankofthemilk，andcrownedmyselfwithwhite-thornandhare-bells；
andheldtheblossomsinmyhand，andfeltthatIalsohadsomemightinme，andthatIshouldnotbeathrallofthatsorceressforever。
Andthatday，myfriend，belikewasthespring-tideofthelifeandthelovethatthouholdestinthykindarms。
“ButasIabodethusinthatfairplace，andhadjusttakenmyrockandspindleinhandthatImightgoonwithmytaskandgiveaslittleoccasionasImightformymistresstochastiseme，Ilookedupandsawachildofmancomingdownthesideofthelittledaletowardsme，soIsprangup，andrantomyraimentandcastthemonmehastily，forIwasashamed；andwhenIsawthatitwasawoman，Ithoughtatfirstthatitwasmymistresscomingtoseekme；
andIthoughtwithinmyselfthatifshesmotemeIwouldbearitnomore，butletitbeseenwhichofthetwainwasthemightier。
ButIlookedagainandsawthatitwasnotshebutawomansmallerandolder。SoIstoodwhereIwasandabodehercoming，smilingandunafraid，andhalf-clad。
“ShedrewnearandIsawthatitwasanoldwomangreyhaired，uncomelyofraiment，butwithshiningbrighteyesinherwrinkledface。
Andshemadeanobeisancetomeandsaid：’IwaspassingthroughthislonelywildernessandIlookeddownintothelittlevalleyandsawthesegoatsthereandthelovelyladylyingnakedamongstthem，andIsaidIamtoooldtobeafraidofaught；forifshebeagoddesscomebackagainfromyoreagone，shecanbutmakeanendofapooroldcarline，agangrelbody，whohathnojoyofherlifenow。
Andifshebeofthedaughtersofmen，shewillbelikemethinkherofhermother，andbekindtomeforhersake，andgivemeapieceofbreadandadraughtofhergoats’milk。’