The Well at the Worlds End | Page 8

little necklace of blue and green stones
with gold knobs betwixt, like a pair of beads; albeit neither pope nor
priest had blessed them; and tied to the necklace was a little box of gold
with something hidden therein. This gaud she gave to Ralph, and said
to him: "Gossip, wear this about thy neck, and let no man take it from
thee, and I think it will be salvation to thee in peril, and good luck to
thee in the time of questing; so that it shall be to thee as if thou hadst
drunk of the WELL AT THE WORLD'S END."
"What is that water?" said Ralph, "and how may I find it?"
"I know not rightly," she said, "but if a body might come by it, I hear
say it saveth from weariness and wounding and sickness; and it
winneth love from all, and maybe life everlasting. Hast thou not heard
tell of it, my husband?"
"Yea," said the chapman, "many times; and how that whoso hath drunk
thereof hath the tongue that none may withstand, whether in buying or
selling, or prevailing over the hearts of men in any wise. But as for its

wheraebouts, ye shall not find it in these parts. Men say that it is
beyond the Dry Tree; and that is afar, God wot! But now, lord Ralph, I
rede thee go back again this evening with Andrew, my nephew, for
company: forsooth, he will do little less gainful than riding with thee to
Upmeads than if he abide in Wulstead; for he is idle. But, my lord, take
it not amiss that I spake about the mayor and the tipstaves; for it was
but a jest, as thou mayest well wot."
Ralph's face cleared at that word, and he stood smiling, weighing the
chaplet in his hand; but Dame Katherine said:
"Dear gossip, do it on speedily; for it is a gift from me unto thee: and
from a gossip even king's sons may take a gift."
Quoth Ralph: "But is it lawful to wear it? is there no wizardry within
it?"
"Hearken to him!" she said, "and how like unto a man he speaketh; if
there were a brawl in the street, he would strike in and ask no word
thereof, not even which were the better side: whereas here is my
falcon-chick frighted at a little gold box and a pair of Saracen beads."
"Well," quoth Ralph, "the first holy man I meet shall bless them for
me."
"That shall he not," said the dame, "that shall he not. Who wotteth what
shall betide to thee or me if he do so? Come, do them on, and then to
table! For seest thou not that the goodman is wearying for meat? and
even thine eyes will shine the brighter for a mouthful, king's son and
gossip."
She took him by the hand and did the beads on his neck and kissed and
fondled him before he sat down, while the goodman looked on,
grinning rather sheepishly, but said nought to them; and only called on
his boy to lead the destrier to stable. So when they were set down, the
chapman took up the word where it had been dropped, and said: "So,
Lord Ralph, thou must needs take to adventures, being, as thou deemest,
full grown. That is all one as the duck taketh to water despite of the hen

that hath hatched her. Well, it was not to be thought that Upmeads
would hold you lords much longer. Or what is gone with my lords your
brethren?"
Said Ralph: "They have departed at all adventure, north east, and west,
each bearing our father's blessing and a bag of pennies. And to speak
the truth, goodman, for I perceive I am no doctor at lying, my father
and mother would have me stay at home when my brethren were gone,
and that liketh me not; therefore am I come out to seek my luck in the
world: for Upmeads is good for a star-gazer, maybe, or a simpler, or a
priest, or a worthy good carle of the fields, but not for a king's son with
the blood running hot in his veins. Or what sayest thou, gossip?"
Quoth the dame: "I could weep for thy mother; but for thee nought at
all. It is good that thou shouldest do thy will in the season of youth and
the days of thy pleasure. Yea, and I deem that thou shalt come back
again great and worshipful; and I am called somewhat foreseeing. Only
look to it that thou keep the pretty thing that I have just given thee."
"Well," said the chapman, "this is fine talk about pleasure and the doing
of one's will; nevertheless a whole skin is good