Thustheyspake，andtheylighteddownallofthemtobreathetheirhorses，andUrsulaspakewithRalphastheywalkedthegreenswardtogetheralittleapart，andsaid：
　　“Sweetheart，Iamafraidofto-day。”
　　“Yea，dear。”saidhe，“andwherefore？”Shesaid：
　　“Itwillbehardformetoenterthatgrimhouseyonder，andsitintheseatwhenceIwaserewhilethreatenedbytheevilhagwithhairlikeagreyshe-bear。”
　　Hemademuchofherandsaid：“YetbelikeaFriendoftheWellmayovercomethisalso；andwithalthehallshallbefarotherto-daywhenitwas。”
　　Shelookedaboutonthewarriorsastheylayonthegrassorloiteredbytheirhorses；thenshesmiled，andherfacelightened，andshereddenedandcastdownhereyesandsaid：
　　“Yea，thatissooth；thatdaytherewerefewmeninthehall，andtheyoldandevilofsemblance。ItwasabandofwomenwhotookmeinthethorpandbroughtmeupintotheCastle，andmishandledmethere，andcastmeintoprisonthere；
　　whereasthesebegoodfellows，andfrankandfreeofaspect。
　　But0，myheart，lookthouhowfearfulthepiled-uprocksrisefromtheplainandthewallswindupamongstthem；
　　andthathugetower，thecrownofall！Surelythereisnonemorefearfulintheworld。”
　　Hekissedherandlaughedmerrily，andsaid：“Yea，sweetheart，andtherewillbeanotherchangeinthefolkofthehallwhenwecometherethistime，towit，thatthoushouldstnotbealonetherein，evenwereallthesechampions，andRichardandtheSageawayfromthee。
　　Wiltthoutellmehowthatshallbe？”
　　Sheturnedtohimandkissedhimandcaressedhim，andthentheyturnedbackagaintowardtheirfellows，forbynowtheyhadwalkedtogetheragoodwayalongtheridge。
　　Sothentheygattohorseagainandrodeintothethorp，wheremenandwomenstoodabouttobeholdthem，andmadethemhumblereverenceastheypassedby。
　　SorodetheytothebaillyoftheCastle；andifthatstrongholdlookedterriblefromtheridgeabove，tenfoldmoreterribleofaspectitwaswhentheupperpartswerehiddenbythegreyrocks，andtheysohugeandbeetling，andthoughthesunwasbrightaboutthem，andtheyinthemidstoftheirfriends，yetevenRalphfeltsomewhatofdreadcreepoverhim：
　　yethesmiledcheerfullyasUrsulaturnedananxiousfaceonhim。
　　Theyalightedfromtheirhorsesinthebailly，foroversteepforhorse-hoofswasthewalledwayupward；andastheybegantomount，eventhemerryChampionshushedtheirholidayclamourforaweofthehugestronghold，andRalphtookUrsulabythehand，andshesidleduptohim，andsaidsoftly：“Yea，itwasheretheydravemeup，thosewomen，thrustingandsmitingme；andsomewouldhavestrippedoffmyraiment，butonewhoseemedthewisest，said，’Nay，leavehertillshecomebeforetheancientLady，forhergearmaybeatokenofwhencesheis，andwhither，ifshebecomeasaspy。’SoIescapedthemforthatmoment。
　　AndnowIwonderwhatweshallfindinthehallwhenwecomeinthither。
　　Itissomewhatliketome，aswhenonegetsupfrombedinthedeadnight，whenallisquietandthemoonisshining，andgoesoutofthechamberintothehall，andcomingback，almostdreadstoseesomehorrorlyinginone’splaceamidthefamiliarbedclothes。”
　　Andshegrewpalerasshespake。ThenRalphcomfortedherandtrimmedhiscountenancetoalookofmirth，butinwardlyhewasillatease。
　　Souptheywentandup，tilltheycametoalevelplacewhereonwasbuiltthechiefhallanditschambers：theretheystoodawhiletobreathethembeforethedoor，whichwasratherlowthangreat；
　　andUrsulaclungtoRalphandtrembled，butRalphspakeinherear：
　　“Takeheart，mysweet，orthesemen，andRogerinespecial，willthinktheworseofthee；andthouaFriendoftheWell。
　　What！hereisnaughttohurtthee！thisisnaughtbesidetheperilsofthedesert，andtheslavesandtheevillordofUtterbol。”
　　“Yea。”shesaid，“butmeseemethIlovedtheenotsosoreasnowIdo。
　　Ofriend，Iambecomeaweakwomanandunvaliant，andthereisnaughtinmebutloveofthee，andloveoflifebecauseofthee；
　　nordostthouknowaltogetherwhatbefellmeinthathall。”
　　ButRalphturnedaboutandcriedoutinaloud，cheerfulvoice：
　　“Letusenter，friends！andloyou，IwillshowtheChampionsoftheDryTreethewayintotheirownhallandhighplace。”
　　Therewithhethrustthedooropen，foritwasnotlocked，andstrodeintothehall，stillleadingUrsulabythehand，andallthecompanyfollowedhim，theclashoftheirarmourresoundingthroughthehugebuilding。Thoughitwaslong，itwasnotsomuchthatitwaslongasthatitwasbroad，andexceedinghigh，sothatintheduskofitthegreatvaultoftheroofwasdimandmisty。Therewasnomantherein，nohallingonitswalls，nobenchesnorboards，naughtbutthegreatstandingtableofstoneonthedais，andthestonehigh-seatamidstofit：
　　andtheplacedidverilyseemlikethehouseandhallofapeoplethathaddiedoutinonehourbecauseoftheirevildeeds。
　　Theystoodstillamomentwhentheywereallfairlywithindoors，andRogerthrustuptoRalphandsaid，butsoftly：“Thewomanisblenching，andallfornaught；wereitnotfortheoath，wehadbesthaveleftherinthethorp：
　　Ifearmeshewillbringevildaysonouroldhomewithhershiveringfear。
　　HowfarotherwisecameourLadyinhitherwhenfirstshecameamongstus，whentheDukeofusfoundherinthewoodaftershehadbeenthrustoutfromSunwaybytheBaronwhomthouslewestafterward。
　　OurDukebroughtherinhitherwrappedupinhisknight’sscarletcloak，andwentupwithherontothedais；butwhenshecamethither，sheturnedaboutandlethercloakfalltoearth，andstoodtherebarefootinhersmock，asshehadbeencastoutintothewildwood，andshespreadabroadherhands，andcriedoutinaloudvoiceassweetastheMayblackbird，’MayGodblessthisHouseandtheabodeofthevaliant，andtheshelterofthehapless。’“
　　SaidUrsulaandhervoicewasfirmandthecolourcomebacktohercheeksnow，whileRalphstoodagazeandwondering：“Roger，thoulovestmelittle，meseemeth，thoughifIdidlessthanIdo，IshoulddoagainstthewillofthyLadythatwasQueeninthishall。
　　Buttellme，Roger，whereisgonethatotherone，thefearfulshe-bearofthiscrag，whosatinyonderstonehigh-seat，androaredatmeandmockedme，andgavemeoverintothehandsofhertormentors，whohaledmeawaytotheprisonwherefromthyveryLadydeliveredme？”
　　“Lady。”saidRoger，“thetaleofherisshortsincethedaythousawestherherein。OnthedaywhenwefirsthadtheeviltidingsoftheslayingofmyLadyweweresadatheart，andcalledtomindancienttransgressionsagainstus；thereforewefellontheshe-bear，asthoucallesther，andhercompanyofmenandwomen，andsomeweslewandsomewethrustforth；
　　butastoher，Islewhernotthreefeetfromwherethoustandestnow。
　　Arumourthereisthatshewalketh，anditmaybeso；yetinthesummernoonyeneednotlooktoseeher。”
　　Ralphsaidcoldly：“Roger，letusbedonewithminstrels’tales；leadmetotheplacewheretheoathistobesworn，fortimepresses。”
　　ScarcewerethewordsoutofhismouthereRogerstrodeforwardandgathimontothedaisandwenthastilytothewallbehindthehigh-seat，whencehetookdownaverygreathorn，andsetittohislipsandwindeditloudlythrice，sothatthegreatandhighhallwasfullofitsechoes。
　　Richardstartedthereatandhalfdrewhissword；buttheSageputhishanduponthehilts，andsaid：“Itisnaught，lettheedgesliequiet。”
　　Ursulastaredastonished，butnowshequakednomore；Ralphchangednotcountenanceawit，andthechampionsoftheTreemadeasifnaughthadbeendonethattheylookednotfor。ButthereaftercriedRogerfromthedais：
　　“ThisisthetokenthatthemenoftheDryTreearemetformattersofimport；
　　thusistheMotehallowed。Comeuphither，yealiens，andyealsoofthefellowship，thattheoathmaybesworn，andwemaygoourways，evenasthealiencaptainbiddeth。”
　　ThenRalphtookUrsula’shandagain，andwentupthehallcalmlyandproudly，andthechampionsfollowedwithRichardandtheSage。
　　RalphandUrsulawentupontothedais，andhesetdownUrsulainthestonehigh-seat，andeveninthehallduskarightfair-colouredpictureshelookedtherein；forshewascladinagoodlygreengownbroideredwithflowers，andagreencloakwithgoldorphreysoverit；herhairwasspreadabroadoverhershoulders，andonherheadwasagarlandofroseswhichthewomenoftheFlowerdeLucehadgivenher；sothereshesatwithherfairface，whencenowallthewrinklesoftroubleandfearweresmoothedout，lookinglikeanimageoftheearlysummer-tideitself。
　　Andthechampionslookedonherandmarvelled，andonewhisperedtotheotherthatitwastheirLadyofaforetimecomebackagain；
　　onlyRoger，whohadnowgonebacktotherestofthefellowship，casthiseyesupontheground，andmuttered。
　　NowRalphdrawshissword，andlaysitnakedonthestonetable，andhestoodbesideUrsulaandsaid：“ChampionsoftheDryTree，bythebladeofUpmeadswhichliethherebeforeme，andbytheheadwhichIlovebestintheworld，andisbestworthyoflove“
　　andherewithhelaidhishandonUrsula’shead，“IswearthatwhensoevertheCaptainoftheDryTreecallethonme，whetherIbeeatingordrinking，abedorstandingonmyfeet，atpeaceoratwar，gladorsorry，IshalldomyutmosttocometohisaidstraightwaywithwhatsoforceImaygather。
　　Isthisrightlysworn，Champions？”
　　SaidStephena-Hurst：“Itisswornwellandknightly，andnowcomethouroath。”
　　“Nay。”saidRalph，“Ihadnomindtodriveabargainwithyou；
　　yourdeedsshallproveyou；andIfearnotforyourdoughtiness。”
　　SaidStephen：“Yea，Lord；buthebadeussweartothee。
　　Reachmethysword，Ipraythee。”
　　ThenRalphreachedhimhisswordacrossthegreatstonetable，andStephentookit，andkissedthebladeandthehilts；
　　andthenlifteduphisvoiceandsaid：“Bythehiltsandtheblade，bythepointandtheedge，wesweartofollowtheLordRalphofUpmeadsforayearandaday，andtodohiswillinallwise。
　　SohelpusGodandAllhallows！”
　　Andtherewithhegavetheswordtotheothers，andeachmanofthemkisseditashehad。
　　ButRalphsaid：“Champions，forthisoathIthankyouallheartily。
　　ButitisnotmymeaningthatIshouldholdyoubymeforayear，whereasIdeemIshalldoallthatmykindredmayneedinthreedays’
　　spacefromthefirsthourwhereinwesetfootinUpmeads。”
　　Stephensmiledfriendlyathimandnodded，andsaid：“Thatmaywellbe；
　　butnowtomakeagoodendofthismoteIwilltelltheeathing；towit，thatourCaptain，yea，andallwe，aremindedtotrytheebythisfrayinUpmeads，nowweknowthatthouhastbecomeaFriendoftheWell。
　　Andifthouturnoutaswedeemislikest，wewillgivetheethisCastleoftheScaur，fortheeandthosethatshallspringfromthyloins；
　　forwedeemthatsomesuchmanasthouwillbetheonlyonetoholditworthily，andinsuchwiseasitmaybeastrongholdagainsttyrantsandforthehelpingofpeaceablefolk；sinceforsooth，weoftheDryTreehaveheardsomewhatoftheWellattheWorld’sEnd，andtrowinthemightthereof。”
　　Hemadeanend；andRalphkeptsilenceandponderedthematter。
　　ButRogerlifteduphisheadandbrokein，andsaid：“Yea，yea！thatisit：
　　weareallbecomemenofpeace，weridersoftheDryTree！”
　　Andhelaughedwithal，butasonenowisebestpleased。
　　ButasRalphwasgatheringhiswordstogether，andUrsulawaslookinguptohimwithtroubleinherfaceagain，cameamanofthethorprushingintothehall，andcriedout：
　　“O，mylords！thereareweaponedmencomingforthfromthethicket。
　　Saveus，weprayyou，forweareill-weaponedandmenofpeace。”
　　Rogerlaughed，andsaid：“Eh，goodman！Soyewantusbackagain？
　　ButmyLordRalph，andthouRichard，andthouStephen，comeyetotheshot-windowhere，thatgivethontotheforest。
　　Wearehighuphere，andweshallseeallasclearlyasinagoodmirror。
　　Hastthoushutthegates，carle？”“Yea，LordRoger。”quothhe，“andtherearesomefiftyofustogetherdowninthebase-court。”
　　RalphandRichardandStephenlookedforthfromtheshotwindow，andsawverilyabandofmenridingdownthebentintothethorp，andRalph，whoasaforesaidwasfar-sightedandclear-sighted，said：
　　“Yea，itisstrange：butwithoutdoubttheseareridersoftheDryTree；
　　andtheyseemtometobesometen-score。ThouStephen，thouRoger，whatistohand？IsyourCaptainwonttogiveagiftandtakeitback……andsomewhatmorewithit？”Stephenlookedabashedathisword；
　　andRogerhunghisheadagain。