“Shehadbuttwiceorthricespokentomesomanywordstogetherasthis；
　　butlansweredneveraword，butstoodwatchingherwarily。
　　Andofasuddenshegaveforthadreadfulscreamingroar，wherewithallthewoodrangagain，andrushedatme；
　　butmyhandcamefrombehindmyback，andhowitwasIknownot，butshetouchedmenottillthebladehadsunkintoherbreast，andshefellacrossmyfeet，herrighthandclutchingmyraiment。
　　SoIloosedherfingersfromthecloth，shudderingwithhorrorthewhile，anddrewmyselfawayfromherandstoodalittlealoof，wonderingwhatshouldhappennext。AndindeedIscarcebelievedbutshewouldpresentlyriseupfromthegroundandclutchmeinherhands，andbeginthetormentingofme。Butshemovednomore，andthegrassallaboutherwasreddenedwithherblood；
　　andatlastIgatheredhearttokneeldownbesideher，andfoundthatshenomorebreathedthanoneofthoseconiesorpartridgeswhichIhadbeenusedtoslayforher。
　　“ThenIstoodandconsideredwhatIshoulddo，andindeedI
　　hadbeenponderingthisallthewayfromtheDalethereto，incaseIshouldescapemymistress。SoIsoonmadeupmymindthatIwouldnotdwellinthathouseevenforonenight；
　　lestmymistressshouldcometomethoughdead，andtormentme。
　　Iwentintothehousewhileitwasyetlight，andlookedaboutthechamber，andsawthreegreatbookstherelaidonthelectern，butdurstnothavetakenthemevenhadIbeenabletocarrythem；
　　nordurstIeventolookintothem，forfearthatsomespellmightgettoworkinthemiftheywereopened；butIfoundaryeloafwhereofIhadeatensomewhatinthemorning，andanotheruntouched，andhangingtoahornofthelecternIfoundthenecklacewhichmymistresshadtakenfromthedeadwoman。
　　TheseIputintomyscrip，andastothenecklace，lwilltelltheehowIbestoweditlateron。ThenIsteppedoutintothetwilightwhichwasfairandgolden，andfullfainIwasofit。
　　ThenIdrovethegoatsoutoftheirhouseandwentmywaytowardstheDaleofLore，andsaidtomyselfthatthecarlinewouldteachmewhatfurthertodo，andIcametherebeforethesummerdarkhadquiteprevailed，andsleptsweetlyandsoftlyamongstmygoatsafterIhadtetheredtheminthebestofthepasture。
　　YetMoreoftheLady’sStory“Lothou，beloved。”shesaid，“thouhastseenmeinthewildwoodwithlittlegoodquickenedinme：dothnotthineheartsinkatthethoughtofthyloveandthylifegivenovertothekeepingofsuchanone？”Hesmiledinherface，andsaid：
　　“Belikethouhastdoneworsethanallthouhasttoldme：
　　andthesedayspastIhavewonderedoftenwhattherewasinthestorieswhichtheyoftheBurghadagainstthee：
　　yetsoothtosay，theytoldlittleofwhatthouhastdone：
　　nomorebelikethanbeingtheirfoe。”Shesighedandsaid：
　　“Well，hearken；yetshallInottelltheeeverydeedthatI
　　havebeenpartakerin。
　　“IsatintheDalethatnextdayandwashappy，thoughIlongedtoseethatfairmanagain：soothtosay，sincemymistresswasdead，everythingseemedfairertome，yeaevenmineownface，asIsawitinthepoolsofthestream，thoughwhilesIwonderedwhenIshouldhaveanothermistress，andhowshewoulddealwithme；
　　andeverIsaidIwouldaskthecarlinewhenshecameagaintome。
　　Butallthatdayshecamenot：nordidImarvelthereat。
　　Butwhensevendayspassedandstillshecamenot，IfelltowonderingwhatIshoulddo：formybreadwasallgone，andIdurstnotgobacktothehousetofetchmeal；thoughtherewasstoreofitthere。Howbeit，Idrankofthemilkofthegoats，andmadecurdsthereofwiththewoodlandroots，andateofthewood-berrieslikeasthouhastdone，friend，e’ennow。
　　Anditwaseasierformetofindalivelihoodinthewoodsthanithadbeenformostfolk，sowellasIknewthem。
　　Soworethedays，andshecamenot，andIbegantothinkthatI
　　shouldseethewisecarlinenomore，asindeedfelloutatthattime；
　　andthedaysbegantohangheavyonmyhands，andIfelltothinkingofthatwaytothewestandthepeopledparts，whereofthecarlinehadtoldme；andwhilesIwentoutoftheDaleandwentawayhitherandthitherthroughthewoods，andsofar，thatthriceIsleptawayoutoftheDale：
　　butIknewthatthepeopledpartswouldbestrangetomeandI
　　fearedtofacethemallalone。
　　“ThusworethedaystillJulywasonthewane，andonamorningearlyIawokewithunwontedsoundsinmineears；andwhenmyeyeswerefairlyopenIsawamanstandingovermeandawhitehorsecroppingthegrasshardby。Andmyheartwasfullandfain，andIsprangtomyfeetandshowedhimasmilinghappyface，forIsawatoncethatitwasthatfairmancomebackagain。
　　Butlo！hisfacewaspaleandworn，thoughhelookedkindlyonme，andhesaid：’Omybeloved，Ihavefoundthee，butIamfaintwithhungerandcanspeakbutlittle。’
　　Andeventherewithhesankdownonthegrass。ButIbestirredmyself，andgavehimmilkofmygoats，andcurdsandberries，andthelifecameintohimagain，andIsatdownbyhimandlaidhisheadinmylap，andhesleptalongwhile；andwhenheawokeanditwastowardssunsethekissedmyhandsandmyarms，andsaidtome：’Fairchild，perhapsthouwiltcomewithmenow；
　　andevenifthouartathrallthoumayestfleewithme；
　　formyhorseisstrongandfat，thoughIamweak，forhecanmakehisdinneronthegrass。’
　　“ThenhelaughedandInoless；butIfedhimwithmypoorvictualagain，andasheateIsaid：’Iamnomistress’sthrallnow；fortheeveningofthedaywhereonIsawtheeIslewher，elsehadsheslainme。’
　　’Thesaintsbepraised，’saidhe：’Thouwiltcomewithme，then？’
　　’Oyea，’saidI。ThenIfeltshamefacedandIreddened；butIsaid：
　　’Ihaveabidedheremanydaysforawisewomanwhohathtaughtmemanythings；
　　butwithallhopedthatthouwouldstcomealso。’
　　“Thenheputhisarmsaboutmyshouldersandlovedmemuch；
　　butatlasthesaid：“YetisitnowanotherthingthanthatwhichIlookedfor，whenItalkedofsettingtheebymeonthegoldenthrone。FornowamIabeatenman；IhavefailedofthatIsought，andsufferedshameandhungerandmanyills。
　　YeteverIthoughtthatImightfindtheehereorhereby。’
　　Thenathoughtcameintomymind，andIsaid：’Elsemaybethouhadstfoundwhatthousoughtest，andovercometheevilthings。’
　　’Maybe，’hesaid；’itisnowbutalittlematter。’“
　　“Asforme，Icouldhavenoguessatwhatwerethebetterthingshehadmeantforme，andmyheartwasfullofjoy，andallseemedbetterthanwell。Andwetalkedtogetherlongtillthedaywasgone。
　　ThenwekissedandembracedeachotherintheDaleofLore，andthedarknessofsummerseemedbutshortforourdelight。”
　　TheLadyTellsSomewhatofHerDoingsAfterSheLefttheWildernessRalphstayedherspeechnow，andsaid：“WhenIaskedoftheeintheLandofAbundance，thereweresomewhoseemedtosaythatthouhastletmoremenlovetheethanone：
　　anditwasatormenttometothinkthatevensoitmightbe。
　　Butnowwhenthineownmouthtellethmeofoneofthemitirksmelittle。Dostthouthinkitlittle-heartedinme？”
　　“Ofriend。”shesaid，“Iseethatsoitiswiththeethatthouwouldstfindduecauseforlovingme，whateverthoufoundesttrueofme。
　　OrdostthoudeemthatIwasanotherwomaninthosedays？Nay，Iwasnot：
　　IcanseemyselfstillmyselfallalongthewayIhavegone。”
　　Shewassilentalittle，andthenshesaid：“Fearnot，Iwillgivetheemuchcausetoloveme。ButnowIknowthymindthebetter，IshalltelltheelessofwhatbefellmeafterIleftthewilderness；
　　forwhateverIdidandwhateverIendured，stillitwasalwaysImyselfthatwasthere，anditismethatthoulovest。Moreover，mylifeinthewildernessisastrangerthingtotelltheeofthanmydealingswiththefolk，andwithKingsandBaronsandKnights。
　　Butthereafterthoushalthearofmewhattalesthouwiltofthesematters，asthedaysandtheyearspassoverourheads。
　　“Nowonthemorrowwewouldnotdepartatonce，becausetherewehadsomevictual，andtheking’ssonwasnotyetsowellfedasheshouldbe；soweabodeinthatfairplaceanotherday，andthenwewentourwayswestward，accordingtotheredeofthecarline；
　　anditwasmanydaysbeforewegatusoutofthewilderness，andwewereoftenhardputtoitforvictual；whilesIsatbehindmyknighta-horseback，whilesheledthebeastwhileIrodealone，andnotseldomIwentafoot，andthatnowiseslowly，whileherodethewhitehorse，forIwasaslight-footthenasnow。
　　“AndofthewaywewentIwilltelltheenoughtasnow，becausesureitisthatifwebothlive，thouandIshalltreadthatroadtogether，butwithourfacesturnedtheotherway；
　　foritistheroadfromtheWellattheWorld’sEnd，whereI
　　myselfhavebeen，orelseneverhadthineeyesfallenonme。”
　　Ralphsaid，“EvensomuchIdeemedbyreadinginthebook；
　　yetitwasnottoldclearlythatthouhadstbeenthere。”
　　“Yea。”shesaid，becausethesaidbookwasmadenotbymyfriendsbutmyfoes，andtheywouldhavemendeemthatmylengthofdaysandtheenduranceofmybeautyandnever-dyingyouthofmyheartcamefromevilanddevilishsources；
　　andifthouwilttrustmyworditisnotso，forintheWellattheWorld’sEndisnoevil，butonlytheQuenchingofSorrow，andClearingoftheEyesthattheymaybehold。
　　Andhowgooditisthattheylookontheenow。Andmoreover，thehistoryofthatbookispartlyfalseofintentionandill-will，andpartlyaconfusedmedleyoftrueandfalse，whichhascomeofmerechance-hap。
　　“Hearkennow。”shesaid，“tillItelltheeinfewwordwhatbefellmebeforeIcametodrinktheWateroftheWell。
　　Afterwehadpassedlongdesertsofwoodandheath，andgonethroughlandsexceedingevilandperilous，anddespairedoflifeforthehorrorofthoseplaces，andseennomen，wecameatlastamongstasimplefolkwhodealtkindlywithus，yea，andmore。
　　Thesefolkseemedtomehappyandofgoodwealth，thoughtomylordtheyseemedpoorandlackingofthegoodsoftheworld。Forsooth，bythattimewelackedmorethanthey，forwewerewornwithcoldandhunger，andhardlife：
　　thoughforme，indeed，happyhadbeenthedaysofmywayfaring，butmylordrememberedthedaysofhisrichesandthekingdomofhisfather，andtheworshipofmightymen，andallthathehadpromisedmeonthehappydaywhenIfirstbeheldhim：
　　sobelikehewasscarcesohappyasIwas。
　　“Itwasspringtimewhenwecametothatfolk；forwehadwornthroughtheautumnandwinteringettingclearofthewilderness。
　　Notthatthewaywaslong，asIfoundoutafterwards，butthatwewentastrayinthewoodland，andatlastcameoutofitintoadreadfulstonywastewhichwestrovetocrossthrice，andthriceweredrivenbackintothegreenwoodbythirstandhunger；butthefourthtime，havinggottenusstoreofvictualbymywoodcraft，weoverpasseditandreachedthepeopledcountry。
　　“Yea，springwasontheearth，aswe，mylordandI，camedownfromthedesolatestonyheaths，andwenthandandhandacrosstheplain，wheremenandwomenofthatfolkwerefeastingroundaboutthesimpleroofsandwoodlandhallswhichtheyhadraisedthere。Thentheylefttheirgamesandsportsandrantous，andwewalkedonquietly，thoughweknewnotwhetherthemeetingwastobefordeathorlife。