ous evening star
Thro' a gap in a great wood.
Is aught amiss?
Why are you all so silent? Ah, my good,
My brave Fitzwalter, I most fervently
Trust I am not inopportune.

FITZWALTER

My lord,
I am glad that you can jest. I am sadly grieved
And sorely disappointed in that youth
Who has incurred your own displeasure.

JOHN

Ah?
Your future son-in-law?

FITZWALTER

Never on earth!
He is outlawed--

MARIAN

Outlawed!

FITZWALTER

And I wash my hands
Of Huntingdon. His shadow shall not darken
My doors again!

JOHN

That's vehement! Ha! ha!
And what does Lady Marian say?

MARIAN

My father
Speaks hastily. I am not so unworthy.

FITZWALTER

Unworthy?

MARIAN

Yes, unworthy as to desert him
Because he is in trouble--the bravest man
In England since the days of Hereward.
You know why he is outlawed!

FITZWALTER

[_To PRINCE JOHN._]

Sir, she speaks
As the spoilt child of her old father's dotage.
Give her no heed. She shall not meet with him
On earth again, and till she promise this,
She'll sun herself within the castle garden
And never cross the draw-bridge.

MARIAN

Then I'll swim
The moat!

FRIAR TUCK

Ha! ha! well spoken.

MARIAN

Oh, you forget,
Father, you quite forget there is a King;
And, when the King comes home from the Crusade,
Will you forget Prince John and change once more?

[_Murmurs of assent from the FORESTERS._]

JOHN

Enough of this.
Though I be prince, I am vice-gerent too!
Fitzwalter, I would have some private talk
With you and Lady Marian. Bid your guests
Remove a little--

FITZWALTER

I'll lead them all within!
And let them make what cheer they may. Come, friends.

[_He leads them up the stairs to the inner room._]

My lord, I shall return immediately!

[_Exeunt FITZWALTER and the guests._]

JOH