ThebloodmountedtoRalph’sbrowforanger；whenhecalledtomindhowhehadbeenledhitherandthitheronotherfolk’serrandseversinceheleftUpmeads。Buthesaidnaught，andAgathalookedonhimtimidlyandsaid：
“IsayIamherthrall，andIdidittoserveherandbecauseshebademe。”
SaidRalphroughly：“AndRedhead，himwhomIsavedfromtormentsanddeath；
dostthouknowhim？didstthouknowhim？”
“Yea。”shesaid，“Ihadfromhimwhathehadlearnedconcerningtheefromthesergeantsandothers，andthenIputwordsintohismouth。”
“Yeathen。”quothRalph，“thenhealsoisatraitor！”“Nay，nay。”
shesaid，“heisatruemanandloveththee，andwhateverhehathsaidtotheehetrowethhimself。Moreover，ItelltheehereandnowthatallthathetoldtheeoftheaffairsofUtterbol，andthineoutlookthere，istrueandovertrue。”
Shesprangtoherfeettherewith，andstoodbeforehimandclaspedherhandsbeforehimandsaid：“IknowthatthouseekesttheWellattheWorld’sEndandthedeliveranceofthedamselwhomtheLordravishedfromthewildman：
nowIswearitbythymouth，thatifthougotoUtterbolthouartundoneandshaltcometothefoulestpassthere，andmoreoverthatsogoingthoushaltbringtheuttermostshameandtormentsonthedamsel。”
SaidRalph：“Yea，butwhatishercaseasnow？tellme。”
QuothAgatha：“Sheisinnosuchevilcase；formyladyhatethhernotasyet，orbutlittle；and，whichisfarmore，mylordlovethherafterhisfashion，andwithalasIdeemfearethher；forthoughshehathutterlygainsaidhisdesire，hehathscarcesomuchasthreatenedher。Athingunheardof。
HaditbeenanotherwomanshehadbythistimeknownallthebitternessthatleadethuntodeathatUtterbol。”
Ralphpaledandhescowledonher，thenhesaid：
“AndhowknowestthoualltheprivityoftheLordofUtterbol？
whotelleththeeofallthis？”Shesmiledandspakedaintily：
“ManyfolktellmethatwhichIwouldknow；andthatisbecausewhilesIconquerthetidingswithmywits，andwhilesbuyitwithmybody。AnyhowwhatItelltheeistheverysoothconcerningthisdamsel，andthisitis：
thatwhereassheisbutinperil，sheshallbeindeadlyperil，yeaandthatinstant，ifthougotoUtterbol，thou，whoartherlover……”“Nay。”saidRalphangrily，“Iamnotherlover，Iambutherwell-willer。”“Well。”quothAgathalookingdownandknittingherbrows，“whenthygoodwilltowardsherhasbecomeknown，thenshallshebethrownatonceintothepitofmylord’scruelty。Yea，tospeaksooth，evenasitis，forthysakeforherIheednaughtIwouldthatthelordmightfindhergonewhenhecomethbacktoUtterbol。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，reddening，“andisthereanyhopeforhergettingclearoff？”“SoIdeem。”saidAgatha。
Shewassilentawhileandthenspakeinalowvoice：
“Itissaidthateachmanthatseethherlovethher；yea，andwillbefriendher，eventhoughsheconsentnottohisdesire。
MaybeshehathfledfromUtterbol。”
Ralphstoodsilentawhilewithatroubledface；andthenhesaid：
“Yetthouhastnottoldmethewhyandwhereforeofthisplayofthine，andthebeguilingmeintofleeingfromthecamp。
TellitmethatImaypardontheeandpasson。”
Shesaid：“BythineeyesIswearthatthisissooth，andthatthereisnaughtelseinitthanthis：Myladysetherlove，whenfirstshesethereyesuponthee——asforsoothallwomenmust：
asforme，IhadnotseentheethoughItoldmyladythatIhad
tillwithinthishourthatwemetinthewood。”
Shesighedtherewith，andwithherrighthandplayedwiththerentraimentaboutherbosom。Thenshesaid：
“ShedeemedthatifthoucamestamerethralltoUtterbol，thoughshemightcommandthybody，yetshewouldnotgainthylove；
butthatifperchancethoumightestseeherinhardneed，andevillymishandled，andmightestdeliverher，theremightatleastgrowuppityintheeforher，andthatlovemightcomethereof，asofthathhappedaforetime；formyladyisafairwoman。
ThereforeI，whoammylady’sservantandthrall，andwho，Ibidtheeremember，hadnotseenthee，tookuponmetomakethisadventure，liketoaminstrel’staledoneintheflesh。
AlsoIspaketomylordandtoldhimthereof；andthoughhejeeredatmyladytome，hewascontent，becausehewouldhavehersetherheartontheeutterly；sincehefearedherjealousy，andwouldfainbedeliveredofit，lestsheshouldplaysometurntohisnewlybeloveddamselanddoheramischief。
Thereforedidhesettheefreeinwordsmeaning，whenhehadtheesafeatUtterbolagainashenowisedoubtedtohavethee
todoashewouldwiththee，accordingasoccasionmightserve。
Forathearthehateththee，asIcouldseewell。
Soalittlebeforethoudidstleavethecamp，we，theQueenandI，wentprivilyintoaplaceofthewoodsbutalittlewayhence。
ThereIdisarrayedbothmyladyandmyselfsofaraswasneedfulfortheplayingouttheplaywhichwastohaveseemedtotheearealadventure。ThencameItotheeasifbychancehap，thatI
mightbringtheetoher；andifthouhadstcome，wehadastoryforthee，wherebythoumightestnotforveryknighthoodforbeartosuccourherandbringherwhithershewould，whichinthelongrunhadbeenUtterbol，butforthepresenttimewastohavebeenacertainstrong-houseappertainingtoUtterbol，andnighuntoit。
Thisisallthetale，andnowifthouwilt，thoumaystpardonme；
orifthouwilt，thoumaystdrawoutthyswordandsmiteoffmyhead。
AndforsoothIdeemthatwerethebetterdeed。”
Shekneltdownbeforehimandputherpalmstogether，andlookedupathimbeseechingly。Hisfacedarkenedashebeheldherthus，butitclearedatlast，andhesaid：
“Damsel，thouwouldstturnoutbutasorrymaker，andthyplayisnaught。ForseestthounotthatIshouldhavefoundoutalltheguileatUtterbol，andowedthyladyhatredratherthanlovethereafter。”
“Yea。”shesaid，“butmyladymighthavehadenoughofthylovebythen，andwouldbelikehavelettheealonetofallintothehandsoftheLord。
Lonow！Ihavedeliveredtheefromthis，sothatthouartquitbothoftheLordandtheladyandme：andagainIsaythatthoucouldstscarcehavemissed，boththouandthydamsel，ofamiserableendingatUtterbol。”
“Yea。”saidRalph，softly，andasifspeakingtohimself，“yetamIlonelyandunholpen。”ThenheturnedtoAgathaandsaid：
“TheendofallthisisthatIpardonthee，andmustdepartforthwith；
forwhenyetwocomebacktothecamp，thenpresentlywillthehuntbeup。”
Sherosefromherknees，andstoodbeforehimhumblyandsaid：
“Nay，Ishallrequitetheethypardonthusfar，thatIwillfashionsometaleformyladywhichwillkeepusinthewoodstwodaysorthree；
forwehaveprovidedvictualforouradventure。”
SaidRalph：“Imayatleastthanktheeforthat，andwilltrustintheetodosomuch。”Quothshe：“ThenmightIaskarewardofthee：
sinceforsoothotherrewardawaitethmeatUtterbol。”
“Thoushalthaveit。”saidRalph。Shesaid：“Therewardisthatthoukissmeerewepart。”
“Itmustneedsbeaccordingtomyword。”saidRalph，“yetImusttelltheethatmykisswillbearbutlittlelovewithit。”
Sheanswerednaughtbutlaidherhandsonhisbreastandputupherfacetohim，andhekissedherlips。Thenshesaid：
“Knight，thouhastkissedathrallandaguilefulwoman，yetonethatshallsmartforthee；thereforegrudgenotthekissnorrepenttheeofthykindness。”
“Howshaltthousuffer？”saidhe。Shelookedonhimsteadfastlyamoment，andsaid：“Farewell！mayallgoodgowiththee。”
Therewithsheturnedawayandwalkedoffslowlythroughthewood，andsomewhathepitiedher，andsighedashegotintohissaddle；
buthesaidtohimself：“HowmightIhelpher？Yettrueitisthatshemaywellbeinanevilcase：Imaynothelpeveryone。”
Thenheshookhisreinandrodehisways。
RalphRidestheWoodUndertheMountainsAlongwaynowrodeRalph，andnaughtbefellhimbutthefashionofthewood。
Andasherode，theheartwithinhimwaslightenedthathehadescapedfromalltheconfusionandthelyingofthosealiens，whoknewhimnot，norhiskindred，andyetwouldallusehimeachforhisownends：
andwithalhewasgladthathewasridingallaloneuponhisquest，butfree，unwounded，andwellweaponed。
Thewoodwasnotverythickwhereasherode，sothathecouldseethewhereaboutsofthesun，androdeeastasfarashecouldjudgeit。
Somelittlevictualhehadwithhim，andhefoundwoodlandfruitripeninghereandthere，andekedouthisbreadtherewith；neitherdidwaterfailhim，forherodeagoodwayupalongawoodlandstreamthatcleftthethicket，comingdownashedeemedfromthemountains，andtherebyhemadethemoreway：butatlasthedeemedthathemustneedsleaveit，asitturnedovermuchtothenorth。
Thelightwasfailingwhenhecameintoawoodlawnamidstofwhichwasapoolofwater，andallthatdayhehadhadnoadventurewithbeastorman，sincehehadsunderedfromAgatha。
Sohelaydownandslepttherewithhisnakedswordbyhisside，andawokenottillthesunwashighintheheavensnextmorning。
Thenhearoseatonceandwentonhiswayafterhehadwashedhim，andeatenamorsel。
Afteralittlethethickofthewoodgaveout，andthelandwasnolongerflat，asithadbeen，butwasofdalesandofhills，notblindedbytrees。Inthislandhesawmuchdeer，ashartandwildswine；andhehappenedalsoonabear，whowasaboutahoneytree，andhadtakenmuchcombfromthewildbees。
OnhimRalphdrewhisswordanddravehimexceedinglothfromhispurchase，sothattheknightdinedoffthebear’sthieving。
Anothertimehecameacrossabentwhereonthesouthsidegrewvineswellfruited，andthegrapesa-ripening；
andheatewellthereofbeforehewentonhisway。
Beforenightfallhecameonthatsamestreamagain，anditwasnowrunningstraightfromtheeast；sohesleptthatnightonthebankthereof。
Onthemorrowherodeupalongitagreatway，tillagainitseemedtobecomingovermuchfromthenorth；andthenheleftit，andmadeoneastasnearashecouldguessitbythesun。
Nowhepassedthroughthicketsatwhilesnotverygreat，andbetwixtthemrodehillylandgrassedmostlywithlongcoarsegrass，andwithwhinandthorn-treesscatteredabout。
Thencehesawagainfromtimetotimethehugewallofthemountainsrisingupintotheairlikeagreatblackcloudthatwouldswallowupthesky，andthoughthesightwasterrible，yetitgladdenedhim，sinceheknewthathewasontherightway。
Sofarherode，goingonthewholeup-hill，tillatlasttherewasagreatpine-woodbeforehim，sothathecouldseenoendingtoiteithernorthorsouth。
Itwasnowlateintheafternoon，andRalphponderedwhetherheshouldabidethenightwherehewasandsleepthenightthere，orwhetherheshouldpressoninhopeofwinningtosomeclearplacebeforedark。
Sowhereashewasinaplacebothroughandwaterless，hedeemeditbettertogoon，afterhehadrestedhishorseandlethimbitetheherbageawhile。
Thenherodehisways，andenteredthewoodandmadethemostoftheway。