same chamber, where of old the Lady of Abundance had sickened for
fear of the Sorceress sitting naked at her spell-work.

Great joy they made together, and the wardens set meat and drink before
the guests, and they ate and drank and were of good cheer. But the
elder who had brought them from Chestnut-dale said: "Dear friends, I
have told you that these two young men are my grand-children, and they
are the sons of this man and woman whom ye see; for the man is my son.
And so it is, that amongst us the care of the Quest of the Well at the
World's End hath for long been the heritage of our blood, going with us
from father to son. Therefore is it naught wonderful, though I have
been sundry times at this house, and have learned about the place all
that may be learned. For my father brought me hither when I was yet a
boy; that time it was that I saw the last man of whom we know for sure
that he drank of the Water of the Well, and he was that old hoar man
like unto me, but, as I said, far weaker in all wise; but when he came
back to us from the Well he was strong and stalwart, and a better man
than I am now; and I heard him tell his name to my father, that he was
called the Sage of Swevenham."

Ralph looked on Ursula and said: "Yea, father, and it was through him
that we had our lore concerning the way hither; and it was he that bade
us abide your coming in the rock-house of the Vale of Sweet-chestnuts."

"Then he is alive still," said the elder. Said Ralph: "Yea, and as
fair and strong an old man as ye may lightly see." "Yea, yea," said the
elder, "and yet fifty years ago his course seemed run."

Then said Ralph: "Tell me, father, have none of your own folk sought
to the Well at the World's End?" "Nay, none," said the elder. Said
Ralph: "That is strange, whereas ye are so nigh thereto, and have such
abundant lore concerning the way."

"Son," said the elder, "true it is that the water of that Well shall
cause a man to thrive in all ways, and to live through many generations
of men, maybe, in honour and good-liking; but it may not keep any man
alive for ever; for so have the Gods given us the gift of death lest we
weary of life. Now our folk live well and hale, and without the
sickness and pestilence, such as I have heard oft befall folk in other
lands: even as I heard the Sage of Swevenham say, and I wondered at his
words. Of strife and of war also we know naught: nor do we desire
aught which we may not easily a