old carle; "I
was born in peace and suckled in peace; and in peace I fell to the
loving of maidens, and I wedded in peace, and begat children in peace,
and in peace they dwell about me, and in peace shall I depart."

"What then," said Ralph (and a grievous fear was born in his heart),
"is not the Lady of Abundance young?" Said the carle: "I have seen her
when I was young and also since I have been old, and ever was she fair
and lovely, and slender handed, as straight as a spear, and as sweet as
white clover, and gentle-voiced and kind, and dear to our souls."

"Yea," said Ralph, "and she doth not dwell in this castle always; where
else then doth she dwell?" "I wot not," said the carle, "but it should
be in heaven: for when she cometh to us all our joys increase in us by
the half."

"Look you, father," said Ralph, "May it not have been more than one
Lady of Abundance that thou hast seen in thy life-days; and that this
one that now is, is the daughter's daughter of the one whom thou first
sawest--how sayest thou?" The carle laughed: "Nay, nay," said he,
"It is not so: never has there been another like to her in all ways, in
body and voice, and heart and soul. It is as I say, she is the same as
she was always." "And when," said Ralph, with a beating heart, "does
she come hither? Is it at some set season?" "Nay, from time to time,
at all seasons," said the carle; "and as fair she is when she goeth
over the snow, as when her feet are set amidst the June daisies."

Now was Ralph so full of wonder that he scarce knew what to say; but he
bethought him of that fair waste on the other side of the forest, the
country through which that wide river flowed, so he said: "And that
land north-away beyond the wildwood, canst thou tell me the tale of its
wars, and if it were wasted in the same wars that tormented this land?"
The carle shook his head: "As to the land beyond this wood," quoth he,
"I know nought of it, for beyond the wood go we never: nay, most often
we go but a little way into it, no further than we can see the glimmer
of the open daylight through its trees,--the daylight of the land of
Abundance--that is enough for us."

"Well," said Ralph, "I thank thee for the tale thou hast told me, and
wish thee more years of peace."

"And to thee, young man," said the carle, "I wish a good wish indeed,
to wit that thou mayest see the Lady of Abundance here before thou
departest."

His words once more made Ralph's hear