IntheeveningDavidtalkedwithRalphinhistent，andsaid：
“Ifto-morrowbeclear，knight，thoushaltseeanewsightwhenthoucomestoutfromthecanvas。”SaidRalph：“Isupposethymeaningisthatweshallseethemountainsfromhence？”
“Yea。”saidDavid；“soholdupthineheartwhenthatsightfirstcomethbeforethineeyes。Asforus，weareusedtothesight，andthatfromaplacemuchnighertothemountains：
yettheywhoaresoft-heartedamongstusareovercomeatwhiles，whenthereisstormandtempest，andeviltidesathand。”
SaidRalph：“AndhowfarthenarewefromUtterbol？”SaidDavid：
“AfterwehaveleftBull-meadintheDaleoftheTower，whereto-morrowthouarttorunwiththespear，itisfourdays’ridetoUtterness；andfromUtternessyemaycomeifmylordwilluntoUtterbolintwelvehours。
Buttellme，knight，howdeemestthouofthytiltingto-morrow？”
SaidRalph：“LittleshouldIthinkofit，iflittlelayuponit。”
“Yea。”saidDavid，“butartthouagoodtilter？”Ralphlaughed：
quothhe，“Thathangsonthegoodnessofhimthattiltethagainstme：
Ihavebothoverthrown，andbeenoverthrownoftenough。Yetagain，whoshalljudgeme？forImusttellthee，thatwereIfairlyjudged，Ishouldbedeemednoillspear，evenwhenIcamenotuppermost：
forinallthesegamesarehapswhichnomanmayforesee。”
“Well，then。”saidDavid，“allwillgowellwiththeeforhistime：
formylordwilljudgethee，andifitbeseenthatthouhastspokentruly，andartmorethanalittledeftattheplay，hewillbeliketomakethebestofthee，sincethouartalreadypaidfor。”
Ralphlaughed：yetasthoughthejestpleasedhimbutlittle；
andtheyfelltotalkofothermatters。AndsoDaviddeparted，andRalphslept。
RalphComethTotheValeoftheTowerButwhenitwasmorningRalphawoke，andsawthatthesunwasshiningbrightly；sohecasthisshirtonhim，andwentoutatonce，andturnedhisfaceeastward，and，scarceawake，saidtohimselfthatthecloudslayheavyintheeastwardheavensafterlastnight’shaze：
butpresentlyhiseyesdeared，andhesawthatwhathehadtakenforcloudswasahugewallofmountains，blackandterrible，thatroseupsharpandclearintothemorningair；fortherewasneithercloudnormistinalltheheavens。
NowRalph，thoughhewerebutlittleusedtothesightofgreatmountains，yetfelthisheartratherrisethanfallatthesightofthem；forhesaid：
“Surelybeyondthemliethsomenewthingforme，lifeordeath：
fairfameortheforgettingofallmen。”Anditwaslongthathecouldnottakehiseyesoffthem。
Ashelooked，cameuptheCaptainOtter，andsaid：“Well，Knight，thouhastseenthemthismorn，evenifyedieerenightfall。”
SaidRalph：“Whatdeemestthoutoliebeyondthem？”
“Ofusnoneknowethsurely。”saidOtter；“whilesIdeemthatifoneweretogettotheothersidetherewouldbeagreatplainliketothis：whilesthatthereisnaughtsavemountainsbeyond，andyetagainmountains，likethewavesofahugestonesea。
OrwhilesIthinkthatonewouldcometoanendoftheworld，toaplacewhereisnaughtbutaledge，andthenbelowitagulffilledwithnothingbutthehowlingofwinds，andthedepthofdarkness。
Moreoverthisismythought，thatallweofthesepartsshouldbemildermenandofbetterconditions，ifyonderterriblewallwereaway。
Itisasifwewerethrallsofthegreatmountains。”
SaidRalph，“IsthisthentheWalloftheWorld？”
“Itmaywellbeso。”saidOtter；“butthiswordisatwhilessaidofsomethingelse，whichnomanaliveamongstushasyetseen。
ItisapartofthetaleoftheseekersfortheWellattheWorld’sEnd，whereofwesaidawordthatotherday。”
“AndtheDryTree。”saidRalph，“knowestthouthereof？”saidRalph。
“Suchatree，muchbeworshipped。”saidOtter，“wehave，notveryfarfromUtterbol，onthehithersideofthemountains。
YetIhaveheardoldmensaythatitisbutatoy，andanimageofthatwhichisverilyanightheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
Butnowhastetheetodoonthyraiment，forwemustneedsgettohorseinalittlewhile。”“Yetonemoreword。”
saidRalph；“thousayestthatnonealiveamongstyouhaveseentheWalloftheWorld？”“Nonealive。”quothOtter；
“forsoothwhatthedeadmaysee，thatisanotherquestion。”
SaidRalph：“ButhaveyenotknownofanywhohavesoughttotheWellfromthisland，whichissonighthereunto？”
“Suchtherehavebeen。”saidOtter；“butiftheyfoundit，theyfoundsomethingbeyondit，orcamewestagainbysomewayelsethanbyUtterbol；fortheynevercamebackagaintous。”
Therewithheturnedonhisheel，andwenthisways，andupcameDavidandonewithhimbringingvictual；andDavidsaid：“Now，thouluckyone，hereiscomethybreakfast！forweshallpresentlybeonourway。
Castonthyraiment，andeatandstrengthenthyselffortheday’swork。
Hastthoulookedwellonthemountains？”“Yea。”saidRalph，“andthesightofthemhasmademeaslittledownheartedasthouart。
Forthouartjoyousofmoodthismorning。”Davidnoddedandsmiled，andlookedsomerrythatRalphwonderedwhatwastoward。
Thenhewentintohistentandcladhimself，andatehisbreakfast，andthengattohorseandrodebetwixttwoofthemen-at-arms，heandOtter；forDavidwasriddenforwardtospeakwiththeLord。
Ottertalkedevergailyenough；butRalphheededhimlittleawhile，buthadhiseyeseveronthemountains，andcouldseethatforalltheyweresodark，andfilledupsomuchoftheeastwardheaven，theyweresofarawaythathecouldseebutlittleofthemsavethattheyweredarkblueandhuge，andonerisingupbehindtheother。
Thustheyrodethedowncountry，tillatlast，twohoursbeforenoon，comingoverthebrowofalongdown，theyhadbeforethemashallowdale，pleasanterthanaughttheyhadyetseen。
Itwaswell-grassed，andalittleriverranthroughit，fromwhichwentnarrowleatsheldupbyhatches，sothatthemorepartofthevalleybottomwasawater-meadow，whereinasnowweregrazingmanykineandsheep。Therewerewillowsaboutthebanksoftheriver，andinaningleofitstoodagrangeorhomestead，withmanyroofshalfhiddenbyclumpsoftalloldelmtrees。
Otherhousestherewereinthevale；twoorthreecots，towit，ontheslopeofthehitherdown，andsomehalf-dozenaboutthehomestead；andaboveandbeyondallthese，onamoundsomewhatawayfromtheriverandthegrange，agreatsquaretower，withbarriersandbaileyalldightreadyforwar，andwithabanneroftheLord’shangingout。
Butbetweenthetowerandtheriverstoodasnowagreatpavilionofsnow-whiteclothstripedwithgoldandpurple；
androundaboutitwereothertents，asthoughalittlearmywerecomeintothevale。
Sowhentheylookedintothatfairplace，OttertheCaptainroseinthestirrupsandcastuphishandforjoy，andcriedoutaloud：“Now，youngknight，nowwearecomehome：
howlikestthoumyLord’sland？”
“Itisafairland。”saidRalph；“butistherenotcomesomeonetobidthyLordbattleforit？orwhatmeanthetentsdownyonder？”
SaidOtter，laughing：“Nay，nay，ithathnotcometothatyet。
YonderismyLord’slady-wife，whohathcometomeethim，butinlove，sotosay，notinbattle——notyet。ThoughI
saynotthatthecupoflovebetwixtthembebrim-full。Butthisitbehovethmenottospeakof，thoughthouarttobemybrother-in-arms，sincewearetotilttogetherpresently：
forlo！yonderthetilt-yard，mylad。”
Therewithhepointedtothebroadgreenmeadow：butRalphsaid：
“Howcanstthou，afreeman，bebrother-in-armstoathrall？”
“Nay，lad。”quothOtter，“letnotthatwaspstingthee：
forevensuchwasI，timewas。Nay，suchamInow，butthatacertainhabitofkeepingmywitsinafraymakethmeofavailtomyLord，sothatIamwelllookedto。
ForsoothinmyLord’slandthefreemenareoflittleaccount，sincetheymustoftenestdoasmyLordandmyLord’sthrallsbidthem。Truly，brother，itiswewhohavethewitsandthelucktoriseabovethewhipping-postandtheshacklesthatarethegreatmenhereabouts。Isaywe，forIdeemthatthouwiltdonoless，whereasthouhasttheluckylookinthineeyes。
Soletto-daytryit。”
Ashespakecamemanyglitteringfiguresfromoutofthosetents，andtherewithalarosethesoundofhornsandclashingofcymbals，andtheirownhornsgavebackthesoundofwelcome。
ThenRalphsawamaningoldenarmourofstrange，outlandishfashion，sittingonagreatblackhorsebesidetheLord’slitter；
andOttersaid：“Lo！myLord，armedanda-horsebacktomeetmylady：
shelookethkinderonhimthus；thoughinthineearbeitsaid，heisnogreatmanofwar；norneedhebe，sincehehathusforhisshieldandhishauberk。”
Herewithweretheycomeontothecausewayabovethegreenmeadows，andpresentlydrewreinbeforethepavilion，andstoodaboutinahalf-ringfacingatwoscoreofgailycladmen-at-arms，whohadcomewiththeLadyandaroutoffolkofthehousehold。
ThentheLordgatoffhishorse，andstoodinhisgoldenarmour，andallthehornsandothermusicstruckup，andforthfromthepavilioncametheLadywithahalf-scoreofherwomencladgailyinsilkengownsofgreen，andblue，andyellow，broideredallaboutwithgoldandsilver，butwithnakedfeet，andhavingironringsontheirarms，sothatRalphsawthattheywerethralls。
Somethingtoldhimthathisdamselshouldbeamongstthese，sohegazedhardonthem，butthoughtheyweregoodlyenoughtherewasnoneofthemliketoher。
AstotheQueen，shewascladallinfinelinenandgold，withgoldshoesonherfeet：herarmscamebarefromoutofthelinen：
greattheywere，andthehandsnotsmall；butthearmsroundandfair，andthehandsshapely，andallverywhiteandrosy：
herhairwasasyellowasanythatcanbeseen，anditwasplenteous，andshedalldownabouther。Hereyeswereblueandsetwideapart，hernosealittlesnubbed，hermouthwide，full-lippedandsmiling。
Shewasverytall，afullhalf-headtallerthananyofherwomen：
yea，astallasamanwhoisabovethemiddleheightofmen。
Nowshecameforwardhastilywithlongstrides，andkneltadownbeforetheLord，butevenasshekneeledlookedroundwithalaughingface。
TheLordstoopeddowntoherandtookherbybothhands，andraisedherup，andkissedheronthecheekandhelookedbutlittleandofnopresencebesideher：andhesaid：“Hailtothee，myLady；
thouartcomefarfromthinehometomeetme，andIthanktheetherefor。
IsitwellwithourHouse？”
Shespakeseemingcarelesslyandloud；buthervoicewassomewhathusky：
“Yea，myLord，alliswell；fewhavedoneamiss，andtheharvestisplenteous。”AsshespaketheLordlookedwithknitbrowsatthedamselsbehindher，asifhewereseekingsomething；andtheLadyfollowedhiseyes，smilingalittleandflushingasifwithmerriment。
ButtheLordwassilentawhile，andthenlethisbrowclearandsaid：
“Yea，Lady，thouartthankedforcomingtomeetus；andtimelyisthycoming，sincethereisgameandgleefortheeathand；
IhavecheapenedalikelythrallofMorfinntheUnmanned，andheisagifttothee；andhehathgivenoutthatheisnoillplayerwiththespearafterthefashionofthemofthewest；
andwearegoingtoprovehiswordhereinthismeadowpresently。”
TheLady’sfacegrewglad，andshesaid，lookingtowardtheringofnewcomers：“Yea，Lord，andwhichoftheseishe，ifhebehere？”
TheLordturnedalittletopointoutRalph，buteventherewiththeLady’seyesmetRalph’s，whoreddenedforshameofbeingsoshowntoagreatlady；
butasforhersheflushedbrightredalloverherfaceandeventoherbosom，andtroublecameintohereyes，andshelookedadown。ButtheLordsaid：
“Yonderistheyoungling，theswordlessoneinthegreencoat；alikelylad，ifhehathnotliedabouthisprowess；andhecansingtheeasongwithal，andtellapiteoustaleofold，anddoallthatthosewhoberearedinthelineagesofthewestlandsdeemmeetanddueformenofknightlyblood。
Dostthoulikethelooksofhim，lady！wiltthouhavehim？”
TheLadystillheldherheaddown，andtormentedthegrasswithherfoot，andmurmuredsomewhat；forshecouldnotcometoherselfagainasyet。
SotheLordlookedsharplyonherandsaid：“Well，whenthistiltingisover，thoushalttellmethymindofhim；forifheturnoutadastardIwouldnotasktheetotakehim。”
Nowtheladyliftedupherface，andshewasgrownsomewhatpale；
butsheforcedherspeechtocome，andsaid：“Itiswell，Lord，butnowcomethouintomypavilion，forthymeatisready，anditlackethbutaminuteorsoofnoon。”Sohetookherhandandledherintothepavilion，andallmengotofftheirhorses，andfelltopitchingthetentsandgettingtheirmeatready；
butOtterdrewRalphapartintoanookofthehomestead，andtheretheyatetheirmeattogether。