us that I shall see ere long."

"And thine heart lieth not," said Roger, "for amidst of this wood is
the house where we shall have guesting to-night, which will be to thee,
belike, the door of life and many marvels. For thence have folk sought
ere now to the WELL AT THE WORLD'S END."

Ralph turned to him sharply and said: "Many times in these few days
have I heard that word. Dost thou know the meaning thereof? For as to
me I know it not." Said Roger: "Thou mayest well be as wise as I am
thereon: belike men seek to it for their much thriving, and oftenest
find it not. Yet have I heard that they be the likeliest with whom all
women are in love."

Ralph held his peace, but Roger noted that he reddened at the word.

Now they got on horseback again, for they had lighted down to breathe
their beasts, and they rode on and on, and never was Roger at fault:
long was the way and perforce they rested at whiles, so that night fell
upon them in the wood, but the moon rose withal. So night being fairly
come, they rested a good while, as it would be dawn before moonset.
Then they rode on again, till now the summer night grew old and waned,
but the wood hid the beginnings of dawn.

At last they came out of the close wood suddenly into an open plain,
and now, as the twilight of the dawn was passing into early day, they
saw that wide grassy meadows and tilled fields lay before them, with a
little river running through the plain; and amidst the meadows, on a
green mound, was a white castle, strong, and well built, though not of
the biggest.

Roger pointed to it, and said, "Now we are come home," and cried on his
wearied beast, who for his part seemed to see the end of his journey.
They splashed through a ford of the river and came to the gate of the
castle as day drew on apace; Roger blew a blast on a great horn that
hung on the gate, and Ralph looking round deemed he had never seen
fairer building than in the castle, what he could see of it, and yet it
was built from of old. They waited no long while before they were
answered; but whereas Ralph looked to see armed gatewards peer from the
battlements or the shot window, and a porter espying them through a
lattice, it happened in no such way, but without more ado the wicket
was opened to them by a tall old woman, gaunt and grey, who greeted
them courteously: Roger lighted down and Ralph did in likewise, and
they led their horses through the gate into the court of the castle;