RalphDreamsaDreamOrSeesaVisionTherewithalltheypartedaftermoretalkconcerningsmallmatters，andRalphworethroughtheday，butRichardagaindidhimtowit，thatonthemorrowhewouldfindhisoldfriendsofSwevenhamintheMarket。
AndRalphwascometolifeagainmorethanhehadbeensincethatevilhourinthedesert；thoughhardandhardhedeemeditthatheshouldneverseehisloveagain。
Nowasbefallethyoungmen，hewasagoodsleeper，anddreamedbutseldom，savesuchlightandemptydreamsashemightlaughat，ifperchanceherememberedthembythenhisraimentwasonhiminthemorning。
Butthatnighthim-seemedthatheawokeinhischamberatWhitwall，andwaslyingonhisbed，asheverilywas，andthedoorofthechamberopened，andthereenteredquietlytheLadyoftheWoodland，dightevenashehadseenherasshelaydeadbesidetheircookingfireonthattableofgreenswardinthewilderness，barefootandgarlandedaboutherbrowandhergirdlestead，butfairandfreshcolouredasshewasbeforetheswordhadpiercedherside；andhethoughtthatherejoicedtoseeher，butnowildhoperoseinhisheart，andnosobbingpassionblindedhiseyes，nordidhestretchouthandtotouchher，becauseherememberedthatshewasdead。
Buthethoughtshespaketohimandsaid：“Iknowthatthouwouldsthavemespeak，thereforeIsaythatIamcometobidtheefarewell，sincetherewasnofarewellbetweenusinthewilderness，andIknowthatthouareaboutgoingonalongandhardandperilousjourney：
andIwouldthatIcouldkisstheeandembracethee，butImaynot，forthisisbuttheimageofmeasthouhastknownme。Furthermore，asI
lovedtheewhenIsawtheefirst，forthyyouth，andthyfairness，andthykindnessandthyvaliancy，sonowIrejoicethatallthisshallenduresolonginthee，asitsurelyshall。”
Thenthevoiceceased，butstilltheimagestoodbeforehimawhile，andhewonderedifshewouldspeakagain，andtellhimaughtofthewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd；andshespakeagain：
“Nay。”shesaid，“Icannot，sincewemaynottreadthewaytogetherhandinhand；andthisispartofthelossthatthouhasthadofme；
andoh！butitishardandhard。”Andherfacebecamesadanddistressful，andsheturnedanddepartedasshehadcome。
Thenheknewnotifheawoke，orifitwereachangeinhisdream；
butthechamberbecamedarkabouthim，andhelaytherethinkingofher，till，asitseemed，daybegantodawn，andtherewassomelittlestirintheworldwithout，andthenewwindmovedthecasement。
Andagainthedooropened，andsomeoneenteredasbefore；andthisalsowasawoman：green-cladshewasandbarefoot，yetheknewatoncethatitwasnothislovethatwasdead，butthedamseloftheale-houseofBourton，whomhehadlastseenbythewantwaysoftheWoodPerilous，andhethoughtherwondrousfair，fairerthanhehaddeemed。
Andthewordcamefromher：“Iamasendingofthewomanwhomthouhastloved，andIshouldnothavebeenheresaveshehadsentme。”
Thenthewordsended，whilehelookedatherandwonderedifshealsohaddiedonthewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd。Anditcameintohismindthathehadneverknownhernameupontheearth。
Thenagaincametheword：“SoitisthatIamnotdeadbutaliveintheworld，thoughIamfarawayfromthisland；anditisgoodthatthoushouldstgoseektheWellattheWorld’sEndnotallalone：
andtheseekermayfindme：andwhereasthouwouldstknowmyname，IhightDorothea。”
Sofellthewordsagain：andthisimagestoodawhileastheotherhaddone，andastheotherhaddone，departed，andoncemorethechamberbecamedark，sothatRalphcouldnotsomuchasseewherewasthewindow，andheknewnomoretillhewokeintheearlymorn，andtherewasstirinthestreetandthevoiceofmen，andthescentoffreshherbsandworts，andfruits；
foritwasmarket-day，andthecountryfolkwereearlyafoot，thattheymightarraytheirwarestimelyinthemarket-place。
CHAPTER16
OftheTalesofSwevenhamOldRichardwasnoworsethanhisword，andfailednottofindoldacquaintanceofSwevenhamintheSaturday’smarket：
andRalphsawnaughtofhimtillmidweekafterwards。AndhewassittinginthechamberofthehostelwhenRichardcameintohim。
ForsoothBlaisehadbiddenhimcomedwellinhisfairhouse，butRalphwouldnot，deemingthathemightbehinderedinhisquestandbelessfreetogowheresohewould，ifheweredwellingwithonewhowassogreatwiththemagnatesaswasBlaise。
NowRalphwasreadinginabookwhenRichardcamein，buthestoodupandgreetedhim；andRichardsaidsmiling：
“Whathaveyefoundinthebook，lord？”SaidRalph：
“IttellethofthedeedsofAlexander。”“IsthereaughtconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEndtherein？”saidRichard。
“Ihavenotfoundaughtthereofasyet。”saidRalph；
“butthebooktellsconcerningtheDryTree，andofkingssittingintheirchairsinthemountainsnearby。”
“Wellthen。”saidRichard，“maybethouwiltthinkmethebettertale-teller。”
“Tellonthen。”quothRichard。Sotheywentandsatthemdowninawindow，andRichardsaid：
“WhenIcametoSwevenhamwithtwooldmenthatIhadknownyoung，thefolkmademuchofme，andmademegoodcheer，whereofwereoverlongtotellthee；
buttospeakshortly，Idrewthetalkroundtothematterthatwewouldwotof：forwespakeoftheMenoftheDryTree，andanoldmanbegantosay，asmasterClementtheotherday，thatthisnameoftheirswasbutatokenandanarmourywhichthosechampionshavetakenfromtheTreeitself，whichAlexandertheChampionsawinhiswayfarings；andhesaidthatthistreewasonthehithersideofthemountainscalledtheWalloftheWorld，andnogreatwayfromthelastofthetownswheretoClementwillwend；
forClementtoldmethenamethereof，towit，Goldburg。Thenanotherandanolderman，onethatIrememberastoutcarleereIleftSwevenham，saidthatthiswasnotso，butthattheTreewasonthefurthersideoftheWalloftheWorld，andthathewhocouldlayhishandonthebolethereofwaslikeenoughtodrinkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
Thereafteranotherspake，andtoldataleofhowthechampionsatHamptonfirsttooktheDryTreeforatoken；andhesaidthattherumourran，thatawomanhadbroughtthetidingsthereoftothosevaliantmen，andhadfixedthenameuponthem，thoughwhereforenoneknew。
Sothetalkwenton。
“Buttherewasacarlinesittingintheingle，andsheknewmeandIher。
Andindeedindayspast，whenIwasrestlessandlongingtodepart，shemighthaveheldmeatSwevenham，forshewasoneofthefriendsthatIlovedthere：
awordandakisshaddoneit，ormaybethekisswithouttheword：
butifIhadtheword，Ihadnotthekissofher。Well，whenthetalkbegantofall，shespakeandsaidtome：
“’Nowitissomewhatstrangethatthetalkmustneedsfallonthisseekingofthatwhichshallnotbefound，whereasitwasbutthemonthbeforethouwertlastatSwevenham，thatWatMillerandSimonBowyersetofftoseektheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andtookwiththemAliceofQueenhough，whomSimonlovedaswellasmightbe，andWatsomewhatmorethanwell。
Mindestthounot？TherearemorethanIalivethatrememberit。’
“’Yea，’saidI，’Irememberitwell。’
“Forindeed，foster-son，theseweretheverythreeofwhomItoldthee，thoughItoldtheenottheirnames。
“’Well，’saidI；’howspedthey？Cametheyback，oranyofthem？’
’Nay，’shesaid，’thatwerescarcetobelookedfor。’SaidI：
’Haveanyothertothyknowledgegoneonthissaidquest？’
“’Yea，’shesaid，’Iwilltelltheeallaboutit，andthentherewillbeanendofthestory，fornoneknowethbetterthereofthanI。Firsttherewasthatoldman，thewizard，towhomfolkfromSwevenhamandotherplacesaboutwereusedtoseekforhisloreinhiddenmatters；andsomemonthsafterthosethreehaddeparted，folkwhowenttohisabodeamongstthemountainsfoundhimnot；andsoonthewordwasaboutthathealso，forasfeebleashewas，hadgonetoseektheWellattheWorld’sEnd；
thoughmay-happenitwasnotso。Thenthenextspringafterthydeparture，Richard，comeshomeArnoldWrightfromthewars，andasksafterAlice；
andwhenheheardwhathadbefallen，hetakesascripwithalittlemeatfortheroad，layshisspearonhisshoulder，andisgoneseekingthelost，andthethingwhichtheyfoundnot——that，Ideem，wastheendofhim。
Againtheyearafterthat，asIdeem，threeofourcarlesfellinwithtwoknightsridingeastfromWhitwall，andwerequestionedofthemconcerningtheroadtothesaidWell，anddoubtednotbutthattheywereonthatquest。
Furthermoreandsomeofyouwotthiswellenough，andmorebelikeknowitnottwoofouryoungmenwerefaringbynightandcloudonsomeerrand，goodorbad，itmattersnot，onthehighwaythirtymileseastofWhitwall：
itwasafterharvest，andthestubble-fieldslayoneithersideoftheway，andthemoonwasbehindthinclouds，sothatitwaslightontheway，astheytoldme；andtheysawawomanwendingbeforethemafoot，andastheycameupwithher，themoonranout，andtheysawthatthewomanwasfair，andthataboutherneckwasachapletofgemsthatshoneinthemoon，andtheyhadalongingbothforthejewelandthewoman：butbeforetheylaidhandonhertheyaskedherofwhenceandwhither，andshesaid：
FromruinandwracktotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andtherewithturnedonthemwithanakedswordinherhand；sothattheyshrankfrombeforeher。
“’Hearkenoncemore：thenextyearcameaknighttoSwevenham，andguestedinthissamehouse，andhesatjustwheresittethnowyonyellow-headedswain，andthetalkwentonthesameroadasithathgoneto-night；andItoldhimallthetaleasIhavesaidite’ennow；
andheaskedmanyquestions，butmostoftheLadywiththepairofbeads。
Andonthemorrowhedepartedandwesawhimnotagain。
“Thenshewassilent，buttheyoungmanatwhomshehadpointedHushedredandstaredatherwide-eyed，butsaidnoword。
ButIspake：’Welldame，buthavenoneelsegonefromSwevenham，orwhathathbefallenthem？’
“Shesaid：’Hearkenyet！TwentyyearsagoneagreatsicknesslayheavyuponusandthefolkofWhitwall，andwhenitwasatitsworst，fiveofouryoungmen，callingtomindallthetalesconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd，wenttheirwaystoseekit，andsworethatbackwouldtheynever，savetheyfounditandcouldbearitswatertothefolkofSwevenham；andIsupposetheykepttheiroath；
forwesawnaughteitherofthewaterorofthem。Well，IdeemthatthisisthelastthatIhavetotellthee，Richard，concerningthismatter：
andnowiscomethetimefortheetotelltalesofthyself。’
“ThusforthattimedroppedthetalkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，LordRalph，andofthewaythither。ButIhungaboutthetownshipyetawhile，andyesterdayasIstoodontheirstonebridge，andlookedonthewater，upcomesthatlongladwiththeyellowhairthatthedamehadpointedat，andsaystome：
’MasterRichard，savingthineageandthydignityandmastery，IcanjoinanendtothetalewhichthecarlinebeganonSundaynight。’’Yea，forsooth？’saidI，andhow，mylad？’
Saidhe：’Thouhastagoodlyknifethereinthygirdle，giveittome，andIwilltellthee。’’Yea，’quothI，’ifthytalebeknife-worthy。’
“Well，theendofitwasthathetoldmethus：
Thatbynightandmoonhecameononeridingthehighway，justaboutwheretheotherwomanhadbeenseen，whosetalehehadheardof。Hedeemedatfirstthisridertobeaman，oraladratherforsmallnessandslenderness，butcomingcloseuphefounditwasawoman，andsawonherneckachapletofgems，anddeemeditnogreatfeattotakeitofher：
butheaskedherofwhenceandwhither，andsheanswered：
“’FromunresttotheWellattheWorld’sEnd。’
“Thenwhenheputouthishandtoher，hesawagreatanlacegleaminginherhand，whereforeheforboreher；andthiswasbutfivedaysago。
“SoIgavetheladmyknife，anddeemedtherewouldbelittleelsetohearinSwevenhamforthisbout；andatleastIheardnomoretalestotelltillIcameawaythismorning；sothereismypoketurnedinsideoutforthee。ButthiswordfurtherwouldIsaytothee，thatIhaveseenonthyneckalsoapairofbeadsexceedinggoodly。
Tellmenowwhencecamethey。”
“Frommygossip，dameKatherine。”saidRalph；“anditseemstomenow，thoughatthetimeIheededthegiftlittlesaveforitskindness，thatshethoughtsomethinggreatmightgowithit；
andtherewasamonkatHighamontheWay，whosorelylongedtohaveitofme。”“Well。”saidRichard，“thatmaywellcometopass，thatitshallleadtheetotheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
ButastothetalesofSwevenham，whatdeemestthouofthem？”
SaidRalph：“Whatarethey，saveatokenthatfolkbelievethatthereissuchathingonearthastheWell？