“But to-morrow,” said he, “I shall give you your last lesson from this book, and thereafter ye shall go your ways to the Rock of the Fighting Man, and I look not for it that ye shall come to any harm on the way; but whereas I seem to-day to have seen the foes of Utterbol seeking you, I will lead you forth a little.”

So they went home to the house, and he made them the most cheer that he might, and spake to them in friendly and pleasant mood, so that they were merry.

When it was morning they went again to the ancient altar, and again they learned lore from the Elder, till they were waxen wise in the matters of the Well at the World’s End, and long they sat and hearkened him till it was evening again, and once more they slept in the house of the Sage of Swevenham.

CHAPTER 7

An Adventure by the Way

When morrow dawned they arose betimes and did on their worldly raiment; and when they had eaten a morsel they made them ready for the road, and the elder gave them victual for the way in their saddle-bags, saying:  “This shall suffice for the passing days, and when it is gone ye have learned what to do.”

Therewithall they gat to horse; but Ralph would have the Elder ride his nag, while he went afoot by the side of Ursula.  So the Sage took his bidding, but smiled therewith, and said:  “Thou art a King’s son and a friendly young man, else had I said nay to this; for it needeth not, whereas I am stronger than thou, so hath my draught of the Well dealt with me.”

Thus then they went their ways; but Ralph noted of Ursula that she was silent and shy with him, and it irked him so much, that at last he said to her:  “My friend, doth aught ail me with thee?  Wilt thou not tell me, so that I may amend it?  For thou are grown of few words with me and turnest thee from me, and seemest as if thou heedest me little.  Thou art as a fair spring morning gone cold and overcast in the afternoon.  What is it then? we are going a long journey together, and belike shall find little help or comfort save in each other; and ill will it be if we fall asunder in heart, though we be nigh in body.”

She laughed and reddened therewithal; and then her countenance fell and she looked piteously on him and said:  “If I seemed to thee as thou sayest, I am sorry; for I meant not to be thus with thee as thou deemest.  But so it is that I was thinking of this long journey, and of thee and me together in it, and how we shall be with each other if we come back again alive, with all things done that we had to do.”

She stayed her speech awhile, and seemed to find it hard to give forth the word that was in her; but at last she said:  “Friend, thou must pardon me; but that which thou sawest in me, I also seemed to see in thee, that thou wert grown shy and cold with me; but now I know it is not so, since thou hast seen me wrongly; but that I have seen thee wrongly, as thou hast me.”