But after a while Ralph said:  “If it were no misease to thee to tell me how thou didst fall into the hands of the men of Utterbol, I were fain to hear the tale.”

She laughed outright, and said:  “Why wilt thou be forever harping on the time of my captivity, friend?  And thou who knowest the story somewhat already?  Howbeit, I may tell thee thereof without heart-burning, though it be a felon tale.”

He said, somewhat shame-facedly:  “Take it not ill that I am fain to hear of thee and thy life-days, since we are become fellow-farers.”

“Well,” she said, “this befell outside Utterbol, so I will tell thee.

“After I had stood in the thrall-market at Cheaping Knowe, and not been sold, the wild man led me away toward the mountains that are above Goldburg; and as we drew near to them on a day, he said to me that he was glad to the heart-root that none had cheapened me at the said market; and when I asked him wherefore, he fell a weeping as he rode beside me, and said:  ‘Yet would God that I had never taken thee.’  I asked what ailed him, though indeed I deemed that I knew.  He said:  ’This aileth me, that though thou art not of the blood wherein I am bound to wed, I love thee sorely, and would have thee to wife; and now I deem that thou wilt not love me again.’  I said that he guessed aright, but that if he would do friendly with me, I would be no less than a friend to him.  ‘That availeth little,’ quoth he; ‘I would have thee be mine of thine own will.’  I said that might not be, that I could love but one man alone.  ‘Is he alive?’ said he.  ‘Goodsooth, I hope so,’ said I, ‘but if he be dead, then is desire of men dead within me.’

“So we spake, and he was downcast and heavy of mood; but thenceforward was he no worse to me than a brother.  And he proffered it to lead me back, if I would, and put me safely on the way to Whitwall; but, as thou wottest, I had need to go forward, and no need to go back.

“Thus we entered into the mountains of Goldburg; but one morning, when he arose, he was heavier of mood than his wont, and was restless withal, and could be steadfast neither in staying nor going, nor aught else.  So I asked what ailed him, and he said:  ’My end draweth nigh; I have seen my fetch, and am fey.  My grave abideth me in these mountains.’  ’Thou hast been dreaming ugly dreams,’ said I, ‘such things are of no import.’  And I spoke lightly, and strove to comfort him.  He changed not his mood for all that; but said:  ’This is ill for thee also; for thou wilt be worser without me than with me in these lands.’  Even so I deemed, and withal I was sorry for him, for though he were uncouth and ungainly, he was no ill man.  So against my will I tumbled into the samelike mood as his, and we both fared along drearily.  But about sunset, as we came round a corner of the cliffs of those mountains, or ever we were ware we happed upon a half-score of weaponed men, who were dighting a camp under a big rock thereby:  but