“Naughtofthedamsel。”shesaid。“Butthereissomethingelse。
　　AsClementtoldme，thouseekesttheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andthroughUtternessandbyUtterbolisawaywherebyfolkseekthither。
　　Maystthoufindit，andmayitprofittheemorethanitdidmykinsmanofold，whofirstraisedupGoldburginthewilderness。
　　Whereasforhimwasnaughtbutstrifeandconfusion，tillhewasslaininaquarrel，whereintofailwastofail，andtowinthedaywastowinshameandmisery。”
　　Shelookedonhimsweetlyandsaid：“Thouartnowisesuchashe；
　　andifthoudrinkoftheWell，thouwiltgobacktoUpmeads，andthyfatherandmother，andthineownfolkandthinehome。
　　ButnowhereistheletterwhichthoushaltgivetotheLordofUtterbolifthoumeethim；andmayhappenheisnaughtsoevilamanasthetaleofhimruns。”
　　Shegavehimtheletterintohishands，andspakeagain：
　　“AndnowIhavethistosaytothee，ifanythinggoamisswiththee，andthoubenighenoughtoseektome，comehither，andthen，inwhatsoplightthoumaystbe，orwhatsoeverdeedthoumaysthavedone，herewillbetheopendoorfortheeandthewelcomeofafriend。”
　　Hervoiceshookalittleasshespake，andshewassilentagain，masteringhertrouble。Thenshesaid：“AtlastImustsaythistothee，thattheremaynoliebebetweenus。
　　Thatdamselofwhomthouspakestthatshewasbutthyfriend，andnotthylove——OthatImightbethyfriendinsuch-wise！ButoverclearlyIseethatitmaynotbeso。
　　Forthymindlookethonthydeedstocome，thattheyshallbesharedbysomeotherthanme。Friend，itseemethstrangeandstrangetomethatIhavecomeontheesosuddenly，andlovedtheesosorely，andthatImustneedssayfarewelltotheeinsoshortawhile。Farewell，farewell！”
　　Therewithshearose，andoncemoreshetookhishandinhers，andledhimtothedoor。Andhewassorryandallamazed：
　　forhehadnotthoughtsomuchofherbefore，thathemightseethatshelovedhim；andhethoughtbutthatshe，beinghappyandgreat，waskindtohimwhowashaplessandhomeless。
　　Andhewasbewilderedbyherwordsandsoreashamedthatforallhisgriefforherhehadnospeech，andscarcealookforher；
　　heknewnotwhattodoorsay。
　　SohelefttheQueen’sHouseandthecourtthereof，asthoughthepavementweregrowingredhotbeneathhisfeet。
　　RalphHathHopeofTidingsConcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEndNowhegoestoClement，andtellshimthathedeemshehasnoneedtoabidetheirdeparturefromGoldburgtosayfarewellandfollowhisquestfurtherafield；sinceitisclearthatinGoldburgheshouldhavenomoretidings。Clementlaughedandsaid：
　　“Notsofast，LordRalph；thoumaystyethearawordortwo。”
　　“What！”saidRalph，“hastthouheardofsomethingnew？”
　　SaidClement：“Therehasbeenamanhereseekingthee，whosaidthathewottedofawisemanwhocouldtelltheemuchconcerningtheWellattheWorld’sEnd。AndwhenIaskedhimoftheDamselandtheLordofUtterbol，ifheknewanythingofher，hesaidyea，butthathewouldkeepitforthyprivyear。
　　SoIbadehimgoandcomeagainwhenthoushouldstbehere。
　　AndIdeemthathewillnottarrylong。”
　　Nowtheyweresittingonabenchoutsidethehallofthehostel，withthecourtbetweenthemandthegate；andRalphsaid：
　　“Tellme，didstthoudeemthemangoodorbad？”SaidClement：
　　“Hewashardtolookinto：butatleasthelookednotafierceorcruelman；norindeeddidheseemfalseorsly，thoughItakehimforonewhohathlosthismanhood——
　　butloyou！herehecomesacrossthecourt。”
　　SoRalphlooked，andsawinsoothamandrawingnigh，whocamestraightuptothemandlowtedtothem，andthenstoodbeforethemwaitingfortheirword：hewasfatandsomewhatshort，white-facedandpink-cheeked，withyellowhairlongandcurling，andwithalittlethinredbeardandblueeyes：
　　altogethermuchunlikethefashionofmenofthoseparts。
　　Hewascladgailyinanorange-tawnycoatlacedwithsilver，andbroideredwithcolours。
　　Clementspaketohimandsaid：“ThisistheyoungknightwhoismindedtoseekfurthereasttowotifitbemerelieswhichhehathheardoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd。”
　　Thenew-comerlowtedbeforethemagain，andsaidinasmallvoice，andasonewhowasshyandsomewhatafeared：“Lords，IcantellmanyataleconcerningthatWell，andthemwhohavegoneonthequestthereof。
　　AndthefirstthingIhavetotellisthatthewaytheretoisthroughUtterness，andthatIcanbeashowerofthewayandaleadertoanyworthyknightwholistethtoseekthither；andmoreover，IknowofasagewhodwellethnotfarfromthetownofUtterness，andwho，ifhewill，canputaseekeroftheWellontherightroad。”
　　HelookedaskanceonRalph，whosefaceflushedandwhoseeyesglitteredatthatword。ButClementsaid：“Yea，thatseemethfairtolookto：
　　butharkye！IsitnotsothatthewaytoUtternessisperilous？”
　　Saidtheman：“Thoumaystrathercallitdeadly，toanywhoisnotfurnishedwithalet-passfromtheLordofUtterbol，asIam。
　　Butwithsuchascrollachildorawomanmaywendtheroadunharmed。”
　　“Wherehastthouthesaidlet-pass？”saidClement。“Here。”quoththenew-comer；andtherewithhedrewascrollfromoutofhispouch，andopeneditbeforethem，andtheyreadittogether，andsureenoughitwasawritingchargingallmensoletpassandaidMorfinntheMinstrelofwhoseaspectittoldclosely，underpainoffallingintothedispleasureofGandolf，LordofUtterbol；andthedatethereonwasbutthreemonthsold。
　　SaidClement：“Thisisgood，thislet-pass：seethou，Ralph，thesealofUtterbol，theBearupontheCastleWall。
　　Nonewoulddaretocounterfeitthisseal，saveonewhowaswearyoflife，andlongedfortorments。”
　　SaidRalph，smiling：“Thouseest，MasterClement，thattheremustbeapartingbetwixtus，andthatthisman’scomingfurthersit：
　　butwereheorwerehenot，yetthepartinghadcome。Andwertthounotlieferthatitshouldcomeinawaytopleasureandaidme，thanthatthoushouldstbutleavemebehindatGoldburgwhenthoudepartest：
　　andIwithnaughtdonetowardtheachievingmyquest，butmerelydraggingmydeedlessbodyaboutthesestreets；andatlast，itmaybe，goingonaperilousjourneywithoutguidingorsafe-conduct？”
　　“Yea，lad。”saidClement，“Iwottedwellthatthouwouldsttakethineownway，butfainhadIbeenthatithadbeenminealso。”
　　Thenheponderedawhileandsaidafterwards：“IsupposethatthouwilttakethyservantBullShockheadwiththee，forheisastoutman-at-arms，andIdeemhimtrusty，thoughhebeawildman。
　　Butonemanisoflittleavailtoatravelleronaperilousroad，soifthouwiltIwillgiveleaveandlicensetoahalfscoreofoursergeantstofollowtheeontheroad；for，asthouwottest，Imayeasilywageothersintheirplace。OrelsewouldstthouasktheQueenofGoldburgtogivetheeascoreofmen-at-arms；
　　shelookedtometheotherdayasonewhowoulddenytheefewofthineaskings。”
　　Ralphblushedred，andsaid：“Nay，Iwillnotaskherthis。”
　　Thenhewassilent；thenew-comerlookedfromonetotheother，andsaidnothing。AtlastRalphspake：“Lookyou，Clement，myfriend，Iwotwellhowthouwouldstmakemygoingssafe，evenifitweretothyloss，andIthanktheeforit：butIdeemIshalldonobetterthanputtingmyselfintothisman’shands，sincehehasalet-passforthelandsofhimofUtterbol：
　　andmeseemethfromallthatIhaveheard，thatahalfscoreorascore，orforthematterofthatanhundredmen-at-armswouldnotbeenoughtofightawaytoUtterbol，andtheirgatheringtogetherwoulddrawfolkuponthem，whowouldnotmeddlewithtwomenjourneyingtogether，eveniftheyhadnolet-passofthismightyman。”Clementsighedandgrunted，andthensaid：
　　“Well，lord，maybethouartright。”
　　“Yea。”saidtheguide，“heisasrightasmaybe：
　　Ihavenotspokenbeforelestyemighthavedeemedmeuntrusty：
　　butnowItelltheethis，thatnevershouldasmallbandofmenunknownwinthroughthelandsoftheLordofUtterbol，orthelanddebatablethatliethbetwixtthemandGoldburg。”
　　Ralphnoddedfriendlyathimashespake；butClementlookedonhimsternly；
　　andthemanbeheldhisscowlingfaceinnocently，andtooknoheedofit。
　　ThensaidRalph：“AstoBullShockhead，Iwillspeaktohimanon；
　　butIwillnottakehimwithme；forindeedIfearlesthismountain-pridegrowupovergreenlyatwhilesandentanglemeinsomethicketofperilhardtowinoutof。”
　　“Well。”saidClement，“andwhenwiltthoudepart？”
　　“To-morrow。”saidRalph，“ifmyfaring-fellowbereadyformebythen。”
　　“Iamallready。”saidtheman：“ifthouwiltrideoutbytheeastgateabouttwohoursbeforenoonto-morrow，Iwillabidetheeonagoodhorsewithallthatwemayneedforthejourney：
　　andnowIaskleave。”“Thouhastit。”saidClement。
　　Sothemandeparted，andthosetwobeingleftalone，MasterClementsaid：
　　“Well，Ideemedthatnothingelsewouldcomeofit：andIfearthatthygossipwillbeill-contentwithme；forgreatistheperil。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andgreatthereward。”Clementsmiledandsighed，andsaid：“Well，lad，evensohathamanythoughtbeforethee，wisemenaswellasfools。”Ralphlookedathimandreddened，anddepartedfromhimalittle，andwentwalkinginthecloistertheretoandfro，andponderedthesematters；andwhateverhemightdo，stillwouldthattrimfigurebebeforehiseyeswhichhehadlookedonsogladlyerewhileinthehostelofBourtonAbbas；andhesaidaloudtohimself：
　　“Surelysheneedethme，anddrawethmetoherwhetherIwillorno。”
　　Soworetheday。
　　CHAPTER31
　　TheBeginningoftheRoadToUtterbolEarlynextmorningRalpharoseandcalledBullShockheadtohimandsaid：“Soitis，Bull，thatthouartmywar-takenthrall。”
　　Bullnoddedhishead，butfrownedtherewithal。SaidRalph：
　　“IfIbidtheeaughtthatisnotbeyondreasonthouwiltdoit，wiltthounot？”“Yea。”saidBull，surlily。“Well。”quothRalph，“Iamgoingajourneyeast-away，andImaynothavetheewithme，thereforeIbidtheetakethisgoldandgofreewithmygoodwill。”
　　Bull’sfacelightedup，andtheeyesglitteredinhisface；buthesaid：
　　“Yea，king’sson，butwhywiltthounottakemewiththee？”
　　SaidRalph：“Itisaperilousjourney，andthybeingwithmewillcasttheeintoperilandmakeminemore。Moreover，Ihaveanerrand，asthouwottest，whichisallmineown。”
　　Bullponderedalittleandthensaid：“King’sson，Iwasthinkingatfirstthatourerrandslaytogether，anditisso；butbelikethousayesttruethattherewillbelessperiltoeachofusifwesunderatthistime。
　　ButnowIwillsaythistothee，thathenceforththoushaltbeasabrothertome，ifthouwilthaveitso，andifeverthoucomestamongstourpeople，thouwiltbeinnodangerofthem：nay，theyshalldoallthegoodtheymaytothee。”
　　Thenhetookhimbythehandandkissedhim，andhesethishandtohisgearanddrewforthalittlepurseofsomesmallbeast’sskinthatwasbroideredinfrontwithapairofbull’shorns：
　　thenhestoopeddownandpluckedalongandtoughbentfromthegrassathisfeetfortheyweretalkinginthegardenofthehostelandtwisteditswiftlyintoastrangeknotofmanyplies，andopeningthepurselaiditthereinandsaid：
　　“King’sson，thisisthetokenwherebyitshallbeknownamongstourfolkthatIhavemadetheemybrother：weretheflamesroaringaboutthee，ortheswordsclashingoverthinehead，ifthoucryout，IamthebrotherofBullShockhead，allthoseofmykindredwhoarenearwillbethyfriendsandthyhelpers。
　　AndnowIsaytotheefarewell：butitisnotaltogetherunlikethatthoumaysthearofmeagaininthefurthestEast。”
　　SoRalphdepartedfromhim，andClementwentwithRalphtotheGateofGoldburg，andbadehimfarewellthere；andortheypartedhesaid：
　　“MeseemsIhavewithmenowsomedealoftheforeseeingofKatherinemywife，andinmyminditisthatweshallyetseetheeatWulsteadandUpmeads，andthounolessfamousthannowthouart。
　　Thisismylastwordtothee。”Therewiththeyparted，andRalphrodehisways。
　　Hecameonhisway-leaderaboutabowshotfromthegateandtheygreetedeachother：thesaidguidewascladnootherwisethanyesterday：
　　hehadsaddle-bagsonhishorse，whichwasastrongblackroadster：
　　buthewasnowisearmed，andborebutasatchelwithacaseofknivesdoneontoit，andontheothersideafiddleinitscase。