notabigwoman，butwellfashionedofbody，andlookingasifshehadoncebeenexceedingdaintyandtrim。Shespake，andagainI
　　seemedtohaveheardhervoicebefore：’Hail，Queen，’shesaid，’itdoesmyheartgoodtoseetheethusinthygloriousestate。’
　　SoItookhergreeting；butthosetalesofmybeingbutasendingoftheDevilfortheruinofthatlandcameintomymind，andI
　　sentawaythefolkwhoweretherebybeforeIsaidmoretoher。
　　Thenshespakeagain：’EvensoIguesseditwouldbethatthouwouldstgrowgreatamongstwomen。’
　　“ButIsaid，’Whatisthis？andwhenhaveIknowntheebefore-time？’
　　Shesmiledandsaidnaught；andmymindwentbacktothoseolddays，andItrembled，andthefleshcreptuponmybones，lestthisshouldbethecomingbackinanewshapeofmymistresswhomIhadslain。
　　Butthewomanlaughed，andsaid，asifsheknewmythoughts：
　　’Nay，itisnotso：thedeadaredead；fearnot：buthastthouforgottentheDaleofLore？’
　　“’Nay，’saidI，’never；andartthouthenthecarlinethatlearnedmelore？
　　Butifthedeadcomenotback，howdotheoldgrowyoungagain？for’tisascoreofyearssincewetwosatintheDale，andIlongedformanythings。’
　　“Saidthewoman：’ThedeadmaynotdrinkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd；
　　yetthelivingmay，eveniftheybeold；andthatblessedwatergiveththemnewmightandchangeththeirblood，andtheyareasyoungfolkforalongwhileagainaftertheyhavedrunken。’
　　’Andhastthoudrunken？’saidI。
　　“’Yea，’shesaid；’butIammindedforanotherdraught。’Isaid：
　　’Andwhereforehastthoucometome，andwhatshallIgivetothee？’
　　Shesaid，’Iwilltakenogiftoftheeasnow，forIneeditnot，thoughhereafterImayaskagiftofthee。ButIamtoaskthisofthee，ifthouwiltbemyfellow-farerontheroadthither？’
　　’Yea？’saidI，’andleavemyloveandmylord，andmykingshipwhichhehathgivenme？forthisIwilltellthee，thatallthathereisdone，isdonebyme。’
　　“’GreatisthyKingship，Lady，’saidthewoman，andsmiledwithal。
　　Thenshesatsilentalittle，andsaid：’Whensixmonthsareworn，itwillbespringtide；Iwillcometotheeinthespringdays，andknowwhatthymindisthen。ButnowImustdepart。’
　　QuothI：’GladshallIbetotalkwiththeeagain；
　　forthoughthouhastlearnedmemuchofwisdom，yetmuchmoreIneed；yea，asmuchasthefolkheredeemIhavealready。’
　　’Thoushalthavenoless，’saidthewoman。Thenshekissedmyhandsandwentherways，andIsatmusingstillforalongwhile：
　　becauseforallmygains，andmylovethatIhadbeenlovedwithal，andthegreatnessthatIhadgotten，therewasasitwereaveilofunhappinesswrappedroundaboutmyheart。
　　“Soworethemonths，anderethewinterhadcomebefellanevilthing，formylord，whohadlovedmeso，andtakenmeoutofthewilderness，died，andwasgatheredtothefathers，andtherewasIleftalone；
　　fortherewasnofruitofmywombbyhimalive。Myfirst-bornhadbeenslainbythosewretches，andasecondsonthatIborehaddiedofapestilencethatwarandfaminehadbroughtupontheland。
　　Iwillnotwearthysoulwithwordsaboutmygriefandsorrow：
　　butitistobetoldthatIsatnowinaperilousplace，andyetI
　　mightnotstepdownfromitandabideinthatland，forthenitwasasurething，thatsomeofmyfoeswouldhavelaidhandonmeandbroughtmetojudgmentforbeingbutmyself，andIshouldhaveendedmiserably。
　　SoIgattomeallthestrengththatImight，andwhereasthereweremanywholovedmestill，someformyownsake，andsomeforthesakeofmylordthatwas，Ienduredingoodhopethatallmydayswerenotdone。
　　YetIlongedforthecomingoftheTeacherofLore；fornowImadeupmymindthatIwouldgowithher，andseektotheWellattheWorld’sEndforwealandwoe。
　　“ShecamewhileAprilwasyetyoung：andIneedmakenolongtaleofhowwegatusaway：forwhereasshewaswiseinhiddenlore，itwasnohardmatterforhertogivemeanothersemblancethanmineown，sothatImighthavewalkedaboutthestreetsofourcityfromendtoend，andnonehadknownme。
　　SoIvanishedawayfrommythroneandmykingdom，andthatnameandfameofawitch-wifeclovetomeonceandforall，andspreadwideaboutthecitiesoffolkandthekingdoms，andmanyarethetalesthathavearisenconcerningme，andbelikesomeofthesethouhastheardtold。”
　　Ralphreddenedandsaid：“Mysoulhasbeenvexedbysomeinklingofthem；
　　butnowitisatrestfromthemforever。”
　　“Mayitbeso！”shesaid：“andnowmytaleiswearingthinforthepresenttime。
　　“Backagainwentmyfeetoverthewaystheyhadtroddenbefore，thoughtheTeachershortenedtheroadmuchforusbyherwisdom。
　　Onceagainwhatneedtotelltheeofthesewayswhenthineowneyesshallbeholdthemasthouwendestthembesideme？
　　BeitenoughtosaythatonceagainIcametothatlittlehouseintheuttermostwilderness，andthereoncemorewasthegarthandthegoat-house，andthetreesoftheforestbeyondit，andthewood-lawnsandthestreamsandalltheplacesandthingsthaterstIdeemedImustdwellamongstforever。”
　　SaidRalph：“Anddidthecarlinekeeptrothwiththee？
　　Wasshenotbutluringtheethithertobeherthrall？
　　OrdidthebookthatIreadintheCastleofAbundancebutlieconcerningthee？”
　　“Sheheldhertrothtomeinallwise。”saidtheLady，“andIwasnothrallofhers，butasasister，oritmaybeevenasadaughter；
　　forevertomyeyeswasshetheoldcarlinewholearnedmeloreintheDaleofthewildwood。
　　“Butnowalongwhile，yearslong，weabodeinthatHouseoftheSorceresserewedurstseekfurthertotheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　Andyetmeseemsthoughtheyearswore，theyworemenoolder；
　　nay，inthefirstdaysatleastIwaxedstrongerofbodyandfairerthanI
　　hadbeenintheKing’sPalaceintheLandoftheTower，asthoughsomeforetasteoftheWellwasthereforusinthelonelinessofthedesert；
　　althoughforsooththeabidingthereamidstthescantinessoflivelihood，andthenakedness，andthetoil，andthetormentofwindandweatherwereasapenanceforthedaysanddeedsofourpastlives。
　　Whatmoreistosayconcerningourliveshere，savingthis，thatinthosedaysIlearnedyetmorewisdomoftheTeacherofLore，andamidstthatwisdomwasmuchofthatwhichyecallsorcery：
　　astheforeseeingofthingstocome，andthesendingofdreamsorvisions，andcertainothermatters。AndImaytelltheethattheholymanwhocametouslasteven，Isenthimthedreamwhichcametohimdrowsing，andbadehimcometothehelpingofWaltertheBlack：forIknewthatI
　　shouldtakethyhandandfleewiththeethismorninge’enasIhavedone：
　　andIwouldfainhaveagoodleechtoWalterlestheshoulddie，althoughIowehimhatredratherthanlove。Now，myfriend，tellme，isthisanevildeed，anddostthoushrinkfromtheSorceress？”
　　Hestrainedhertohisbosomandkissedhermouth，andthenhesaid：“Yetthouhastneversentadreamtome。”
　　Shelaughedandsaid：“What！hastthouneverdreamedofmesincewemetatthewant-wayoftheWoodPerilous？”
　　“Never。”saidhe。Shestrokedhischeekfondly，andsaid：
　　“Youngartthou，sweetfriend，andsleepestwella-nights。Itwasenoughthatthouthoughtestofmeinthywakinghours。”
　　Thenshewentonwithhertale。
　　TheLadyMakethanEndofHerTale“Well，myfriend，afterwehadlivedthusalongtime，wesetoutonedaytoseektotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，eachofussignedandmarkedoutforthequestbybearingsuch-likebeadsasthouandIbothbearuponourneckstoday。
　　OnceagainofallthatbefellusonthatquestIwilltelltheenaughtasnow：becausetothatWellhaveItobringthee：
　　thoughmyself，belike，Ineednotitswatersagain。”
　　QuothRalph：“Andmustthouleadmethyveryself，mayestthounotabideinsomesafeplacemygoingandreturning？
　　Somanyandsoreasthetoilsandperilsofthewaymaybe。”
　　“What！”shesaid，“andhowshallIbesunderedfromtheenowI
　　havefoundthee？Yea，andwhoshallleadthee，thoulovelyboy？
　　Shallitbeamantobewraythee，orawomantobewrayme？
　　Yetneedwenotgotomorrow，mybeloved，norformanydays：
　　sosweetaswearetoeachother。
　　“Butinthosepastdaysitwasneedsmustwebeginourquestbeforetheburdenofyearswasoverheavyuponus。
　　Shortlytosayit，wefoundtheWell，anddrankofitswatersafterabundanttoilandperil，asthoumaystwelldeem。
　　Thenthelifeandthesoulcamebacktous，andthepastyearswereasnaughttous，andmyyouthwasrenewedinme，andIbecameasthouseestmeto-day。Butmyfellowwasasawomanoffortysummersagain，strongandfairasIhadseenherwhenshecameintothegardeninthedaysofmyQueenhood，andthuswereturnedtotheHouseoftheSorceress，andrestedthereforalittlefromourtravelandourjoy。
　　“Atlast，andthatwasbutsomefiveyearsago，theTeachersaidtome：
　　’Sister，Ihavelearnedtheeallthatthineheartcantakeofme，andthouartstronginwisdom，andmoreoveragainshallitbewiththee，asItoldoftheelongago，thatnomanshalllookontheethatshallnotlovethee。NowIwillnotseektoseethylifethatiscoming，norwhatthineendshallbe，forthatshouldbelikebegrievoustobothofus；butthisIseeofthee，thatthouwiltnowguidethylifenotasIwill，butasthouwilt；andsincemywayisnotthyway，andthatIseethoushaltnotlongabidealone，nowshallwesunder；
　　forIammindedtogotothemostancientpartsoftheworld，andseekalltheinnermostofwisdomwhilesIyetlive；butwithkingsandchampionsandthecitiesoffolkwillIhavenomoretodo：
　　whilethoushaltnotbeabletorefrainfromthese。SonowI
　　bidtheefarewell。’
　　“Iweptatherwords，butgainsaidthemnaught，forIwottedthatshespakebutthetruth；soIkissedher，andweparted；
　　shewentherwaysthroughthewildwood，andIabodeattheHouseoftheSorceress，andwaitedonthewearingofthedays。
　　“Butscarceamonthafterherdeparture，asIstoodbythethresholdonemorningamidstofthegoats，Isawmencomeridingfromoutthewood；soI
　　abodethem，andtheycametothegateofthegarthandtherelighteddownfromtheirhorses，andtheywerethreeincompany；andnooneofthemwasyoung，andonewasold，withwhitelocksflowingdownfromunderhishelm：
　　fortheywereallarmedinknightlyfashion，buttheyhadnaughtbutwhitegaberdinesovertheirhauberks，withnocoat-armourortokenuponthem。
　　Sotheycamethroughthegarth-gateandIgreetedthemandaskedthemwhattheywould；thentheoldmankneltdownonthegrassbeforemeandsaid：
　　’IfIwereasyoungasIamoldmyheartwouldfailmeinbeholdingthybeauty：butnowIwillasktheesomewhat：farawaybeyondtheforestweheardrumoursofawomandwellingintheuttermostdesert，whohaddrunkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andwaswisebeyondmeasure。
　　Nowwehavesetourselvestoseekthatwoman，andifthoubeshe，wewouldaskaquestionofthywisdom。’
　　“IansweredthatIwasevensuchastheyhadheardof，andbadethemask。
　　“Saidtheoldman：
　　“’Fiftyyearsago，whenIwasyetbutayoungman，therewasafairwomanwhowasQueenoftheLandoftheTowerandwhomwelovedsorelybecausewehaddwelttogetherwithheramidsttribulationinthedesertandthewildwood：andwearenotofherpeople，butafellowshipoffreemenandchampionshighttheMenoftheDryTree：andwehopedthatshewouldonedaycomebackanddwellwithusandbeourLadyandQueen：
　　andindeedtroubleseemeddrawinganighher，sothatwemighthelpherandshemightbecomeourfellowagain，whenlo！shevanishedawayfromthefolkandnoneknewwhereshewasgone。
　　ThereforeabandofusoftheDryTreesworeanoathtogethertoseekhertillwefoundher，thatwemightliveanddietogether：
　　butofthatbandofonescoreandone，amIthelastoneleftthatseeketh；fortherestaredead，orsick，ordeparted：
　　andindeedIwastheyoungestofthem。Butforthesetwomen，theyaremysonswhomIhavebredintheknowledgeofthesethingsandinthehopeoffindingtidingsofourLadyandQueen，ifitwerebuttheplacewhereherbodylieth。Thouartwise：