The Well at the World's End: A TaleMorris, William
Science
The Well at the World's End: A Tale
Morris, William
Fantasy fiction; Quests (Expeditions) -- Fiction
"Good," said Agatha; "then will I go to him to-morrow morning, when
Joyce has gone from him. But now hold up thine heart, and keep close
for these two days that we shall yet abide in Tower Dale: and trust me
this very evening I shall begin to set tidings going that shall work
and grow, and shall one day rejoice thine heart."
So fell the talk betwixt them.
CHAPTER 38
A Friend Gives Ralph Warning
On the morrow Ralph wandered about the Dale where he would, and none
meddled with him. And as he walked east along the stream where the
valley began to narrow, he saw a man sitting on the bank fishing with
an angle, and when he drew near, the man turned about, and saw him.
Then he lays down his angling rod and rises to his feet, and stands
facing Ralph, looking sheepish, with his hands hanging down by his
sides; and Ralph, who was thinking of other folk, wondered what he
would. So he said: "Hail, good fellow! What wouldst thou?" Said the
man: "I would thank thee." "What for?" said Ralph, but as he looked on
him he saw that it was Redhead, whose pardon he had won of the Lord
yesterday; so he held out his hand, and took Redhead's, and smiled
friendly on him. Redhead looked him full in the face, and though he
was both big and very rough-looking, he had not altogether the look of
a rascal.
He said: "Fair lord, I would that I might do something for thine
avail, and perchance I may: but it is hard to do good deeds in Hell,
especially for one of its devils."
"Yea, is it so bad as that?" said Ralph. "For thee not yet," said
Redhead, "but it may come to it. Hearken, lord, there is none anigh us
that I can see, so I will say a word to thee at once. Later on it may
be over late: Go thou not to Utterbol whatever may betide."
"Yea," said Ralph, "but how if I be taken thither?" Quoth Redhead: "I
can see this, that thou art so favoured that thou mayst go whither thou
wilt about the camp with none to hinder thee. Therefore it will be
easy for thee to depart by night and cloud, or in the grey of morning,
when thou comest to a good pass, whereof I will tell thee. And still I
say, go thou not to Utterbol: for thou art over good to be made a devil
of, like to us, and therefore thou shalt be tormented till thy life is
spoilt, and by that road shalt thou be sent to heaven."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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