As he came back, making a circuit toward the open meadows, he happened on a herd of deer in a lonely place, half wood half meadow, and there he slew a hart with one shaft, for he was a deft bowman.
Then he went and fetched a leash of carles, who went with him somewhat less than half willingly, and between them they broke up the hart and carried him home to the castle, where the carline met them.

She smiled on Ralph and praised the venison, and said withal that the hunting was well done; "For, as fond and as fair as thou mayst be, it is not good that young men should have their minds set on one thing only." Therewith she led him in to his meat, and set him down and served him; and all the while of his dinner he was longing to ask her if she deemed that the Lady would come that day, since it was the last day of those which Roger had bidden him wait; but the words would not out of his mouth.
She looked at him and smiled, as though she had a guess of his thought, and at last she said to him: "Thy tongue is tied to-day.

Hast thou, after all, seen something strange in the wood ?" He shook his head for naysay.

Said she: "Why, then, dost thou not ask more concerning the Well at the World's End ?" He laughed, and said: "Maybe because I think that thou canst not tell me thereof." "Well," she said, "if I cannot, yet the book may, and this evening, when the sun is down, thou shalt have it." "I thank thee, mother," said he; "but this is now the last day that Roger bade me wait.

Dost thou think that he will come back to-night ?" and he reddened therewith.