Part 40 (2/2)
On the third week in September Marian determined to return to her old home, and take the risk of any treachery
”Allan-a-Dale and Fennel shall go with you, dear heart,” said Robin
”Why not? They can appear as your father's guests, and the two o as Allan's uard my pretty love from all harm”
”Am I indeed your pretty love?” asked Marian, in foolish happiness; ”are you sure that you would not have some other maid--to wit, the demoiselle Marie? She hath an eye for you, as I know--for all she see out another woman's secret!”
Mistress Fennel was not loth to leave the greenwood In the summer months the life was none too bad a one, but now that Septe wife shi+vered and complained
”Hereford is the only one we need fear, after all,” Allan adha her letter ”See what my father saith”
Therefore Robin and hisand kitchen work soon as Septeone Allan-a-Dale, Warrenton, the two girls and their two ham on the best horses that the outlaws could provide, under escort so far as Gamewell They were secretly watched into the town, that Robin ht be sure no one atteed that Allan should come himself to Gamewell, and seek the Squire's friendshi+p on soht tell the old man about Marian and how she had left his roof
Montfichet would not be vexed with her, Marian felt If he were, she would come herself, and coax him Also either Allan or Warrenton would find means to send Robin news of the household, and tell him whether Fitzwalter returned as the latter prouards that wit could devise were taken, and Robin, having kissed her little fingers very tenderly, left Marian with her cortege, upon the road by Gaained safe entrance to Nottingham, journeyed back to the caves at Barnesdale with quiet mien His heart told him to suspect some evil plot--yet where could he find one? Scarlett, his own cousin, had brought the letter, and Marian had recognized the writing
Oh, how dull the caves and the woods seemed without her! Tuck and thethehten the gloorief, feeling it to be unmanly
But never had he enjoyed a feast so little in the free woods as this one Good food and good company he had, but not that salt hich to savor them--a merry heart
CHAPTER XXVII
The autumn ripened into winter Allan found means to send Robin news of them often: Master Fitzwalter had not returned; but had sent another letter saying that he would do so ere long They all were happy and unhter they had seen nothing That Warrenton ell, and that they had gotten them a man-cook and other servants
Marian wrote little crabbed es to him Brief and ill-spelt as they were, they beca any atteht be watched and followed, and so bring about Robin's capture She fretted sorely at this restraint placed upon her by Allan's more prudent hands
The demoiselle Marie had made a miscalculation She knew that presently Robin would seek Marian, even in the lion's mouth _Then_ would come the day of the Sheriff's triumph
The little house of the Fitzwalters was spied upon froht them of this new cook Had Little John once espied him there would have been a different tale to tell, however
He had offered his services to Warrenton at a s that he had lost his last place with being too fond of his bed
He said his naood faes he asked were so s, and had been so frank as to his failing, that Marian bade him take up his quarters forthwith in her father's house
Life passed uneventfully for them in the Fitzwalter household It was neither happy nor unhappy Mistress Fennel found it vastly hty caves of Barnesdale; but then Mistress Fennel had her dear--and Marian had not She was vaguely disturbed at her father's lengthened absence Surely he should by now have deterham or London
The months crawled on and Christham streets and Robin to Barnesdale woods This state of inactivity had told reenwood men--upon Little John most of all