ily; and forthwith, clad as he was in rags,
and stained of face, he clasped the dainty page close to his breast, and
she forsooth yielded right willingly.

"But Robin!" she exclaimed presently, "I knew you not, and was rude, and
wounded you!"

"'Twas nothing," he replied laughingly, "so long as it brought me you."

But she made more ado over the sore wrist than Robin had received for
all his former hurts put together. And she bound it with the little
kerchief, and said, "Now 'twill get well!" and Robin was convinced she
spoke the truth, for he never felt better in all his life. The whole
woods seemed tinged with a roseate hue, since Marian had come again.

But she, while happy also, was ill at ease; and Robin with a man's slow
discernment at last saw that it was because of her boy's attire. He
thought bluntly that there was naught to be ashamed of, yet smilingly
handed her his tattered long cloak, which she blushingly put on, and
forthwith recovered her spirits directly.

Then they began to talk of each other's varied fortunes, and of the many
things which had parted them; and so much did they find to tell that the
sun had begun to decline well into the afternoon before they realized
how the hours sped.

"I am but a sorry host!" exclaimed Robin, springing to his feet. "I have
not once invited you to my wild roof."

"And I am but a sorry page," replied Marian; "for I had clean forgot
that I was Richard Partington, and really did bring you a message from
Queen Eleanor!"

"Tell me on our way home, and there you shall be entrusted to Mistress
Dale. While the first of my men we meet will I send back for your deer."

So she told him, as they walked back through the glade, how that the
fame of his prowess had reached Queen Eleanor's ears, in London town.
And the Queen had said, "Fain would I see this bold yeoman, and behold
his skill at the long-bow." And the Queen had promised him amnesty if
he and four of his archers would repair to London against the next
tournament the week following, there to shoot against King Henry's
picked men, of whom the King was right vain. All this Marian told in
detail, and added:

"When I heard Her Majesty say she desired to see you, I asked leave
to go in search of you, saying I had known you once. And the Queen was
right glad, and bade me go, and sent this gold ring to you from off her
finger, in token of her faith."

Then Robin took the ring and bowed his head and kissed it loyall