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.
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