instrel, and that is enough," the girl answered
at last. She made a movement towards the aisle.

"And Allan?" whispered Robin, looking straight into her eyes.

At this she gave a little gasp of fear and love, then glanced
irresolutely towards the shrivelled baron. "I will _not_ marry you!" she
cried, suddenly.

Robin laughed and, dropping the harp, clapped his horn to his lips. Even
as the archers sprang upon him, the greenwood men appeared.

"Mercy me!" called out the Bishop, seeking to escape, "here are those
rascal fellows who did maltreat me so in Sherwood."

The archers were prisoners everyone, and the baron too, ere my lord of
Hereford had done exclaiming. Stuteley and Much pushed Allan-a-Dale
forward. "This is the man, good my lord, to whom you shall marry the
maid," cried Robin, flourishing his bow, "if she is willing."

"Will you marry _me_, dear heart?" pleaded Allan-a-Dale. "I am your true
love, and the stories they told to you were all false."

"Own to it, baron!" roared Little John, shaking up the unfortunate old
man. "Tell her that you did lie in your straggling beard when you said
that Allan was untrue."

"Ay, ay, I spoke falsely; ay, I own to it. Have done with me, villain."

"Spare him, Little John, for the nonce. Now, my lord, marry them for us,
for I am ready to sing you my song."

"They must be called in church three times by their names; such is the
law," the Bishop protested.

Robin impatiently plucked the Bishop's loose gown from off his back and
threw it over Little John's shoulders. The big fellow thrust himself
firmly into it and stood with arms akimbo. "By the faith o' my body,"
cried Robin, "this cloth makes you a man!"

Little John went to the church door, and all began to laugh consumedly
at him. Even the maid Fennel forgot her vexations. Seeing that she
smiled, Allan opened his arms to her, and she found her way into them.

Little John called their names seven times, in case three should not be
enough. Then Robin turned to the Bishop and swore that he should marry
these two forthwith. The gown was given back to him, and my lord of
Hereford commenced the service. He thought it more polite to obey,
remembering his last experience with this madcap outlaw.

"Who gives this maid in marriage?" asked the Bishop, in due season.

"I do," said Robin, "I give her heartily to my good friend,
Allan-a-Dale, and he who takes her from him shall buy her dearly."

CHAPTER XXI

Th