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I am her father； and she shall marry Sir Stephen and none other。〃
Now all this time； while everything was in turmoil about him；
Sir Stephen had been standing in proud and scornful silence。
〃Nay； fellow；〃 said he coldly； 〃thou mayst take thy daughter back again；
I would not marry her after this day's doings could I gain all
merry England thereby。 I tell thee plainly； I loved thy daughter；
old as I am； and would have taken her up like a jewel from
the sty； yet； truly； I knew not that she did love this fellow；
and was beloved by him。 Maiden； if thou dost rather choose
a beggarly minstrel than a high…born knight； take thy choice。
I do feel it shame that I should thus stand talking amid this herd；
and so I will leave you。〃 Thus saying； he turned and；
gathering his men about him； walked proudly down the aisle。
Then all the yeomen were silenced by the scorn of his words。
Only Friar Tuck leaned over the edge of the choir loft and called
out to him ere he had gone； 〃Good den； Sir Knight。 Thou wottest
old bones must alway make room for young blood。〃 Sir Stephen
neither answered nor looked up； but passed out from the church
as though he had heard nought； his men following him。
Then the Bishop of Hereford spoke hastily； 〃I； too； have no
business here； and so will depart。〃 And he made as though he would go。
But Robin Hood laid hold of his clothes and held him。
〃Stay； my Lord Bishop；〃 said he； 〃I have yet somewhat to say to thee。〃
The Bishop's face fell； but he stayed as Robin bade him；
for he saw he could not go。
Then Robin Hood turned to stout Edward of Deirwold； and said he；
〃Give thy blessing on thy daughter's marriage to this yeoman； and all
will be well。 Little John； give me the bags of gold。 Look； farmer。
Here are two hundred bright golden angels； give thy blessing；
as I say； and I will count them out to thee as thy daughter's dower。
Give not thy blessing； and she shall be married all the same；
but not so much as a cracked farthing shall cross thy palm。 Choose。〃
Then Edward looked upon the ground with bent brows； turning the matter over
and over in his mind； but he was a shrewd man and one； withal； that made
the best use of a cracked pipkin； so at last he looked up and said；
but in no joyous tone； 〃If the wench will go her own gait； let her go。
I had thought to make a lady of her； yet if she chooses to be
what she is like to be； I have nought to do with her henceforth。
Ne'ertheless I will give her my blessing when she is duly wedded。〃
〃It may not be；〃 spake up one of those of Emmet。 〃The banns have not been
duly published； neither is there any priest here to marry them。〃
〃How sayst thou？〃 roared Tuck from the choir loft。 〃No priest？
Marry； here stands as holy a man as thou art； any day of the week；
a clerk in orders； I would have thee know。 As for the question of banns；
stumble not over that straw； brother； for I will publish them。〃
So saying； he called the banns； and； says the old ballad； lest three times
should not be enough； he published them nine times o'er。 Then straightway
he came down from the loft and forthwith performed the marriage service；
and so Allan and Ellen were duly wedded。
And now Robin counted out two hundred golden angels to Edward
of Deirwold； and he； upon his part； gave his blessing； yet not；
I wot； as though he meant it with overmuch good will。
Then the stout yeomen crowded around and grasped Allan's palm；
and he； holding Ellen's hand within his own； looked about him
all dizzy with his happiness。
Then at last jolly Robin turned to the Bishop of Hereford；
who had been looking on at all that passed with a grim look。
〃My Lord Bishop；〃 quoth he； 〃thou mayst bring to thy mind that thou
didst promise me that did I play in such wise as to cause this fair
lass to love her husband； thou wouldst give me whatsoever I asked
in reason。 I have played my play； and she loveth her husband；
which she would not have done but for me； so now fulfill thy promise。
Thou hast upon thee that which； methinks； thou wouldst be the
better without； therefore； I prythee； give me that golden chain
that hangeth about thy neck as a wedding present for this fair bride。〃
Then the Bishop's cheeks grew red with rage and his eyes flashed。
He looked at Robin with a fell look； but saw that in the yeoman's
face which bade him pause。 Then slowly he took the chain
from about his neck and handed it to Robin； who flung it over
Ellen's head so that it hung glittering about her shoulders。
Then said merry Robin； 〃I thank thee； on the bride's part；
for thy handsome gift； and truly thou thyself art more seemly
without it。 Now； shouldst thou ever come nigh to Sherwood I
much hope that I shall give thee there such a feast as thou
hast ne'er had in all thy life before。〃
〃May Heaven forfend！〃 cried the Bishop earnestly； for he knew
right well what manner of feast it was that Robin Hood gave
his guests in Sherwood Forest。
But now Robin Hood gathered his men together； and； with Allan
and his young bride in their midst； they all turned
their footsteps toward the woodlands。 On the way thither
Friar Tuck came close to Robin and plucked him by the sleeve。
〃Thou dost lead a merry life； good master；〃 quoth he；
〃but dost thou not think that it would be for the welfare
of all your souls to have a good stout chaplain； such as I；
to oversee holy matters？ Truly； I do love this life mightily。〃
At this merry Robin Hood laughed amain； and bade him stay
and become one of their band if he wished。
That night there was such a feast held in the greenwood as Nottinghamshire
never saw before。 To that feast you and I were not bidden； and pity it is
that we were not； so； lest we should both feel the matter the more keenly；
I will say no more about it。
Robin Hood Aids a Sorrowful Knight
SO PASSED the gentle springtime away in budding beauty； its silver
showers and sunshine； its green meadows and its flowers。 So； likewise；
passed the summer with its yellow sunlight； its quivering heat and deep；
bosky foliage； its long twilights and its mellow nights； through which
the frogs croaked and fairy folk were said to be out on the hillsides。
All this had passed and the time of fall had come； bringing with it its own
pleasures and joyousness； for now； when the harvest was gathered home；
merry bands of gleaners roamed the country about； singing along the roads in
the daytime； and sleeping beneath the hedgerows and the hay…ricks at night。
Now the hips burned red in the tangled thickets and the hews waxed
black in the hedgerows； the stubble lay all crisp and naked to the sky；
and the green leaves were fast turning russet and brown。 Also； at this
merry season； good things of the year are gathered in in great store。
Brown ale lies ripening in the cellar； hams and bacon hang in the smoke…shed；
and crabs are stowed away in the straw for roasting in the wintertime；
when the north wind piles the snow in drifts around the gables and the fire
crackles warm upon the hearth。
So passed the seasons then； so they pass now； and so they will pass
in time to come； while we come and go like leaves of the tree that fall
and are soon forgotten。
Quoth Robin Ho