‘Yes,’ the Enchanter answered, ‘because only true lovers can hear the true speech of the bells, and then only when they’re together. Well, there’s the bell!’
He pointed to the covering of the well, went forward, and touched some lever or spring. The covering swung out from above the well, and hung over the grass grey with the dew of dawn.
‘That?’ said Bellamant.
‘That,’ said his god-father. ‘It doesn’t ring, and it can’t ring, and it never will ring, and it was never made to ring. Get into it.’
‘Eh?’ said Bellamant forgetting his manners.
The old man took a hand of each and led them under the bell.
They looked up. It had windows of thick glass, and high seats about four feet from its edge, running all round inside.
‘Take your seats,’ said the Enchanter.
Bellamant lifted his Princess to the bench and leaped up beside her.
[p180]
‘Now,’ said the old man, ‘sit still, hold each other’s hands, and for your lives don’t move.’