RalphDreamsaDreamOrSeesaVisionTherewithalltheypartedaftermoretalkconcerningsmallmatters，andRalphworethroughtheday，butRichardagaindidhimtowit，thatonthemorrowhewouldfindhisoldfriendsofSwevenhamintheMarket。
　　AndRalphwascometolifeagainmorethanhehadbeensincethatevilhourinthedesert；thoughhardandhardhedeemeditthatheshouldneverseehisloveagain。
　　Nowasbefallethyoungmen，hewasagoodsleeper，anddreamedbutseldom，savesuchlightandemptydreamsashemightlaughat，ifperchanceherememberedthembythenhisraimentwasonhiminthemorning。
　　Butthatnighthim-seemedthatheawokeinhischamberatWhitwall，andwaslyingonhisbed，asheverilywas，andthedoorofthechamberopened，andthereenteredquietlytheLadyoftheWoodland，dightevenashehadseenherasshelaydeadbesidetheircookingfireonthattableofgreenswardinthewilderness，barefootandgarlandedaboutherbrowandhergirdlestead，butfairandfreshcolouredasshewasbeforetheswordhadpiercedherside；andhethoughtthatherejoicedtoseeher，butnowildhoperoseinhisheart，andnosobbingpassionblindedhiseyes，nordidhestretchouthandtotouchher，becauseherememberedthatshewasdead。
　　Buthethoughtshespaketohimandsaid：“Iknowthatthouwouldsthavemespeak，thereforeIsaythatIamcometobidtheefarewell，sincetherewasnofarewellbetweenusinthewilderness，andIknowthatthouareaboutgoingonalongandhardandperilousjourney：
　　andIwouldthatIcouldkisstheeandembracethee，butImaynot，forthisisbuttheimageofmeasthouhastknownme。Furthermore，asI
　　lovedtheewhenIsawtheefirst，forthyyouth，andthyfairness，andthykindnessandthyvaliancy，sonowIrejoicethatallthisshallenduresolonginthee，asitsurelyshall。”
　　Thenthevoiceceased，butstilltheimagestoodbeforehimawhile，andhewonderedifshewouldspeakagain，andtellhimaughtofthewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd；andshespakeagain：
　　“Nay。”shesaid，“Icannot，sincewemaynottreadthewaytogetherhandinhand；andthisispartofthelossthatthouhasthadofme；
　　andoh！butitishardandhard。”Andherfacebecamesadanddistressful，andsheturnedanddepartedasshehadcome。
　　Thenheknewnotifheawoke，orifitwereachangeinhisdream；
　　butthechamberbecamedarkabouthim，andhelaytherethinkingofher，till，asitseemed，daybegantodawn，andtherewassomelittlestirintheworldwithout，andthenewwindmovedthecasement。
　　Andagainthedooropened，andsomeoneenteredasbefore；andthisalsowasawoman：green-cladshewasandbarefoot，yetheknewatoncethatitwasnothislovethatwasdead，butthedamseloftheale-houseofBourton，whomhehadlastseenbythewantwaysoftheWoodPerilous，andhethoughtherwondrousfair，fairerthanhehaddeemed。
　　Andthewordcamefromher：“Iamasendingofthewomanwhomthouhastloved，andIshouldnothavebeenheresaveshehadsentme。”
　　Thenthewordsended，whilehelookedatherandwonderedifshealsohaddiedonthewaytotheWellattheWorld’sEnd。Anditcameintohismindthathehadneverknownhernameupontheearth。
　　Thenagaincametheword：“SoitisthatIamnotdeadbutaliveintheworld，thoughIamfarawayfromthisland；anditisgoodthatthoushouldstgoseektheWellattheWorld’sEndnotallalone：
　　andtheseekermayfindme：andwhereasthouwouldstknowmyname，IhightDorothea。”
　　Sofellthewordsagain：andthisimagestoodawhileastheotherhaddone，andastheotherhaddone，departed，andoncemorethechamberbecamedark，sothatRalphcouldnotsomuchasseewherewasthewindow，andheknewnomoretillhewokeintheearlymorn，andtherewasstirinthestreetandthevoiceofmen，andthescentoffreshherbsandworts，andfruits；
　　foritwasmarket-day，andthecountryfolkwereearlyafoot，thattheymightarraytheirwarestimelyinthemarket-place。
　　CHAPTER16
　　OftheTalesofSwevenhamOldRichardwasnoworsethanhisword，andfailednottofindoldacquaintanceofSwevenhamintheSaturday’smarket：
　　andRalphsawnaughtofhimtillmidweekafterwards。AndhewassittinginthechamberofthehostelwhenRichardcameintohim。
　　ForsoothBlaisehadbiddenhimcomedwellinhisfairhouse，butRalphwouldnot，deemingthathemightbehinderedinhisquestandbelessfreetogowheresohewould，ifheweredwellingwithonewhowassogreatwiththemagnatesaswasBlaise。
　　NowRalphwasreadinginabookwhenRichardcamein，buthestoodupandgreetedhim；andRichardsaidsmiling：
　　“Whathaveyefoundinthebook，lord？”SaidRalph：
　　“IttellethofthedeedsofAlexander。”“IsthereaughtconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEndtherein？”saidRichard。
　　“Ihavenotfoundaughtthereofasyet。”saidRalph；
　　“butthebooktellsconcerningtheDryTree，andofkingssittingintheirchairsinthemountainsnearby。”
　　“Wellthen。”saidRichard，“maybethouwiltthinkmethebettertale-teller。”
　　“Tellonthen。”quothRichard。Sotheywentandsatthemdowninawindow，andRichardsaid：
　　“WhenIcametoSwevenhamwithtwooldmenthatIhadknownyoung，thefolkmademuchofme，andmademegoodcheer，whereofwereoverlongtotellthee；
　　buttospeakshortly，Idrewthetalkroundtothematterthatwewouldwotof：forwespakeoftheMenoftheDryTree，andanoldmanbegantosay，asmasterClementtheotherday，thatthisnameoftheirswasbutatokenandanarmourywhichthosechampionshavetakenfromtheTreeitself，whichAlexandertheChampionsawinhiswayfarings；andhesaidthatthistreewasonthehithersideofthemountainscalledtheWalloftheWorld，andnogreatwayfromthelastofthetownswheretoClementwillwend；
　　forClementtoldmethenamethereof，towit，Goldburg。Thenanotherandanolderman，onethatIrememberastoutcarleereIleftSwevenham，saidthatthiswasnotso，butthattheTreewasonthefurthersideoftheWalloftheWorld，andthathewhocouldlayhishandonthebolethereofwaslikeenoughtodrinkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　Thereafteranotherspake，andtoldataleofhowthechampionsatHamptonfirsttooktheDryTreeforatoken；andhesaidthattherumourran，thatawomanhadbroughtthetidingsthereoftothosevaliantmen，andhadfixedthenameuponthem，thoughwhereforenoneknew。
　　Sothetalkwenton。
　　“Buttherewasacarlinesittingintheingle，andsheknewmeandIher。
　　Andindeedindayspast，whenIwasrestlessandlongingtodepart，shemighthaveheldmeatSwevenham，forshewasoneofthefriendsthatIlovedthere：
　　awordandakisshaddoneit，ormaybethekisswithouttheword：
　　butifIhadtheword，Ihadnotthekissofher。Well，whenthetalkbegantofall，shespakeandsaidtome：
　　“’Nowitissomewhatstrangethatthetalkmustneedsfallonthisseekingofthatwhichshallnotbefound，whereasitwasbutthemonthbeforethouwertlastatSwevenham，thatWatMillerandSimonBowyersetofftoseektheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andtookwiththemAliceofQueenhough，whomSimonlovedaswellasmightbe，andWatsomewhatmorethanwell。
　　Mindestthounot？TherearemorethanIalivethatrememberit。’
　　“’Yea，’saidI，’Irememberitwell。’
　　“Forindeed，foster-son，theseweretheverythreeofwhomItoldthee，thoughItoldtheenottheirnames。
　　“’Well，’saidI；’howspedthey？Cametheyback，oranyofthem？’
　　’Nay，’shesaid，’thatwerescarcetobelookedfor。’SaidI：
　　’Haveanyothertothyknowledgegoneonthissaidquest？’
　　“’Yea，’shesaid，’Iwilltelltheeallaboutit，andthentherewillbeanendofthestory，fornoneknowethbetterthereofthanI。Firsttherewasthatoldman，thewizard，towhomfolkfromSwevenhamandotherplacesaboutwereusedtoseekforhisloreinhiddenmatters；andsomemonthsafterthosethreehaddeparted，folkwhowenttohisabodeamongstthemountainsfoundhimnot；andsoonthewordwasaboutthathealso，forasfeebleashewas，hadgonetoseektheWellattheWorld’sEnd；
　　thoughmay-happenitwasnotso。Thenthenextspringafterthydeparture，Richard，comeshomeArnoldWrightfromthewars，andasksafterAlice；
　　andwhenheheardwhathadbefallen，hetakesascripwithalittlemeatfortheroad，layshisspearonhisshoulder，andisgoneseekingthelost，andthethingwhichtheyfoundnot——that，Ideem，wastheendofhim。
　　Againtheyearafterthat，asIdeem，threeofourcarlesfellinwithtwoknightsridingeastfromWhitwall，andwerequestionedofthemconcerningtheroadtothesaidWell，anddoubtednotbutthattheywereonthatquest。
　　Furthermoreandsomeofyouwotthiswellenough，andmorebelikeknowitnottwoofouryoungmenwerefaringbynightandcloudonsomeerrand，goodorbad，itmattersnot，onthehighwaythirtymileseastofWhitwall：
　　itwasafterharvest，andthestubble-fieldslayoneithersideoftheway，andthemoonwasbehindthinclouds，sothatitwaslightontheway，astheytoldme；andtheysawawomanwendingbeforethemafoot，andastheycameupwithher，themoonranout，andtheysawthatthewomanwasfair，andthataboutherneckwasachapletofgemsthatshoneinthemoon，andtheyhadalongingbothforthejewelandthewoman：butbeforetheylaidhandonhertheyaskedherofwhenceandwhither，andshesaid：
　　FromruinandwracktotheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andtherewithturnedonthemwithanakedswordinherhand；sothattheyshrankfrombeforeher。
　　“’Hearkenoncemore：thenextyearcameaknighttoSwevenham，andguestedinthissamehouse，andhesatjustwheresittethnowyonyellow-headedswain，andthetalkwentonthesameroadasithathgoneto-night；andItoldhimallthetaleasIhavesaidite’ennow；
　　andheaskedmanyquestions，butmostoftheLadywiththepairofbeads。
　　Andonthemorrowhedepartedandwesawhimnotagain。
　　“Thenshewassilent，buttheyoungmanatwhomshehadpointedHushedredandstaredatherwide-eyed，butsaidnoword。
　　ButIspake：’Welldame，buthavenoneelsegonefromSwevenham，orwhathathbefallenthem？’
　　“Shesaid：’Hearkenyet！TwentyyearsagoneagreatsicknesslayheavyuponusandthefolkofWhitwall，andwhenitwasatitsworst，fiveofouryoungmen，callingtomindallthetalesconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd，wenttheirwaystoseekit，andsworethatbackwouldtheynever，savetheyfounditandcouldbearitswatertothefolkofSwevenham；andIsupposetheykepttheiroath；
　　forwesawnaughteitherofthewaterorofthem。Well，IdeemthatthisisthelastthatIhavetotellthee，Richard，concerningthismatter：
　　andnowiscomethetimefortheetotelltalesofthyself。’
　　“ThusforthattimedroppedthetalkoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，LordRalph，andofthewaythither。ButIhungaboutthetownshipyetawhile，andyesterdayasIstoodontheirstonebridge，andlookedonthewater，upcomesthatlongladwiththeyellowhairthatthedamehadpointedat，andsaystome：
　　’MasterRichard，savingthineageandthydignityandmastery，IcanjoinanendtothetalewhichthecarlinebeganonSundaynight。’’Yea，forsooth？’saidI，andhow，mylad？’
　　Saidhe：’Thouhastagoodlyknifethereinthygirdle，giveittome，andIwilltellthee。’’Yea，’quothI，’ifthytalebeknife-worthy。’
　　“Well，theendofitwasthathetoldmethus：
　　Thatbynightandmoonhecameononeridingthehighway，justaboutwheretheotherwomanhadbeenseen，whosetalehehadheardof。Hedeemedatfirstthisridertobeaman，oraladratherforsmallnessandslenderness，butcomingcloseuphefounditwasawoman，andsawonherneckachapletofgems，anddeemeditnogreatfeattotakeitofher：
　　butheaskedherofwhenceandwhither，andsheanswered：
　　“’FromunresttotheWellattheWorld’sEnd。’
　　“Thenwhenheputouthishandtoher，hesawagreatanlacegleaminginherhand，whereforeheforboreher；andthiswasbutfivedaysago。
　　“SoIgavetheladmyknife，anddeemedtherewouldbelittleelsetohearinSwevenhamforthisbout；andatleastIheardnomoretalestotelltillIcameawaythismorning；sothereismypoketurnedinsideoutforthee。ButthiswordfurtherwouldIsaytothee，thatIhaveseenonthyneckalsoapairofbeadsexceedinggoodly。
　　Tellmenowwhencecamethey。”
　　“Frommygossip，dameKatherine。”saidRalph；“anditseemstomenow，thoughatthetimeIheededthegiftlittlesaveforitskindness，thatshethoughtsomethinggreatmightgowithit；
　　andtherewasamonkatHighamontheWay，whosorelylongedtohaveitofme。”“Well。”saidRichard，“thatmaywellcometopass，thatitshallleadtheetotheWellattheWorld’sEnd。
　　ButastothetalesofSwevenham，whatdeemestthouofthem？”
　　SaidRalph：“Whatarethey，saveatokenthatfolkbelievethatthereissuchathingonearthastheWell？