RalphFallethinWithFriendsandRidethtoWhitwallRalphlooksontothefordandseesfolkridingthroughthethorpaforesaidanddowntotheriver，andtheytakethewaterandaremanyincompany，sometwoscorebyhisdeeming，andheseesthesunglitteringontheirweapons。
Nowhethoughtthathewouldabidetheircomingandseeifhemightjointheircompany，sinceifhecrossedthewaterhewouldbeonthebackwardway：
anditwasbutalittlewhileeretheheadofthemcameupoverthehill，andwerepresentlygoingpastRalph，whoroseuptolookonthem，andbeseenofthem，buttheytooklittleheedofhim。Soheseesthatthoughtheyallboreweapons，theywerenotallmen-at-arms，nay，notmorethanahalfscore，butthosepropermenenough。Oftheothers，somehalf-dozenseemedbytheirattiretobemerchants，andtheresttheirlads；andwithaltheyhadmanysumpterhorsesandmuleswiththem。
Theygreetedhimnot，norhethem，nordidheheedthemmuchtilltheywereallgonebysavethree，andthenheleaptintotheroadwithacry，forwhoshouldberidingtherebutBlaise，hiseldestbrother，andRichardtheRedwithhim，bothingoodcasebyseeming；forBlaisewascladinablackcoatweltedwithgold，androdeagoodgreypalfrey，andRichardwasarmedwellandknightly。
Theyknewhimatonce，anddrewrein，andBlaiselighteddownfromhishorseandcasthisarmsaboutRalph，andsaid：
“Ohappyday！whentwooftheUpmeadskindredmeetthusinanalienland！Butwhatmakeththeehere，Ralph？
IthoughtoftheeasmerryandsafeinUpmeads？”
Ralphsaidsmiling，forhisheartleaptupatthesightofhiskindred：
“Nay，mustInotseekadventuresliketherest？SoIstolemyselfawayfromfatherandmother。”“Illdone，littlelord！”saidBlaise，strokingRalph’scheek。
ThenupcameRichard，andifBlaisewereglad，Richardwastwiceglad，andquothhe：“SaidInot，LordBlaise，thatthischickwouldbethehardestofalltokeepunderthecoop？WelcometotheHighways，LordRalph！
Butwhereisthinehorse？andwhenceandwhitherisitnow？
Hastthoumetwithsomefoilandbeenheldtoransom？”
Ralphfoundithardandgrievousanddullworktoanswer；
fornowagainhissorrowhadtakenholdofhim：sohesaid：
“Yea，Richard，Ihavehadadventures，andhavelostratherthanwon；
butatleastIamafreeman，andhavespentbutlittlegoldonmyloss。”
“Thatiswell。”saidRichard，“butwhencegatyeanygoldforspending？”
Ralphsmiled，butsadly，forhecalledtomindthegladsettingforthandthekindfaceofdameKatherinehisgossip，andhesaid：
“ClementChapmandeemeditnotunmeettostakesomewhatonmyluck，thereforeIamnopauper。”
“Well。”saidBlaise，“ifthouhastnogreaterrandelsewhere，thoumightestridewithus，brother。Ihavehadgoodhapinthesedays，thoughscarcekinglyorknightly，forIhavebeenbuyingandselling：whatmatter？fewknowUpmeadsanditskingstowitemewithfoulingafairname。
Richard，gofetchahorsehitherforLordRalph’sriding，andwewilltarrynolonger。”SoRichardtrottedon，andwhiletheyabodehim，Ralphaskedafterhisbrethren，andBlaisetoldhimthathehadseenorheardnaughtofthem。
ThenRalphaskedofwhitheraway，andBlaisetoldhimtoWhitwall，wherewasmuchrecourseofmerchantsfrommanylands，andanoblemarket。
BackthencomethRichardleadingagoodhorsewhileRalphwasponderinghismatter，andthinkingthatatsuchatownhemightwellheartidingsconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
NowRalphmounts，andtheyallrideawaytogether。Ontheway，partlyforbrotherhood’ssake，partlythathemightnotbequestionedovermuchhimself，RalphaskedBlaisetotellhimmoreofhisfarings；
andBlaisesaid，thatwhenhehadleftUpmeadshehadriddenwithRichardupanddownandroundabout，tillhecametoarichtownwhichhadjustbeentakeninwar，andthattheCompanionswhohadconquereditwerelookingforchapmentocheapentheirbooty，andthathewasthefirstornearlythefirsttocomewhohadwillandmoneytobuy，andtheCompanions，whowereeagertodepart，hadsoldhimthieves’
penny-worths，sothathisshareoftheUpmeads’treasurehadgonefar；
andthencehehadgonetoanothergoodtownwherehehadthebestofmarketsforhisnewlycheapenedwares，andhadbroughtmorethere，suchashedeemedhandytosell，andsohadgoneonfromtowntotown，andhadeverthriven，andhadgotmuchwealth：andsoatlasthavingheardtellofWhitwallasbetterforchafferthanallhehadyetseen，heandotherchapmenhadarmedthem，andwagedmen-at-armstodefendthem，andsotriedtheadventureofthewildwoods，andcomesafethrough。
ThenatlastcamethequestiontoRalphconcerninghisadventures，andheenforcedhimselftospeak，andtoldallastrulyashemight，withouttellingoftheLadyandherwoefulending。
Thustheygaveandtookintalk，andRalphdidwhathemighttoseemlikeotherfolk，thathemightnursehisgriefinhisownheartasfarasunderfromothermenasmightbe。
Sotheyrodeontillitwaseven，andcametoWhitwallbeforetheshuttingofthegatesandrodeintothestreet，andfounditafairandgreattown，welldefensible，withhighandnewwalls，andmen-at-armsgoodstoretogarnishthem。
Ralphrodewithhisbrothertothehostelofthechapmen，andtheretheywerewelllodged。
RichardTalkethWithRalphConcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
ConcerningSwevenhamOnthemorrowBlaisewenttohischafferandtovisitthemenofthePortattheGuildhall：hebadeRalphcomewithhim，buthewouldnot，butabodeinthehallofthehostelandsatponderingsadlywhilemencameandwent；butheheardnowordspokenoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
Inlikewisepassedthenextdayandthenext，savethatRichardwasamongthosewhocameintothehall，andhetalkedlongwithRalphatwhiles；
thatistosaythathespake，andRalphmadesemblanceoflistening。
NowasisaforesaidRichardwasoldandwise，andhelovedRalphmuch，morebelikethanLordBlaisehispropermaster，whereashehadnomindforchaffer，oraughtpertainingtoit：
sohetookheedofRalphandsawthathewassadandweary-hearted；
soonthesixthdayoftheirabidingatWhitwall，inthemorningwhenallthechapmenweregoneabouttheirbusiness，andheandRalphwereleftaloneintheHall，hespaketoRalphandsaid：
“Thisisnoprison，lord。”“Evenso。”quothRalph。
“Nay，ifthoudoubtestit。”saidRichard，“letusgotothedoorandtryiftheyhaveturnedthekeyandshottheboltonus。”Ralphsmiledfaintlyandstoodup，andsaid：
“Iwillgowiththeeifthouwillestit，butsoothtosayI
shallbebutadullfellowofthineto-day。”SaidRichard：
“Wouldstthouhavebeenbetteryesterday，lord，orthedaybefore？”
“Nay。”saidRalph。“Wiltthoubebetterto-morrow？”saidRichard。
Ralphshookhishead。SaidRichard：“Yea，butthouwiltbe，orthoumaystcallmeafoolelse。”“Thouartkind，Richard。”
saidRalph；“andIwillcomewiththee，anddowhatthoubiddestme；butImustneedstelltheethatmyheartissick。”
“Yea。”quothRichard，“andthouneedestnottellmesomuch，dearyoungling；hewhorunsmightreadthatinthee。
Butcomeforth。”
Sointothestreettheywent，andRichardbroughtRalphintothemarket-place，andshowedhimwherewasBlaise’sboothforhewasthrivinggreatlybutRalphwouldnotgoanighitlesthisbrothershouldentanglehimintalk；andtheywentintotheGuildhallwhichwasbothgreatandfair，andthesmellofthenew-shavenoakfortheroofwasnotyetpaintedbroughtbacktoRalph’smindthedaysofhischildhoodwhenhewashangingaboutthebuildingofthewater-reeve’snewhouseatUpmeads。
ThentheywentintotheGreatChurchandheardaMassatthealtarofSt。Nicholas，Ralph’sveryfriend；andthesaidchurchwasgreattotheletter，andverygoodly，andsomewhatnewalso，sincetheblossom-tideofWhitwallwasnotmanyyearsold：
andthealtarsofitschapelswerebeyondanythingforfairnessthatRalphhadseensaveatHighamontheWay。
Butwhentheycameforthfromthechurch，RalphlookedonRichardwithafacethatwasbothblankandweary，aswhoshouldsay：“Whatistodonow？”
Andforsoothsowoe-begonehelooked，thatRichard，despitehissorrowandtroubleforhim，couldscarcewithholdhislaughter。Buthesaid：
“Well，fostersonforthouartprettymuchthattome，sincethegoodtownpleasureththeelittle，gowefurtherafield。”
Soheledhimoutofthemarket-place，andbroughthimtotheeastgateofthetownwhichhightPetergateBar，andforththeywentandoutintothemeadowsunderthewalls，andstayedhimatalittlebridgeoveroneofthestreams，foritwasalandofmanywaters；theretheysatdowninanook，andspakeRichardtoRalph，saying：
“LordRalph，illitwereiftheUpmeadskindredcametonaught，oreventolittle。NowasformyownmasterBlaise，hehath，sopleaseyou，themakingsofanoblechapman，butnotofanobleknight；thoughhesayeththatwhenheisrightrichhewillcastasideallchaffer；naughtofwhichhewilldo。
Asfortheothers，mylordGregoryisnobetter，orindeedworse，savethatheshallnotberichever，havingnomasteryverhimself；
whilelordHughisliketobeslaininsomeemptybrawl，unlesshecomebackspeedilytoUpmeads。”
“Yea，yea。”saidRalph，“whatthen？Icamenothithertoheartheemissaymymother’ssons。”ButRichardwenton：
“Asforthee，lordRalph，oftheeIlookedforsomething；
butnowIcannottell；fortheheartintheeseemethtobedead；
andthoumustlooktoitlestthebodydiealso。”
“Sobeit！”saidRalph。
SaidRichard：“Iamoldnow，butIhavebeenyoung，andmanythingshaveIseenandsuffered，ereIcametoUpmeads。
OldamI，andIcannotfeelcertainhopesandgriefsasayoungmancan；yethaveIboughttheknowledgeofthemdearenough，andhavenotforgotten。WherebyIwotwellthatmydreariheadisconcerningawoman。Isitnotso？”“Yea。”quothRalph。
SaidRichard：“Nowshaltthoutellmethereof，andsolightenthineheartalittle。”“Iwillnottellthee。”
saidRalph；“or，rather，tospeakmoretruly，Icannot。”
“Yea。”saidRichard，“andthoughitwerenowaneasierthingformetotelltheeofthegriefsofmylifethanfortheetohearkentothetale，yetIbelievethee。Butmayhappenthoumaysttellmeofonethingthatthoudesirestmorethananother。”
SaidRalph：“Idesiretodie。”Andthetearsstartedinhiseyestherewith。ButRichardspake，smilingonhimkindly：
“Thatwayisopenfortheeonanydayoftheweek。
Whyhastthounottakenitalready？”ButRalphanswerednaught。
Richardsaid：“Isitnotbecausethouhopesttodesiresomething；
ifnotto-day，thento-morrow，orthenextdayorthenext？”
StillRalphspakenoword；buthewept。QuothRichard：“MaybeI
mayhelptheetoahope，thoughthoumayestthinkmywordswild。
InthelandandthethorpwhereIwasbornandbredtherewastalknowandagainofathingtobesought，whichshouldcuresorrow，andmakelifeblossomintheold，andupholdlifeintheyoung。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，lookingupfromhistears，“andwhatwasthat？andwhyhastthounevertoldmethereofbefore？”
“Nay。”saidRichard，“andwhyshouldItellittothemerryladIknewinUpmeads？butnowthouartaman，andhastseenthefaceofsorrow，itismeetthatthoushouldesthearofTHE
WELLATTHEWORLD’SEND。”