Part 22 (1/2)

_Lady Lea_ (_entering_). Oh, my dear husband! how glad I am to hear your voice again.

_The Knight._ Happy am I to see you and to be at home again. I must tell you how kind Robin Hood has been to me.

_Lady Lea._ Robin Hood your friend? Is he not the outlaw of the forest?

_The Knight._ Yes; but he is kind to all who are unhappy or oppressed.

He saved me from leaving England and gave me money to redeem my land.

_Lady Lea._ How I long to thank him for his goodness to you.

_The Knight._ In a year we will go to him and repay the four hundred pounds.

_Lady Lea._ I shall be glad to see him and his merry men, and try to thank them all.

WILLIAM TELL

A STORY OF SWITZERLAND. A.D. 1307

PERSONS IN THE PLAY--WILLIAM TELL; LEWIS, HIS SON; ALBERT, HIS SON; ANNETTE, HIS WIFE; LALOTTE, HIS NIECE, GESSLER, SOLDIERS

SCENE I.--_At Tell's Home_

_Albert._ Lewis, doesn't the quail smell good?

_Lewis._ Yes, I wish I could have some of it!

_Lalotte._ Hus.h.!.+ the quail is for your father.

_Albert._ I know that, Lalotte; but I am hungry, and I like quail.

_Lalotte._ Your father will be cold and hungry, for he has been on a long journey.

_Albert._ But perhaps he will not come. Mother, mother! may we have the quail if father is late? It is done now, and it will not be good if it is cooked any more.

_Lalotte._ Hush, you greedy boy! If I were your mother, I would send you to bed for thinking of such a thing.

_Albert._ You are not the mistress. You are not the mistress, and I shall not go to bed because you say so!

_William Tell_ (_at door_). But you shall go to bed, young man, if your Cousin Lalotte tells you to do so. Take them to bed, Lalotte.

_Albert._ Oh, father! We were only joking.

_Lewis._ Please, father, don't send us to bed.

_William Tell._ I must, my boy, because it is late, and I have news for your mother. Good night, my sons.

_Boys._ Good night, dear father.

[_They go out with Lalotte._]