On the morrow, when Ralph and Clement met in the hall,
Clement spake and said: "Lord Ralph, as I told thee in Whitwall,
we chapmen are now at the end of our outward journey, and in
about twenty days time we shall turn back to the mountains;
but, as I deem, thou wilt be minded to follow up thy quest
of the damsel, and whatsoever else thou mayst be seeking.
Now this thou mayst well do whiles we are here in Goldburg,
and yet come back hither in time to fare back with us:
and also, if thou wilt, thou mayst have fellows in thy quest,
to wit some of those our men-at-arms, who love thee well.
But now, when thou hast done thy best these days during, if thou
hast then found naught, I counsel thee and beseech thee to come
thy ways back with us, that we twain may wend to Upmeads together,
where thou shalt live well, and better all the deeds of thy father.
Meseemeth this will be more meet for thee than the casting away
of thy life in seeking a woman, who maybe will be naught to thee
when thou hast found her; or in chasing some castle in the clouds,
that shall be never the nigher to thee, how far soever thou farest.
For now I tell thee that I have known this while how thou art
seeking the Well at the World's End; and who knoweth that there
is any such thing on the earth? Come, then, thou art fair,
and young, and strong; and if ye seek wealth thou shalt have it,
and my furtherance to the utmost, if that be aught worth.
Bethink thee, child, there are they that love thee in Upmeads
and thereabout, were it but thy gossip, my wife, dame Katherine."

Said Ralph: "Master Clement, I thank thee for all
that thou hast said, and thy behest, and thy deeds.