QuothRichard：“Theyarenomorefoolsthantheywerebelike，norlessvaliant。Butthouartgrownwiserandmightierbyfar；
sothatthouartanothermannermanthanthouwert，andtheMasterofMastersmaybe。ToUpmeadswiltthougo；butwiltthouabidethere？
Upmeadsisafairland，butanarrow；onedayislikeanotherthere，savewhensorrowandharmisblentwithit。Theworldiswide，andnowIdeemthatthouholdesttheglorythereofinthehollowofthinehand。”
ThenspaketheSage，andsaid：“Yea，RichardofSwevenham，andhowknowestthoubutthatthissorrowandtroublehavenotnowfallenuponUpmeads？
Andifthatbeso，uponwhomshouldtheycalltotheirhelpingratherthanhimwhocanhelpthemmost，andistheirverylord？”SaidRichard：
“Itmaybeso，wiseman，thoughasyetwehaveheardnotidingsthereof。
Butifmylordgoethtotheirhelp，yet，whenthetroubleshallbeover，willhenotbetakehimthitherwherefreshdeedsawaithim？”
“Nay，Richard。”saidtheSage，“artthousolittleafriendofthyfosterlingasnottoknowthatwhenhehathbroughtbackpeacetotheland，itwillbesothatbothheshallneedthepeople，andtheyhim，sothatifhegoawayforawhile，yetshallhesooncomeback？Yea，andsoshallthelittleland，itmaybe，growgreat。”
NowhadRalphsatquietwhilethistalkwasgoingon，andasifheheedednot，andhiseyesweresetasifhewerebeholdingsomethingfaraway。
ThenRichardspokeagainaftertherehadbeensilenceawhile：
“Wiseman，thousayestsooth；yea，andsoitis，thatthoughweherehaveheardnotaleconcerningwarinUpmeads，yet，asitwere，wehavebeenfeelingsomestirringoftheairaboutus；evenasthoughmatterswerechanging，greatmightundone，andweaknessgrowntostrength。
WhocansaybutourlordmayfinddeedstohandoreverhecometoUpmeads？”
Ralphturnedhisheadasoneawakingfromadream，andhesaid：
“Whenshallto-morrowbe，thatwemaygetusgonefromWhitwall，wethree，andturnourfacestowardUpmeads？”
SaidRichard：“Wiltthounottarryadayortwo，andtalkwiththineownmother’ssonandtellhimofthinehaps？”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“andsowouldI，wereitnotthatmyfather’stroubleandmymother’sgriefdrawmeaway。”
“Otarrynot。”saidUrsula；“nay，notforthepassingofthenight；
butmakethishourthesunrise，andbegonebytheclearofthemoon。
Forlo！howheshineththroughthewindow！”
ThensheturnedtoRichard，andsaid：“Ofostererofmylove，knowestthounotthatasnowhespeakethasaFriendoftheWell，andwottethmoreoffar-offtidingsthaneventhiswisemanofmanyyears？”
SaidRalph：“Shesayethsooth，ORichard。OrhowwereitifthetorchwereevennowdrawingnightotheHighHouseofUpmeads：yea，oriftheveryHousewereshiningasadrearycandleofthemeadows，andreddeningthewatersoftheford！
Whatdowehere？”
Therewithhethrusttheboardfromhim，andaroseandwenttohisharness，andfelltoarminghim，andhespaketoRichard：
“Nowshallthineauthorityopentousthegatesofthegoodtown，thoughthenightbegrowingold；weshallgoourways，dearfriend，andmayhappenweshallmeetagain，andmayhappennot：andthoushalttellmybrotherBlaisewhowottethnotofmycominghither，howthingshavegonewithme，andhowneedhathdrawnmehence。
AndbidhimcomeseemeatUpmeads，andtoridewithagoodbandofpropermen，foreschewingthedangersoftheroad。”
ThenspakeRichard：“IshalltellLordBlaiseneithermorenorlessthanthoumaysttellhimthyself：forthinkitnotthatthoushaltgowithoutme。AsforBlaise，hemaywellspareme；forheisbecomeachiefandLordofthePorte；andthePortehathnowrightgoodmen-at-arms，andcaptainswithalyoungeranddefterthanIbe。
Butnowsuffermetosendaswainformyhorseandarms，andanothertothecaptainofthewatchatWest-gateBarthathebereadytoopentomeandthreeofmyfriends，andtosendmealet-passfortheoccasion。
SoshallwegoforthereitbeknownthatthebrotheroftheLordofthePorteisabidingattheLamb。ForverilyIseethattheLadyhathspokentruth；
anditislikethatsheisforseeing，evenasthouhastgrowntobe。
AndnowIbethinkmeImightlightlygetmeascoreofmentoridewithus，whereaswemaymeetmenworsethanourselvesontheway。”
SaidRalph：“Allgoodgowiththywords，Richard；yetgathernotforce：
theremaystoutmenbeculledontheroad；andifthourunnestorridestaboutthetown，wemayyetbestayedbyBlaiseandhismen。
Whereforenowsendforthinehorseandarms，andbidthehosthereopenhisgateswithlittlenoisewhenwebeready；
andwewillpresentlyrideoutbytheclearofthemoon。
Butthou，beloved，shaltdonthinearmournomore，butshaltridehenceforthinthywoman’sraiment，forthewildandthewasteiswellnighover，andthewayisbutshortafterallthesemonthsofwandering；andIsaythatnowshallallfriendsdrifttowardus，andtheythatshallrejoicetostrikeastrokeformyfather’sson，andthepeacefulyearsoftheFriendoftheWell。”
Tothoseothers，andchieflytoUrsula，itseemedthatnowhespokestronglyandjoyously，liketoakingandacaptainofmen。
Richarddidhisbidding，andwasswiftindealingwiththemessengers。
ButtheSagesaid：“Ralph，myson，sinceyehavelostoneman-at-arms，andhavegottenbutthisgoldenangelinhisstead，Imaybetterthat。
IpritheebidthymanRichardfindmearmourandweaponsthatImayamendtheshardinthycompany。Thoushaltfindmenofeeblemanwhenwecometopushofstaves。”
Ralphlaughed，andbadeRichardseetoit；sohedealtwiththehost，andboughtgoodwar-gearofhim，andatrenchantsword，andanaxewithal；
andwhentheSagewasarmedhelookedasdoughtyawarriorasneedbe。
BythistimewasRichard’shorseandwar-gearcome，andhearmedhimspeedilyandgavemoneytothehost，andtheyrodetherewithallfouroutofthehostel，andfoundthestreetemptyandstill，forthenightwaswearing。
SorodetheywithouttarryingintoWestgateandcametotheBar，andspeedilywasthegateopenedtothem；andanonweretheyonthemoonlitroadoutsideofWhitwall。
TheyRideAwayFromWhitwallButwhentheywerewellontheway，andridingagoodpacebytheclearofthemoon，RichardspaketoRalph，andsaid：
“Witherridewenow？”saidRalph：“Wither，savetoUpmeads？”
“Yea，yea。”saidRichard，“butbywhatroad？shallweridedowntothefordoftheSwellingFlood，andridethebeatenway，ortaketothedownlandandtheforest，andsoagainbytheforestanddownlandandtheforestoncemore，tillwecometotheBurgoftheFourFriths？”
“Whichwayistheshorter？”saidRalph。“Forsooth。”saidRichard，“bythewildwoodyemayrideshorter，ifyeknowitasIdo。”
QuoththeSage：“Yea，orasIdo。Hearawonder！thattwomenofSwevenhamknowthewildsmorethantwentymilesfromtheirownthorp。”
SaidRalph：“Well，wendwetheshorterroad；whymakemorewordsoverit？
Orwhatlionliethonthepath？Isitthatwemayfindithardtogivethego-bytotheBurgoftheFourFriths？”
SaidRichard：“ThoughtheBurgbenotveryfarfromWhitwall，wehearbutlittletidingsthence；ourchapmenbutseldomgothere，andnonecomethtousthencesavesuchofourmenashavestrayedthither。
Yet，asIsaide’ennowinthehostel，thereisanairoftidingsabroad，andonerumoursayeth，andnonedeniethit，thattheoldfiercenessandstoutheadstrongmoodoftheBurgisbrokendown，andthatmendwellthereinpeaceandquiet。”
SaidtheSage：“Inanycasewehaveamongstusloreenoughtohoodwinkthemiftheybefoes；sothatweshallpasseasily。
Naughtofthisneedwefear。”
ButRichardputhismouthclosetoRalph’sear，andspaketohimsoftly：
“Shallweindeedgobythatshorterroad，whateverindaysgonebymayhavebefalleninplacesthereon，towhichwemustgoa-nightomorrow？”
Ralphansweredsoftlyinturn：“Yea，forsooth：forIwerefaintotrymyheart，howstrongitmaybe。”
Sotheyrodeon，andturnedofffromtheroadthatleddowntothefordoftheSwellingFlood，anighwhichRalphhadfalleninwithBlaiseandRichardonthedayafterthewoefulslaying，whichhadmadeanendofhisjoyforthattime。
Butwhentheywereamidstofthebushesandridingadeepghyllofthewaste，Richardsaid：“Itiswellthatwearehere：
fornowifBlaisesendriderstobringusbackcourteously，theyshallnotfollowusatonce，butshallridestraightdowntotheford，andevencrossitinsearchofus。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“itiswellinallwise。”
Sothentheyrodethenceawhiletillthemoongrewlow，andgreat，andred，andsankdownawayfromthem；andbythenweretheycometoashepherd’scot，emptyofmen，withnaughtthereinsaveanolddog，andsomevictual，asbreadandwhitecheese，andawellfordrinking。
Sotheretheyabodeandrestedthatnight。
CHAPTER15
AStrangeMeetingintheWildernessOnthemorrowbetimestheygottotheroadagain；thecountryatfirst，thoughitwasscantyoftillage，wasnotunfurnishedofsheep，beingforthemostpartofswellinghillsanddownswellgrassed，withhereandthereadeepcleftinthem。
Theysawbutfewhouses，andthosesmallandpoor。
Afewshepherdstheyfellinwith，whowereshortofspeech，afterthemannerofsuchmen，butdeemedagreetingnotwhollythrownawayonsuchgoodlyfolkasthosewayfarers。
Sotheyrodetillitwasnoon，andRichardtalkedmorethanhiswontwas，thoughhisdailyuseitwastobeofmanywords：
nordidtheSagesparespeech；butUrsulaspokelittle，norheededmuchwhattheotherssaid，andRalphdeemedthatshewaspalerthanofwont，andherbrowswereknittedasifsheweresomewhatanxious。Asforhim，hewasgraveandcalm，butoffewwords；andwhileswhenRichardwaswordiesthelookedonhimsteadilyforamomentwhereatRichardchangedcountenance，andforawhilestintedhisspeech，butnotforlong；
whileRalphlookedabouthim，inwardlystrivingtogathertogethertheendsofunhappythoughtsthatfloatedabouthim，andtonotethelandhewaspassingthrough，ifindeedhehadverilyseenitaforetime，elsewherethaninsomeevildream。
Atlastwhentheystoppedtobaitbysomescrubbybushesatthefootofawidehill-side，hetookRichardapart，andsaidtohim：“Oldfriend，andwhithergowe？”SaidRichard：
“Asthouwottest，totheBurgoftheFourFriths。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，“butbywhatroad？”SaidRichard：
“Younglingisnotthineheart，then，asstrongasthoudeemedstlastnight？”Ralphwassilentawhile，andthenhesaid：
“Iknowwhatthouwouldstsay；wearegoingbytheshortestroadtotheCastleofAbundance。”
Hespakethisoutloud，butRichardnoddedhisheadtohim，asifhewouldsay：“Yea，soitis；butholdthypeace。”ButRalphknewthatUrsulahadcomeupbehindhim，and，stilllookingatRichard，heputhisopenhandabacktowardher，andherhandfellintoit。
Thenheturnedabouttoher，andsawthatherfacewasverilypale；
soheputhishandsonhershouldersandkissedherkindly；
andsheletherheadfallontohisbosomandfella-weeping，andthetwoeldersturnedawaytothehorses，andfeignedtobebusywiththem。
Thusthentheybidedsomeminutesoftime，andthenallgattohorseagain，andUrsula’sfacewasclearedofthegriefoffear，andthecolourhadcomebacktohercheeksandlips。
ButRalph’sfacewassternandsorrowfultobehold；howbeit，astheyrodeawayhespakeinaloudandseemingcheerfulvoice：
“StillevershortenethmoreandmorethewayuntomyFathers’House：
andwithalIamwishfultoseeifitbeindeedtruethatthemenoftheBurghavebecomemildandpeaceful；andtoknowwhathathbefallenthosedoughtychampionsoftheDryTree；andifperchancetheyhaveanywilltoholdusatiltingincourteousfashion。”
Richardsmiledonhim，andsaid：“ThouholdestmorethenbytheDryTreethanbytheBurg；thoughwhileagonewedeemedtheChampionsworsementomeetinthewoodthantheBurgers。”