QuothRichard：“Theyarenomorefoolsthantheywerebelike，norlessvaliant。Butthouartgrownwiserandmightierbyfar；
　　sothatthouartanothermannermanthanthouwert，andtheMasterofMastersmaybe。ToUpmeadswiltthougo；butwiltthouabidethere？
　　Upmeadsisafairland，butanarrow；onedayislikeanotherthere，savewhensorrowandharmisblentwithit。Theworldiswide，andnowIdeemthatthouholdesttheglorythereofinthehollowofthinehand。”
　　ThenspaketheSage，andsaid：“Yea，RichardofSwevenham，andhowknowestthoubutthatthissorrowandtroublehavenotnowfallenuponUpmeads？
　　Andifthatbeso，uponwhomshouldtheycalltotheirhelpingratherthanhimwhocanhelpthemmost，andistheirverylord？”SaidRichard：
　　“Itmaybeso，wiseman，thoughasyetwehaveheardnotidingsthereof。
　　Butifmylordgoethtotheirhelp，yet，whenthetroubleshallbeover，willhenotbetakehimthitherwherefreshdeedsawaithim？”
　　“Nay，Richard。”saidtheSage，“artthousolittleafriendofthyfosterlingasnottoknowthatwhenhehathbroughtbackpeacetotheland，itwillbesothatbothheshallneedthepeople，andtheyhim，sothatifhegoawayforawhile，yetshallhesooncomeback？Yea，andsoshallthelittleland，itmaybe，growgreat。”
　　NowhadRalphsatquietwhilethistalkwasgoingon，andasifheheedednot，andhiseyesweresetasifhewerebeholdingsomethingfaraway。
　　ThenRichardspokeagainaftertherehadbeensilenceawhile：
　　“Wiseman，thousayestsooth；yea，andsoitis，thatthoughweherehaveheardnotaleconcerningwarinUpmeads，yet，asitwere，wehavebeenfeelingsomestirringoftheairaboutus；evenasthoughmatterswerechanging，greatmightundone，andweaknessgrowntostrength。
　　WhocansaybutourlordmayfinddeedstohandoreverhecometoUpmeads？”
　　Ralphturnedhisheadasoneawakingfromadream，andhesaid：
　　“Whenshallto-morrowbe，thatwemaygetusgonefromWhitwall，wethree，andturnourfacestowardUpmeads？”
　　SaidRichard：“Wiltthounottarryadayortwo，andtalkwiththineownmother’ssonandtellhimofthinehaps？”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“andsowouldI，wereitnotthatmyfather’stroubleandmymother’sgriefdrawmeaway。”
　　“Otarrynot。”saidUrsula；“nay，notforthepassingofthenight；
　　butmakethishourthesunrise，andbegonebytheclearofthemoon。
　　Forlo！howheshineththroughthewindow！”
　　ThensheturnedtoRichard，andsaid：“Ofostererofmylove，knowestthounotthatasnowhespeakethasaFriendoftheWell，andwottethmoreoffar-offtidingsthaneventhiswisemanofmanyyears？”
　　SaidRalph：“Shesayethsooth，ORichard。OrhowwereitifthetorchwereevennowdrawingnightotheHighHouseofUpmeads：yea，oriftheveryHousewereshiningasadrearycandleofthemeadows，andreddeningthewatersoftheford！
　　Whatdowehere？”
　　Therewithhethrusttheboardfromhim，andaroseandwenttohisharness，andfelltoarminghim，andhespaketoRichard：
　　“Nowshallthineauthorityopentousthegatesofthegoodtown，thoughthenightbegrowingold；weshallgoourways，dearfriend，andmayhappenweshallmeetagain，andmayhappennot：andthoushalttellmybrotherBlaisewhowottethnotofmycominghither，howthingshavegonewithme，andhowneedhathdrawnmehence。
　　AndbidhimcomeseemeatUpmeads，andtoridewithagoodbandofpropermen，foreschewingthedangersoftheroad。”
　　ThenspakeRichard：“IshalltellLordBlaiseneithermorenorlessthanthoumaysttellhimthyself：forthinkitnotthatthoushaltgowithoutme。AsforBlaise，hemaywellspareme；forheisbecomeachiefandLordofthePorte；andthePortehathnowrightgoodmen-at-arms，andcaptainswithalyoungeranddefterthanIbe。
　　Butnowsuffermetosendaswainformyhorseandarms，andanothertothecaptainofthewatchatWest-gateBarthathebereadytoopentomeandthreeofmyfriends，andtosendmealet-passfortheoccasion。
　　SoshallwegoforthereitbeknownthatthebrotheroftheLordofthePorteisabidingattheLamb。ForverilyIseethattheLadyhathspokentruth；
　　anditislikethatsheisforseeing，evenasthouhastgrowntobe。
　　AndnowIbethinkmeImightlightlygetmeascoreofmentoridewithus，whereaswemaymeetmenworsethanourselvesontheway。”
　　SaidRalph：“Allgoodgowiththywords，Richard；yetgathernotforce：
　　theremaystoutmenbeculledontheroad；andifthourunnestorridestaboutthetown，wemayyetbestayedbyBlaiseandhismen。
　　Whereforenowsendforthinehorseandarms，andbidthehosthereopenhisgateswithlittlenoisewhenwebeready；
　　andwewillpresentlyrideoutbytheclearofthemoon。
　　Butthou，beloved，shaltdonthinearmournomore，butshaltridehenceforthinthywoman’sraiment，forthewildandthewasteiswellnighover，andthewayisbutshortafterallthesemonthsofwandering；andIsaythatnowshallallfriendsdrifttowardus，andtheythatshallrejoicetostrikeastrokeformyfather’sson，andthepeacefulyearsoftheFriendoftheWell。”
　　Tothoseothers，andchieflytoUrsula，itseemedthatnowhespokestronglyandjoyously，liketoakingandacaptainofmen。
　　Richarddidhisbidding，andwasswiftindealingwiththemessengers。
　　ButtheSagesaid：“Ralph，myson，sinceyehavelostoneman-at-arms，andhavegottenbutthisgoldenangelinhisstead，Imaybetterthat。
　　IpritheebidthymanRichardfindmearmourandweaponsthatImayamendtheshardinthycompany。Thoushaltfindmenofeeblemanwhenwecometopushofstaves。”
　　Ralphlaughed，andbadeRichardseetoit；sohedealtwiththehost，andboughtgoodwar-gearofhim，andatrenchantsword，andanaxewithal；
　　andwhentheSagewasarmedhelookedasdoughtyawarriorasneedbe。
　　BythistimewasRichard’shorseandwar-gearcome，andhearmedhimspeedilyandgavemoneytothehost，andtheyrodetherewithallfouroutofthehostel，andfoundthestreetemptyandstill，forthenightwaswearing。
　　SorodetheywithouttarryingintoWestgateandcametotheBar，andspeedilywasthegateopenedtothem；andanonweretheyonthemoonlitroadoutsideofWhitwall。
　　TheyRideAwayFromWhitwallButwhentheywerewellontheway，andridingagoodpacebytheclearofthemoon，RichardspaketoRalph，andsaid：
　　“Witherridewenow？”saidRalph：“Wither，savetoUpmeads？”
　　“Yea，yea。”saidRichard，“butbywhatroad？shallweridedowntothefordoftheSwellingFlood，andridethebeatenway，ortaketothedownlandandtheforest，andsoagainbytheforestanddownlandandtheforestoncemore，tillwecometotheBurgoftheFourFriths？”
　　“Whichwayistheshorter？”saidRalph。“Forsooth。”saidRichard，“bythewildwoodyemayrideshorter，ifyeknowitasIdo。”
　　QuoththeSage：“Yea，orasIdo。Hearawonder！thattwomenofSwevenhamknowthewildsmorethantwentymilesfromtheirownthorp。”
　　SaidRalph：“Well，wendwetheshorterroad；whymakemorewordsoverit？
　　Orwhatlionliethonthepath？Isitthatwemayfindithardtogivethego-bytotheBurgoftheFourFriths？”
　　SaidRichard：“ThoughtheBurgbenotveryfarfromWhitwall，wehearbutlittletidingsthence；ourchapmenbutseldomgothere，andnonecomethtousthencesavesuchofourmenashavestrayedthither。
　　Yet，asIsaide’ennowinthehostel，thereisanairoftidingsabroad，andonerumoursayeth，andnonedeniethit，thattheoldfiercenessandstoutheadstrongmoodoftheBurgisbrokendown，andthatmendwellthereinpeaceandquiet。”
　　SaidtheSage：“Inanycasewehaveamongstusloreenoughtohoodwinkthemiftheybefoes；sothatweshallpasseasily。
　　Naughtofthisneedwefear。”
　　ButRichardputhismouthclosetoRalph’sear，andspaketohimsoftly：
　　“Shallweindeedgobythatshorterroad，whateverindaysgonebymayhavebefalleninplacesthereon，towhichwemustgoa-nightomorrow？”
　　Ralphansweredsoftlyinturn：“Yea，forsooth：forIwerefaintotrymyheart，howstrongitmaybe。”
　　Sotheyrodeon，andturnedofffromtheroadthatleddowntothefordoftheSwellingFlood，anighwhichRalphhadfalleninwithBlaiseandRichardonthedayafterthewoefulslaying，whichhadmadeanendofhisjoyforthattime。
　　Butwhentheywereamidstofthebushesandridingadeepghyllofthewaste，Richardsaid：“Itiswellthatwearehere：
　　fornowifBlaisesendriderstobringusbackcourteously，theyshallnotfollowusatonce，butshallridestraightdowntotheford，andevencrossitinsearchofus。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“itiswellinallwise。”
　　Sothentheyrodethenceawhiletillthemoongrewlow，andgreat，andred，andsankdownawayfromthem；andbythenweretheycometoashepherd’scot，emptyofmen，withnaughtthereinsaveanolddog，andsomevictual，asbreadandwhitecheese，andawellfordrinking。
　　Sotheretheyabodeandrestedthatnight。
　　CHAPTER15
　　AStrangeMeetingintheWildernessOnthemorrowbetimestheygottotheroadagain；thecountryatfirst，thoughitwasscantyoftillage，wasnotunfurnishedofsheep，beingforthemostpartofswellinghillsanddownswellgrassed，withhereandthereadeepcleftinthem。
　　Theysawbutfewhouses，andthosesmallandpoor。
　　Afewshepherdstheyfellinwith，whowereshortofspeech，afterthemannerofsuchmen，butdeemedagreetingnotwhollythrownawayonsuchgoodlyfolkasthosewayfarers。
　　Sotheyrodetillitwasnoon，andRichardtalkedmorethanhiswontwas，thoughhisdailyuseitwastobeofmanywords：
　　nordidtheSagesparespeech；butUrsulaspokelittle，norheededmuchwhattheotherssaid，andRalphdeemedthatshewaspalerthanofwont，andherbrowswereknittedasifsheweresomewhatanxious。Asforhim，hewasgraveandcalm，butoffewwords；andwhileswhenRichardwaswordiesthelookedonhimsteadilyforamomentwhereatRichardchangedcountenance，andforawhilestintedhisspeech，butnotforlong；
　　whileRalphlookedabouthim，inwardlystrivingtogathertogethertheendsofunhappythoughtsthatfloatedabouthim，andtonotethelandhewaspassingthrough，ifindeedhehadverilyseenitaforetime，elsewherethaninsomeevildream。
　　Atlastwhentheystoppedtobaitbysomescrubbybushesatthefootofawidehill-side，hetookRichardapart，andsaidtohim：“Oldfriend，andwhithergowe？”SaidRichard：
　　“Asthouwottest，totheBurgoftheFourFriths。”
　　“Yea。”saidRalph，“butbywhatroad？”SaidRichard：
　　“Younglingisnotthineheart，then，asstrongasthoudeemedstlastnight？”Ralphwassilentawhile，andthenhesaid：
　　“Iknowwhatthouwouldstsay；wearegoingbytheshortestroadtotheCastleofAbundance。”
　　Hespakethisoutloud，butRichardnoddedhisheadtohim，asifhewouldsay：“Yea，soitis；butholdthypeace。”ButRalphknewthatUrsulahadcomeupbehindhim，and，stilllookingatRichard，heputhisopenhandabacktowardher，andherhandfellintoit。
　　Thenheturnedabouttoher，andsawthatherfacewasverilypale；
　　soheputhishandsonhershouldersandkissedherkindly；
　　andsheletherheadfallontohisbosomandfella-weeping，andthetwoeldersturnedawaytothehorses，andfeignedtobebusywiththem。
　　Thusthentheybidedsomeminutesoftime，andthenallgattohorseagain，andUrsula’sfacewasclearedofthegriefoffear，andthecolourhadcomebacktohercheeksandlips。
　　ButRalph’sfacewassternandsorrowfultobehold；howbeit，astheyrodeawayhespakeinaloudandseemingcheerfulvoice：
　　“StillevershortenethmoreandmorethewayuntomyFathers’House：
　　andwithalIamwishfultoseeifitbeindeedtruethatthemenoftheBurghavebecomemildandpeaceful；andtoknowwhathathbefallenthosedoughtychampionsoftheDryTree；andifperchancetheyhaveanywilltoholdusatiltingincourteousfashion。”
　　Richardsmiledonhim，andsaid：“ThouholdestmorethenbytheDryTreethanbytheBurg；thoughwhileagonewedeemedtheChampionsworsementomeetinthewoodthantheBurgers。”