He peered all round about him as if to see if the way were clear,
and then alighted down from horseback and let the hood fall off
his head, and seemed pondering which way were the best to take.
By this time it was grown somewhat lighter and Ralph,
looking hard, deemed that the rider was a woman; so he stepped
forward lightly, and as he came on to the open sward about the way,
the new comer saw him and put a foot into the stirrup to mount,
but yet looked at him over the shoulder, and then presently left
the saddle and came forward a few steps as if to meet Ralph,
having cast the cloak to the ground.

Then Ralph saw that it was none other than the damsel of the hostelry
of Bourton Abbas, and he came up to her and reached out his hand
to her, and she took it in both hers and held it and said, smiling:
"It is nought save mountains that shall never meet. Here have I followed
on thy footsteps; yet knew I not where thou wouldst be in the forest.
And now I am glad to have fallen in with thee; for I am going a long way."

Ralph looked on her and himseemed some pain or shame touched his heart,
and he said: "I am a knight adventurous; I have nought to do save
to seek adventures. Why should I not go with thee?"

She looked at him earnestly awhile and said: "Nay, it may
not be; thou art a lord's son, and I a yeoman's daughter."
She stopped, and he said nothing in answer.

"Furthermore," said she, "it is a long way, and I know not how long."
Again he made no answer, and she said: "I am going to seek the WELL AT
THE WORLD'S END, and to find it and live, or to find it not, and die."