ong to see thy feet on the green grass, and I fear the sea, lest it
stir the joy over strongly in our hearts and we be not able to escape
from its waves."

So they went up from out of the water, and did on the hallowed raiment
fragrant with strange herbs, and passed joyfully up the sand towards
the cliff and its stair; and speedily withal, for so soon as they were
clad again, the little ripple of the sea was nigh touching their feet.
As they went, they noted that the waters of the Well flowed seaward
from the black-walled pound by three arched openings in its outer face,
and they beheld the mason's work, how goodly it was; for it was as if
it had been cut out of the foot of a mountain, so well jointed were its
stones, and its walls solid against any storm that might drive against
it.

They climbed the stair, and sat them down on the green grass awhile
watching the ocean coming in over the sand and the rocks, and Ralph
said: "I will tell thee, sweetling, that I am grown eager for the road;
though true it is that whiles I was down yonder amidst the ripple of
the sea I longed for naught but thee, though thou wert beside me, and
thy joyous words were as fire to the heart of my love. But now that I
am on the green grass of the earth I called to mind a dream that came
to me when we slept after the precious draught of the Well: for
methought that I was standing before the porch of the Feast-hall of
Upmeads and holding thine hand, and the ancient House spake to me with
the voice of a man, greeting both thee and me, and praising thy
goodliness and valiancy. Surely then it is calling me to deeds, and if
it were but morning, as it is now drawing towards sunset, we would
mount and be gone straightway."

"Surely," she said, "thou hast drunk of the Well, and the fear of thee
has already entered into the hearts of thy foemen far away, even as the
love of thee constraineth me as I lie by thy side; but since it is
evening and sunset, let it be evening, and let the morning see to its
own matters. So now let us be pilgrims again, and eat the meal of
pilgrims, and see to our horses, and then wander about this lovely
wilderness and its green meads, where no son of man heedeth the wild
things, till the night come, bringing to us the rest and the sleep of
them that have prevailed over many troubles."

Even so they did, and broke bread above the sea, and looked to their
horses, and then went hand in hand about the goodly green bents bet