"
"And you may add, friar," said Marian, "that Robin, no less than Richard,
is king in his own dominion; and that if his subjects be fewer, yet are they
more uniformly loyal."
"I would, fair lady," said the stranger, "that thy latter observation were not
so true. But I nothing doubt, Robin, that if Richard could hear your friar,
and see you and your lady, as I now do, there is not a man in England whom
he would take by the hand more cordially than yourself."
"Gramercy, sir knight," said Robin---- But his speech was cut
short by Little John calling, "Hark!"
All listened. A distant trampling of horses was heard.
The sounds approached rapidly, and at length a group of horsemen
glittering in holyday dresses was visible among the trees.
"God's my life!" said Robin, "what means this? To arms,
my merrymen all."
"No arms, Robin," said the foremost horseman, riding up and springing
from his saddle: "have you forgotten Sir William of the Lee?"
"No, by my fay," said Robin; "and right welcome again to Sherwood."
Little John bustled to re-array the disorganised economy of the table,
and replace the dilapidations of the provender.
"I come late, Robin," said Sir William, "but I came by a wrestling,
where I found a good yeoman wrongfully beset by a crowd of sturdy varlets,
and I staid to do him right."
"I thank thee for that, in God's name," said Robin, "as if thy good service
had been to myself.
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