of the loss that thou hast had of me; and oh! but it is hard
and hard." And her face became sad and distressful, and she turned and
departed as she had come.

Then he knew not if he awoke, or if it were a change in his dream; but
the chamber became dark about him, and he lay there thinking of her,
till, as it seemed, day began to dawn, and there was some little stir
in the world without, and the new wind moved the casement. And again
the door opened, and someone entered as before; and this also was a
woman: green-clad she was and barefoot, yet he knew at once that it
was not his love that was dead, but the damsel of the ale-house of
Bourton, whom he had last seen by the wantways of the Wood Perilous,
and he thought her wondrous fair, fairer than he had deemed. And the
word came from her: "I am a sending of the woman whom thou hast loved,
and I should not have been here save she had sent me." Then the words
ended, while he looked at her and wondered if she also had died on the
way to the Well at the World's End. And it came into his mind that he
had never known her name upon the earth. Then again came the word:
"So it is that I am not dead but alive in the world, though I am far
away from this land; and it is good that thou shouldst go seek the Well
at the World's End not all alone: and the seeker may find me: and
whereas thou wouldst know my name, I hight Dorothea."

So fell the words again: and this image stood awhile as the other had
done, and as the other had done, departed, and once more the chamber
became dark, so that Ralph could not so much as see where was the
window, and he knew no more till he woke in the early morn, and there
was stir in the street and the voice of men, and the scent of fresh
herbs and worts, and fruits; for it was market-day, and the country
folk were early afoot, that they might array their wares timely in the
market-place.

CHAPTER 16

Of the Tales of Swevenham

Old Richard was no worse than his word, and failed not to find old
acquaintance of Swevenham in the Saturday's market: and Ralph saw
naught of him till midweek afterwards. And he was sitting in the
chamber of the hostel when Richard came in to him. Forsooth Blaise had
bidden him come dwell in his fair house, but Ralph would not, deeming
that he might be hindered in his quest and be less free to go whereso
he would, if he were dwelling with one who was so great with the
magnates as was Blaise.

Now Ralph was