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Chapter companions for The Well at the World’s End by William Morris.

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  1. Chapter 1

    Book I: The Road Unto Love

    The chapter introduces Ralph of Upmeads, a young knight who sets out on a journey from his home, driven by a desire for adventure and love. He encounters various characters and begins his quest, leaving behind his family and the familiar lands of Upmeads.

  2. Chapter 2

    The Sundering of the Ways

    King Peter of Upmeads, weary of his four sons' pleas for adventure, decides to let fate decide their paths. He has them draw straws: Blaise goes east, Hugh north, Gregory west, and Ralph, drawing the shortest, must stay home. Each son is assigned a squire, and after farewells, the three eldest depart, leaving Ralph behind with his father.

  3. Chapter 3

    II: Ralph Goeth Back Home to the High House

    Ralph and King Peter walk home together, and King Peter tells a story from his youth about encountering outlaws in the Wood Debateable, which leads him to refuse to hunt outlaws thereafter. Ralph pays little heed, preoccupied with his own matters. At the High House, Ralph's mother, Dame Katherine, joyfully welcomes him back, but Ralph's troubled face reveals his inner conflict between his love for home and his restless desire for adventure.

  4. Chapter 4

    Ralph Cometh to the Cheaping-Town

    Ralph leaves Upmeads at dawn, armed and riding his horse Falcon, and travels to the market town of Wulstead. He visits Clement Chapman, a merchant, and his wife, who give him hospitality, advice, and money for his journey. Clement warns him of the dangers ahead and suggests he take service with the Abbot of St. Mary's at Higham. Ralph learns of the lands beyond, including the Wood Perilous and the Well at the World's End, and departs with a gift from the dame, who is sorrowful at his leaving.

  5. Chapter 5

    Ralph Rideth the Downs

    Ralph rides into the downs, encounters a mysterious armed man at a church, observes ancient hill carvings, and shares a friendly drink with shepherds who speak of ominous portents and a green-clad rider. He swears an oath to aid them if he becomes lord.

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  1. Chapter 6V: Ralph Cometh to Higham-on-the-Way
  2. Chapter 7Ralph Goeth His Ways from the Abbey of St. Mary at Higham
  3. Chapter 8VII: The Maiden of Bourton Abbas
  4. Chapter 9VIII: Ralph Cometh to the Wood Perilous. An Adventure Therein
  5. Chapter 10Another Adventure in the Wood Perilous
  6. Chapter 11X: A Meeting and a Parting in the Wood Perilous
  7. Chapter 12XI: Now Must Ralph Ride for It
  8. Chapter 13XII: Ralph Entereth Into the Burg of the Four Friths
  9. Chapter 14XIII: The Streets of the Burg of the Four Friths
  10. Chapter 15XIV: What Ralph Heard of the Matters of the Burg of the Four Friths
  11. Chapter 16How Ralph Departed from the Burg of the Four Friths
  12. Chapter 17XVI: Ralph Rideth the Wood Perilous Again
  13. Chapter 18XVII: Ralph Cometh to the House of Abundance
  14. Chapter 19Of Ralph in the Castle of Abundance
  15. Chapter 20XIX: Ralph Readeth in a Book Concerning the Well at the World’s End
  16. Chapter 21XX: Ralph Meeteth a Man in the Wood
  17. Chapter 22XXI: Ralph Weareth Away Three Days Uneasily
  18. Chapter 23An Adventure in the Wood
  19. Chapter 24XXIII: The Leechcraft of the Lady
  20. Chapter 25XXIV: Supper and Slumber in the Woodland Hall
  21. Chapter 26Book II: The Road Unto Trouble
  22. Chapter 27I: Ralph Meets with Love in the Wilderness
  23. Chapter 28II: They Break Their Fast in the Wildwood
  24. Chapter 29III: The Lady Telleth Ralph of the Past Days of Her Life
  25. Chapter 30IV: The Lady Tells of Her Deliverance
  26. Chapter 31V: Yet More of the Lady’s Story
  27. Chapter 32VI: The Lady Tells Somewhat of Her Doings After She Left the Wilderness
  28. Chapter 33VII: The Lady Tells of the Strife and Trouble That Befell After Her Coming to the Country of the King's Son
  29. Chapter 34VIII: The Lady Maketh an End of Her Tale
  30. Chapter 35IX: They Go on Their Way Once More
  31. Chapter 36Of the Desert-House and the Chamber of Love in the Wilderness
  32. Chapter 37XI: Ralph Cometh Out of the Wilderness
  33. Chapter 38XII: Ralph Falleth in with Friends and Rideth to Whitwall
  34. Chapter 39XIII: Richard Talketh with Ralph Concerning the Well at the World’s End. Concerning Swevenham
  35. Chapter 40XIV: Ralph Falleth in with Another Old Friend
  36. Chapter 41Ralph Dreams a Dream or Sees a Vision
  37. Chapter 42XVI: Of the Tales of Swevenham
  38. Chapter 43XVII: Richard Bringeth Tidings of Departing
  39. Chapter 44XVIII: Ralph Departeth from Whitwall with the Fellowship of Clement Chapman
  40. Chapter 45XIX: Master Clement Tells Ralph Concerning the Lands Whereunto They Were Riding
  41. Chapter 46XX: They Come to the Mid-Mountain Guesthouse
  42. Chapter 47A Battle in the Mountains
  43. Chapter 48Ralph Talks with Bull Shockhead
  44. Chapter 49Of the Town of Cheaping Knowe
  45. Chapter 50XXIV: Ralph Heareth More Tidings of the Damsel
  46. Chapter 51XXV: The Fellowship Comes to Whiteness
  47. Chapter 52XXVI: They Ride the Mountains Toward Goldburg
  48. Chapter 53XXVII: Clement Tells of Goldburg
  49. Chapter 54XXVIII: Now They Come to Goldburg
  50. Chapter 55Of Goldburg and the Queen Thereof
  51. Chapter 56Ralph Hath Hope of Tidings Concerning the Well at the World’s End
  52. Chapter 57The Beginning of the Road to Utterbol
  53. Chapter 58Ralph Happens on Evil Days
  54. Chapter 59Ralph Is Brought on the Road Towards Utterbol
  55. Chapter 60The Lord of Utterbol Will Wot of Ralph’s Might and Minstrelsy
  56. Chapter 61Ralph Cometh to the Vale of the Tower
  57. Chapter 62XXXVI: The Talk of Two Women Concerning Ralph
  58. Chapter 63How Ralph Justed with the Aliens
  59. Chapter 64A Friend Gives Ralph Warning
  60. Chapter 65The Lord of Utterbol Makes Ralph a Free Man
  61. Chapter 66XL: They Ride Toward Utterness from Out of Vale Turris
  62. Chapter 67XLI: Redhead Keeps Tryst
  63. Chapter 68Book III: The Road to the Well at the World’s End
  64. Chapter 69I: An Adventure in the Wood Under the Mountains
  65. Chapter 70II: Ralph Rides the Wood Under the Mountains
  66. Chapter 71III: Ralph Meeteth with Another Adventure in the Wood Under the Mountain
  67. Chapter 72IV: They Ride the Wood Under the Mountains
  68. Chapter 73V: They Come on the Sage of Swevenham
  69. Chapter 74VI: Those Two Are Learned Lore by the Sage of Swevenham
  70. Chapter 75VII: An Adventure by the Way
  71. Chapter 76VIII: They Come to the Sea of Molten Rocks
  72. Chapter 77IX: They Come Forth from the Rock-Sea
  73. Chapter 78X: They Come to the Gate of the Mountains
  74. Chapter 79XI: They Come to the Vale of Sweet Chestnuts
  75. Chapter 80XII: Winter Amidst of the Mountains
  76. Chapter 81XIII: Of Ursula and the Bear
  77. Chapter 82XIV: Now Come the Messengers of the Innocent Folk
  78. Chapter 83They Come to the Land of the Innocent Folk
  79. Chapter 84XVI: They Come to the House of the Sorceress
  80. Chapter 85XVII: They Come Through the Woodland to the Thirsty Desert
  81. Chapter 86XVIII: They Come to the Dry Tree
  82. Chapter 87XIX: They Come Out of the Thirsty Desert
  83. Chapter 88They Come to the Ocean Sea
  84. Chapter 89XXI: Now They Drink of the Well at the World’s End
  85. Chapter 90XXII: Now They Have Drunk and Are Glad
  86. Chapter 91Book IV: The Road Home
  87. Chapter 92I: Ralph and Ursula Come Back Again Through the Great Mountains
  88. Chapter 93II: They Hear New Tidings of Utterbol
  89. Chapter 94III: They Winter with the Sage; and Thereafter Come Again to Vale Turris
  90. Chapter 95IV: A Feast in the Red Pavilion
  91. Chapter 96Bull Telleth of His Winning of the Lordship of Utterbol
  92. Chapter 97VI: They Ride from Vale Turris. Redhead Tells of Agatha
  93. Chapter 98VII: Of Their Riding the Waste, and of a Battle Thereon
  94. Chapter 99VIII: Of Goldburg Again, and the Queen Thereof
  95. Chapter 100IX: They Come to Cheaping Knowe Once More. Of the King Thereof
  96. Chapter 101X: An Adventure on the Way to the Mountains
  97. Chapter 102XI: They Come Through the Mountains Into the Plain
  98. Chapter 103XII: The Roads Sunder Again
  99. Chapter 104XIII: They Come to Whitwall Again
  100. Chapter 105XIV: They Ride Away from Whitwall
  101. Chapter 106XV: A Strange Meeting in the Wilderness
  102. Chapter 107XVI: They Come to the Castle of Abundance Once More
  103. Chapter 108XVII: They Fall in with That Hermit
  104. Chapter 109XVIII: A Change of Days in the Burg of the Four Friths
  105. Chapter 110Ralph Sees Hampton and the Scaur
  106. Chapter 111XX: They Come to the Gate of Higham by the Way
  107. Chapter 112Talk Between Those Two Brethren
  108. Chapter 113XXII: An Old Acquaintance Comes from the Down Country to See Ralph
  109. Chapter 114They Ride to Bear Castle
  110. Chapter 115XXIV: The Folkmote of the Shepherds
  111. Chapter 116XXVI: Ralph Sees His Father and Mother Again
  112. Chapter 117XXVII: Ralph Holds Converse with Katherine His Gossip
  113. Chapter 118XXVIII: Dame Katherine Tells of the Pair of Beads, and Whence She Had Them
  114. Chapter 119XXIX: They Go Down to Battle in Upmeads
  115. Chapter 120Ralph Brings His Father and Mother to Upmeads
  116. Chapter 121Ralph Brings Ursula Home to the High House
  117. Chapter 122Yet a Few Words Concerning Ralph of Upmeads