we parted at the want-ways of the Wood Perilous thou
saidst that thou wert minded for the Well at the World's End, and to
try it for life or death. But thou hadst not then the necklace, which
now I see thee bear, and which, seest thou! is like to that about my
neck. Wilt thou tell me whence thou hadst it?"

She said: "Yea; it was given unto me by a lady, mighty as I deem, and
certainly most lovely, who delivered me from an evil plight, and a
peril past words, but whereof I will tell thee afterwards. And she it
was who told me of the way to the Well at the World's End, and many
matters concerning them that seek it, whereof thou shalt wot soon."

Said Ralph: "As to how thou wert made a thrall thou needest not to
tell me; for I have learned that of those that had to do with taking
thee to Utterbol. But tell me; here are met we two in the pathless
wilds, as if it were on the deep sea, and we two seeking the same
thing. Didst thou deem that we should meet, or that I should seek
thee?"

Now was the fire burning somewhat low, but he saw that she looked on
him steadily; yet withal her sweet voice trembled a little as she
answered: "Kind friend, I had a hope that thou wert seeking me and
wouldst find me: for indeed that fairest of women who gave me the beads
spake to me of thee, and said that thou also wouldst turn thee to the
quest of the Well at the World's End; and already had I deemed thine
eyes lucky as well as lovely. But tell me, my friend, what has
befallen that lady that she is not with thee? For in such wise she
spake of thee, that I deemed that naught would sunder you save death."

"It is death that hath sundered us," said Ralph.

Then she hung her head, and sat silent a while, neither did he speak
till she had risen up and cast more wood upon the fire; and she stood
before it with her back towards him. Then he spake to her in a
cheerful voice and said: "Belike we shall be long together: tell me
thy name; is it not Dorothy?" She turned about to him with a smiling
face, and said: "Nay lord, nay: did I not tell thee my name before?
They that held me at the font bid the priest call me Ursula, after the
Friend of Maidens. But what is thy name?"

"I am Ralph of Upmeads," quoth he; and sat a while silent, pondering
his dream and how it had betrayed him as to her name, when it had told
him much that he yet deemed true.

She came and sat down by him again, and said to him: "Thy questions I
have answered