“Beloved。”hesaid，“thoudostnotwhollyknowthyself；
andIdeemthatthemirrorsofsteelservetheebutill；
andnowmustthouhavesomewhatelseforamirror，towit，theuprisingandincreaseoftroubleconcerningtheeandthyfairness，andthestrifeofthemthatlovetheeovermuch，whoshallstrivetotaketheefromme；andthenthebladethathathseentheWellattheWorld’sEndshallcomeoutofhissheathandtakemeandtheefromthehubbub，andintothequietfieldsofmyfather’shome，andthenshaltthoubelearnedofthyself，whenthouseestthatthouartthedesireofallhearts。”
“Ah，thewisdomofthee。”shesaid，“andthyvaliancy，andIambecomefeebleandfoolishbeforethee！
WhatshallIdothen？”
Hesaid：“Manyatimeshallitbeshownwhatthoushaltdo；buthereandnowisthehighwaydryandlong，andtheplainmeadsandacresoneitherhand，andaglimmerofWhitwallafaroff，andthelittlecloudofdustaboutustwointhelatespringweather；andtheSageandMichaelridingbehindus，andsmitingdustfromthehardroad。
Andnowifthisalsobeadream，letitspeedilybegone，andletuswakeupintheancientHouseatUpmeads，whichthouhastneverseen——
andthouandIineachother’sarms。”
CHAPTER13
TheyCometoWhitwallAgainHerewiththeywerecometoalittlethorpwherethewaysundered，forthehighwaywentontoWhitwall，andabywayturnedofftoSwevenham。Therebywasapoorhostel，wheretheystayedandrestedforthenight，becauseeveningwasathand。
Sowhenthosefourhadeatenanddrunktheretogether，Ralphspokeandsaid：“Michael-a-dale，thouartforSwevenhamto-morrow？”
“Yea，lord。”saidMichael，“belikeIshallyetfindkindredthere；
andIcalltothymindthatIcravedoftheetoleadmetoSwevenhamaspaymentforallifIhaddoneaughtforthyservice。”
“Soothisthat。”saidRalph，“thoushaltgowithmygood-will；
and，asIdeem，thoushaltnotlackcompanybetwixthereandSwevenham，whereasourdearfriendhere，thefriendofthyfather’sfather，isgoingthesameroad。”
ThentheSageofSwevenhamleanedacrosstheboard，andsaid：
“Whatwordhathcomeoutofthymouth，myson？”SaidRalph，smilingonhim：“Itisthelastwordwhichwehaveheardfromtheeofthismatter，thoughverilyitwasspokenawhileago。
Whatwiltthouaddtoitasnow？”“This。”quoththeSage，“thatIwillleavetheenomoretillthoubiddestmegofromthee。
Wasthiswordneedful？”
Ralphreachedhishandtohimandsaid：“Itiswellandmore；
buttheroadhencetoUpmeadsmayyetbearoughone。”
“Yea。”saidtheSage，“yetshallwecomethitherallliving，unlessmysightnowfaileth。”
ThenUrsularoseupandcametotheoldman，andcastherarmsabouthimandsaid：“Yea，father，comewithus，andletthywisdomblessourroof-tree。
Wiltthounotteachourchildrenwisdom；yea，maybeourchildren’schildren，sincethouartafriendoftheWell？”
“Iknownotoftheteachingofwisdom。”saidtheSage；
“butastomygoingwiththee，itshallbeasIsaide’en-now；
andforsoothIlookedforthisbiddingoftheetomakenaughtofthewordwhichIspokeereyetIhadlearnedwisdomofthee。”
Therewithweretheymerry，andfainofeachother，andtheeveningworeamidstgreatcontent。
Butwhenmorningwascometheygattohorse，andRalphspaketoMichaelandsaid：“Well，friend，nowmustthouridealonetothykindred，andmayfairdaysbefalltheeinSwevenham。
Butifthoudeematanytimethatmattersgonotsowellwiththeeasthouwouldst，thenturnthineheadtoUpmeads，andtryitthere，andweshallfurthertheeallwemay。”
ThencametheSagetoMichaelashesatuponhishorse，astalwarthmanofsomefortywinters，andsaid：“Michael-a-dale，reachmethinehand。”
Sodidhe，andtheSagelookedintothepalmthereof，andsaid：
“Thismanshallmakeoldbones，anditismorelikethannot，King’sson，thatheshallseektotheeatUpmeadserehedie。”
SaidRalph：“Hiscomingshallbeajoytous，howpleasantsoeverourlifemaybeotherwise。Farewell，Michael！allgoodgowiththeeforthinewholesomeredes。”
SothenMichaelgavethemfarewell，androdehiswaystoSwevenham，goinghastily，asonewhoshouldhurryawayfromagrief。
ButthethreeheldontheirwaytoWhitwall，anditwasbarelynoonwhentheycametothegatethereofonaSaturdayoflatterMay，Itwasamarket-day，andthestreetswerethronged，andtheylookedonthefolkandwerefainofthem，sincetheyseemedtothemtobesomethingmorethanaliens。
Thefolkalsolookedonthemcuriously，anddeemedthemgoodly，boththeoldmanandthetwoknights，fortheythoughtnootherwiseofUrsulathanthatshewasacarle。
Butnowastheyrode，slowlybecauseofthecrowd，upPetergate，theyheardacryofonebesidethem，asofamanastonishedbutjoyful；
soRalphdrewrein，andturnedthitherwhencethecrycame，andUrsulasawamanwide-shouldered，grey-haired，blue-eyed，andruddyofcountenance——amanwarrior-liketolookon，andgirtwithalongsword。Ralphlighteddownfromhishorse，andmettheman，whowascomingtowardhim，casthisarmsabouthisneck，andkissedhim，andlo，itwasRichardtheRed。
Thepeopleroundabout，whentheysawit，clappedtheirhands，andcrowdedaboutthetwocryingout：“Hailtothefriendslongparted，andnowunited！”ButRichard，whommostknew，criedout：“Makeway，mymasters！willyesunderusagain？”
ThenhesaidtoRalph：“Getintothysaddle，lad；forsurelythouhastataletotelloverlongfortheopenstreet。”
Ralphdidashewasbidden，andwithoutmoreadotheywentonalltowardthathostelrywhereRalphhaderstbornetheburdenofgrief。
RichardwalkedbyRalph’sside，andashewenthesaid：
“Moreover，lad，Icanseethatthytaleisnoillone；thereforemyheartisnotwrungfortheeorme，thoughIwaitforitawhile。”
Thenagainhesaid：“Thoudoestwelltohideherlovelinessinwar-weedeveninthistownofpeace。”
Ursulareddened，andRichardlaughedandsaid：
“Well，itisafairrosewhichthouhastbroughtfromeast-away。
Therewillbeneveranothercoupleinthesepartslikeyou。
NowIseethewordsonthylips；soItelltheethatBlaisethybrotherisaliveandwellandhappy；whichlastwordmeansthathiscofferisbothdeepandfull。Forsooth，hewouldmakeapoorbargaininbuyinganykingshipthatIwotof，sorichheis，yea，andmightywithal。”
SaidRalph：“AndhowwentthewarwithWaltertheBlack？”
Evenashespakehisfacechanged，forhebethoughthimovercloselyofthepastdays，andhisdreamoftheLadyofAbundanceandofDorothea，whorodebyhimnowasUrsula。ButRichardspake：“Shortisthetaletotell。
Islewhiminshockofbattle，andhismencravedpeaceofthegoodtown。
Manyweregladofhisdeath，andfewsorrowedforit；for，fairashisyoungbodywas，hewasacrueltyrant。”
TherewithweretheycometothehosteloftheLambwhichwastheverysamehousewhereinRalphhadabidedaforetime；andasheenteredit，itisnottobesaidbutthatinwardlyhisheartbledfortheoldsorrow。
Ursulalookedonhimlovinglyandblithely；andwhentheywerewithindoorsRichardturnedtotheSageandsaid：“Hailtothee，reverendman！
wertthoufortyyearsoldertobehold，outwornandforgottenofdeath，IshouldhavesaidthatthouwertliketotheSagethatdweltaloneamidstthemountainsnightoSwevenhamwhenIwasalittlelad，andfearsomewasthesightoftheeuntome。”
TheSagelaughedandsaid：“Yea，somewhatlikeamIyettomyselfoffortyyearsago。Goodisthymemory，greybeard。”
ThenRichardshookhishead，andspakeunderhisbreath：
“Yea，thenitwasnodreamorcolouredcloud，andhehathdrankofthewaters，andsothenhathmydearlord。”
Thenhelookedupbright-faced，andcalledontheserving-men，andbadeoneleadthemintoafairchamber，andanothergoforthandprovideabanquettobebroughtinthither。
Sotheywentupintoagoodlychamberhighaloft；andUrsulawentforthfromitawhile，andcamebackpresentlycladinveryfairwoman’sraiment，whichRalphhadboughtforheratGoldburg。
Richardlookedonherandnothingelseforawhile；
thenhewalkedaboutthechamberuneasily，nowspeakingwiththeSage，nowwithUrsula，butneverwithRalph。
AtlasthespaketoUrsula，andsaid：“Grantmeagrace，lady，andbenotwrothifItakethymanintothewindowyonderthatI
maytalkwithhimprivilywhileyeholdconversetogether，thouandtheSageofSwevenham。”
Shelaughedmerrilyandsaid：“Sirnurse，takethybantlingandcossethiminwhatsocornerthouwilt，andIwillturnawaymineeyesfromthycaresses。”
SoRichardtookRalphintoawindow，andsatdownbesidehimandsaid：
“MayhappenIshallsaddentheebymyquestion，butImindmewhatourlasttalkingtogetherwasabout，andthereforeImustneedsasktheethis，wasthatotheronefairerthanthisoneis？”
Ralphknithisbrows：“Iwotnot。”quothhe，“sincesheisgone，thatotherone。”
“Yea。”saidRichard，“butthisIsay，thatsheiswithoutablemish。
DidyedrinkoftheWelltogether？”
“Yea，surely。”saidRalph。SaidRichard：“Andisthiswomanofagoodheart？Isshevaliant？”“Yea，yea。”
saidRalph，flushingred。
“Asvaliantaswasthatother？”saidRichard。SaidRalph：
“HowmayItell，unlesstheyweretriedinoneway？”
YetRichardspake：“Areyewedded？”“Evenso。”saidRalph。
“Dostthoudeemhertrue？”saidRichard。“Truerthanmyself。”
saidRalph，inavoicewhichwassomewhatangry。
QuothRichard：“Thenisitbetterthanwell，andbetterthanwell；
fornowhastthouweddedintotheWorldoflivingmen，andnottoadreamoftheLandofFairy。”
Ralphsatsilentalittle，andasifhewereswallowingsomewhat；
atlasthesaid：“Oldfriend，Iwerewellcontentifthouwerttospeaksuchwordsnomore；foritirksme，andwoundethmyheart。”
SaidRichard：“Well，Iwillsaynomorethereof；becontenttherefore，fornowIhavesaidit，andthouneedestnotfearme，whatIhavetosaythereonanymore，andthoumaystwellwotthatImustneedshavesaidsomewhatofthis。”
Ralphnoddedtohimfriendly，andeventherewithcameinthebanquet，whichwasrichlyserved，asforaKing’sson，andwinewaspouredforthofthebest，andtheyfeastedandweremerry。AndthenRalphtoldallthetaleofhiswanderingshowithadbetid，bringinginallthatUrsulahadtoldhimofUtterbol；whileasforhersheputinnowordofit。
SothatatlastRalph，beingwishfultohearhertellsomewhat，mademoreofsomethingsthanwasreallyinthem，sothatshemightsethimright；
butnowordmoreshesaidforallthat，butonlysmiledonhimnowandagain，andsatblushinglikearoseoverhergolden-floweredgown，whileRichardlookedonherandpraisedherinhisheartexceedingly。
ButwhenRalphhaddonethestorywhichwaslong，sothatbythenitwasoverithadbeendarknightsomewhile，Richardsaid：
“Well，fosterling，thouhastseenmuch，anddonemuch，andmanywouldsaythatthouartaluckyman，andthatmoreandmuchmoreliethreadytothinehand。Whithernowwiltthouwend，orwhatwiltthoudo？”
Ralph’sfacereddened，asitswonthadbeenwhenitwastwoyearsyounger，atcontentiondrawingnigh，andheanswered：
“WherethenshouldIgosavetotheHouseofmyFathers，andthefieldsthatfedthem？WhatshouldIdobutliveamongstmypeople，wardingthemfromevil，andlovingthemandgivingthemgoodcounsel？
ForwhereforeshouldIlovethemlessthanheretofore？
Havetheybecomedastards，andthefoolsofmankind？”