fter many torments."

And therewith he fell a-weeping at the very thought of her great
kindness: for indeed to this young man she had seemed great, and
exalted far above him.

Richard looked at him a while; and then said: "Now, I pray thee be not
wroth with me for the word I have spoken. But something more shall I
say, which shall like thee better. To wit, when I came back from
Swevenham on Wednesday I deemed it most like that the Well at the
World's End was a tale, a coloured cloud only; or that at most if it
were indeed on the earth, that thou shouldest never find it. But now
is my mind changed by the hearing of thy tale, and I deem both that the
Well verily is, and that thou thyself shalt find it; and that the wise
Lady knew this, and set the greater store by thy youth and goodliness,
as a richer and more glorious gift than it had been, were it as
fleeting as such things mostly be. Now of this matter will I say no
more; but I think that the words that I have said, and which now seem
so vain to thee, shall come into thy mind on some later day, and avail
thee somewhat; and that is why I have spoken them. But this again is
another word, that I have got a right good horse for thee, and other
gear, such as thou mayest need for the road, and that Clement's
fellowship will meet in Petergate hard by the church, and I will be thy
squire till thou comest thither, and ridest thence out a-gates. Now I
suppose that thou will want to bid Blaise farewell: yet thou must look
to it that he will not deem thy farewell of great moment, since he
swimmeth in florins and goodly wares; and moreover deemeth that thou
wilt soon be back here."

"Nevertheless," said Ralph, "I must needs cast my arms about my own
mother's son before I depart: so go we now, as all this talk hath worn
away more than an hour of those four that were left me."

CHAPTER 18

Ralph Departeth From Whitwall With the Fellowship of Clement Chapman

Therewithal they went together to Blaise's house, and when Blaise saw
them, he said: "Well, Ralph, so thou must needs work at a little more
idling before thou fallest to in earnest. Forsooth I deem that when
thou comest back thou wilt find that we have cut thee out a goodly
piece of work for thy sewing. For the good town is gathering a gallant
host of men; and we shall look to thee to do well in the hard
hand-play, whenso that befalleth. But now come and look at my house
within, how fair it is, and thou w