they reached the hotel at Leamington, and they were
forced to hurry in order to be dressed in time for dinner. The gong
found them all assembled, however, for such a day of sight-seeing
makes one hungry. They all had a good laugh at Betty, for when she was
caught in a "brown study," and Mrs. Pitt asked to hear her thoughts,
she replied:

"Oh, I was thinking over what a lovely day it has been,--especially at
Kenilworth!" and then added with a sigh, "If I only could know who
that guide was, everything would be perfect!"

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

SHERWOOD FOREST AND HADDON HALL

Betty could scarcely sit still in the train which was carrying her
towards Mansfield, from sheer excitement at the anticipation of
actually seeing the haunts of Robin Hood. Ever since Mrs. Pitt had
mentioned that town as the gateway of the Sherwood Forest of Betty's
dreams, the name had seemed an enchanted one to her. As they had come
only the comparatively short journey from Leeds, they arrived at
Mansfield in the middle of the morning, and being Friday, the public
square presented its usual busy scenes of market-day. Vendors were
shouting their wares, long-suffering babies who had been unwillingly
brought along were crying, women were loudly chattering in shrill
voices, and a poor little dog, who in some mysterious way was being
made to play a part in a Punch and Judy Show, was yelping piteously.

"Well," began Betty, who could think of only Robin Hood--her dear
hero, whose story was about to be made even more vivid to
her--"perhaps this is the very market where he came when he had bought
out the butcher's stock of meat and was selling it for kisses to the
lasses of the town. Oh, do you suppose it is the same place?"

"Why, no!" interrupted John, in the decisive tones which he always
used when confident of his superior knowledge. "'Nottingham Town' was
where Robin Hood and his whole gang of fellows always went!"

"Yes, that was really more associated with the famous outlaw than
Mansfield. You'll see Nottingham this afternoon, or, at any rate,
to-morrow. Now, come this way to the Swan Hotel. While you girls
unpack, I'll see that some horses are harnessed so that we can soon
set off to the forest." Mrs. Pitt then led the way from the
market-square toward the inn of which she had spoken.

Before the carriage was ready, the young people had thoroughly
explored this remarkable old house. Perhaps the most notable thing
about it is the spira