But tell me first, is that Lord of Utterbol as evil as men's fear would make
him? for no man is feared so much unless he is deemed evil."
She was silent a while, and then she said: "He is so evil that it
might be deemed that he has been brought up out of hell."
Then Ralph looked sore troubled, and he said: "Dear friend, this is
the thing hard for me to say. In what wise did they use thee at Utterbol?
Did they deal with thee shamefully?" She answered him quietly:
"Nay," she said, "fear not! no shame befell me, save that I was
a thrall and not free to depart. Forsooth," she said, smiling,
"I fled away timely before the tormentors should be ready.
Forsooth it is an evil house and a mere piece of hell.
But now we are out of it and free in the wildwood, so let us forget it;
for indeed it is a grief to remember it. And now once more let us mend
the fire, for thy face is growing dim to me, and that misliketh me.
Afterwards before we lie down to sleep we will talk a little of the way,
whitherward we shall turn our faces to-morrow."
So they cast on more wood, and pineapples, and sweet it was to Ralph
to see her face come clear again from out the mirk of the wood.
Then they sat down again together and she said: "We two are
seeking the Well at the World's End; now which of us knows more
of the way? who is to lead, and who to follow?" Said Ralph:
"If thou know no more than I, it is little that thou knowest.
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