im 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 more amusing
than the draughty 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 determined where he
would live--Nottingham or London.

The months crawled on and Christmas came and went.

Marian was still tied to Nottingham streets and Robin to Barnesdale
woods. This state of inactivity had told much upon the greenwood
men--upon Little John most of all.

At last the big fellow fell out with Friar Tuck, and began to grumble at
everyone in turn. Robin, in despair, bade him go into Nottingham, to see
how the land lay there. "If you must be breaking someone's head, Little
John, let it be one of our enemies who shall suffer. But have a care,
for your tongue is as long as your body. Choose a cunning disguise
therefor."

"I will go as a beggar," said Little John, brightening up at the
prospect of adventure. "For a beggar may chatter as much as he
will--'tis part of his trade."

So clad all in rags, and bent double as though with age, Little John
went forth from their caves upon a February morning. He supported
himself with a stout oak staff, and carried two great bags upon his
shoulders. One held his food, and the other was to be refuge for
anything of note that he might find left about--such as Sheriff's plate,
to wit, or a Bishop's valuables.

He encountered four fellows of the like profession near by Nottingham
north gate. One was dumb, another blind, the other two halt and lame.
"Give you good morrow, brothers," said he, in a gruff voice. "It's my
fortune that brings me to you, for I am in sore need of company. What is
there a-doing in Nottingham since the bells be ringing a-merrily? Are
they hanging a man, or skinning a beggar?"

"Neither one nor the other, you crooked churl," replied one of the
crippled beggars. "The Sheriff is returned from London with his
daughter, and the folk are giving him a welcome, such as you will never
have from the city! Stand back, for there is no room for you there. Four
of us as it is are too many, and we have come here to settle who shall
go on and who turn back."

"And how will you settle such a knotty point, gossip?"

"Marry, with our sticks," retorted the beggar, threateni