All these and other places were now become as hallowed
ground to the Innocent People, and to Ralph no less.
In the house, moreover, was a fair ark wherein they kept matters
which had belonged to the Lady, as her shoes and her smock,
wrapped in goodly cloth amidst well-smelling herbs; and these
things they worshipped as folk do with relics of the saints.
In another ark also they showed the seekers a book wherein
was written lore concerning the Well, and the way thereto.
But of this book had the Sage forewarned Ralph and his mate,
and had bidden them look to it that they should read in it,
and no otherwhere than at that ancient altar in the wood,
they two alone, and clad in such-like gear as they wore
when they hearkened to his reading by his hermitage.
And so it was that they found the due raiment in the ark along
with the book. Therefore day after day betimes in the morning
they bore the said book to the altar and read therein,
till they had learned much wisdom.
Thus they did for eight days, and on the ninth they rested and were merry
with their hosts: but on the tenth day they mounted their horses and
said farewell, and departed by the ways they had learned of, they two alone.
And they had with them bread and meal, as much as they might bear,
and water-skins moreover, that they might fill them at the last sweet
water before they came to the waterless desert.
CHAPTER 17
They Come Through the Woodland to the Thirsty Desert
So they ride their ways, and when they were come well into the wildwood
past the house, and had spoken but few words to each other, Ralph put
forth his hand, and stayed Ursula, and they gat off their horses
under a great-limbed oak, and did off their armour, and sat down on
the greensward there, and loved each other dearly, and wept for joy
of their pain and travail and love.
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