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darker around them。 Their path wound along the slope of a woody
declivity； which rose high above them in a thick rampart of foliage； and
descended almost precipitously to the bed of a small river； which they
heard dashing in its rocky channel； and saw its white foam gleaming at
intervals in the last faint glimmerings of twilight。 In a short time all was
dark； and the rising voice of the wind foretold a coming storm。 They
turned a point of the valley； and saw a light below them in the depth of the
hollow； shining through a cottage…casement and dancing in its reflection
on the restless stream。 Robin blew his horn； which was answered from
below。 The cottage door opened： a boy came forth with a torch；
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ascended the steep； showed tokens of great delight at meeting with Robin；
and lighted them down a flight of steps rudely cut in the rock； and over a
series of rugged stepping…stones； that crossed the channel of the river。
They entered the cottage； which exhibited neatness； comfort； and plenty；
being amply enriched with pots； pans； and pipkins； and adorned with
flitches of bacon and sundry similar ornaments； that gave goodly promise
in the firelight that gleamed upon the rafters。 A woman； who seemed just
old enough to be the boy's mother； had thrown down her spinning wheel in
her joy at the sound of Robin's horn； and was bustling with singular
alacrity to set forth her festal ware and prepare an abundant supper。 Her
features； though not beautiful； were agreeable and expressive； and were
now lighted up with such manifest joy at the sight of Robin； that Marian
could not help feeling a momentary touch of jealousy； and a half…formed
suspicion that Robin had broken his forest law； and had occasionally gone
out of bounds； as other great men have done upon occasion； in order to
reconcile the breach of the spirit； with the preservation of the letter； of
their own legislation。 However； this suspicion； if it could be said to exist in
a mind so generous as Marian's； was very soon dissipated by the entrance
of the woman's husband； who testified as much joy as his wife had done at
the sight of Robin； and in a short time the whole of the party were
amicably seated round a smoking supper of river…fish and wild wood fowl；
on which the baron fell with as much alacrity as if he had been a true
pilgrim from Palestine。
The husband produced some recondite flasks of wine； which were laid
by in a binn consecrated to Robin； whose occasional visits to them in his
wanderings were the festal days of these warm…hearted cottagers； whose
manners showed that they had not been born to this low estate。 Their story
had no mystery； and Marian easily collected it from the tenour of their
conversation。 The young man had been； like Robin； the victim of an
usurious abbot； and had been outlawed for debt； and his nut…brown maid
had accompanied him to the depths of Sherwood； where they lived an
unholy and illegitimate life； killing the king's deer； and never hearing mass。
In this state； Robin； then earl of Huntingdon； discovered them in one of his
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huntings； and gave them aid and protection。 When Robin himself became
an outlaw； the necessary qualification or gift of continency was too hard a
law for our lovers to subscribe to； and as they were thus disqualified for
foresters； Robin had found them a retreat in this romantic and secluded
spot。 He had done similar service to other lovers similarly circumstanced；
and had disposed them in various wild scenes which he and his men had
discovered in their flittings from place to place； supplying them with all
necessaries and comforts from the reluctant disgorgings of fat abbots and
usurers。 The benefit was in some measure mutual； for these cottages
served him as resting…places in his removals； and enabled him to travel
untraced and unmolested； and in the delight with which he was always
received he found himself even more welcome than he would have been at
an inn； and this is saying very much for gratitude and affection together。
The smiles which surrounded him were of his own creation； and he
participated in the happiness he had bestowed。
The casements began to rattle in the wind； and the rain to beat upon
the windows。 The wind swelled to a hurricane； and the rain dashed like a
flood against the glass。 The boy retired to his little bed； the wife trimmed
the lamp； the husband heaped logs upon the fire： Robin broached another
flask； and Marian filled the baron's cup； and sweetened Robin's by
touching its edge with her lips。
〃Well；〃 said the baron； 〃give me a roof over my head； be it never so
humble。 Your greenwood canopy is pretty and pleasant in sunshine； but if I
were doomed to live under it； I should wish it were water…tight。〃
〃But；〃 said Robin； 〃we have tents and caves for foul weather； good
store of wine and venison； and fuel in abundance。〃
〃Ay； but；〃 said the baron； 〃I like to pull off my boots of a night； which
you foresters seldom do； and to ensconce myself thereafter in a
comfortable bed。 Your beech…root is over…hard for a couch； and your
mossy stump is somewhat rough for a bolster。〃
〃Had you not dry leaves；〃 said Robin； 〃with a bishop's surplice over
them？ What would you have softer？ And had you not an abbot's
travelling cloak for a coverlet？ What would you have warmer？〃
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〃Very true；〃 said the baron； 〃but that was an indulgence to a guest； and
I dreamed all night of the sheriff of Nottingham。 I like to feel myself
safe；〃 he added； stretching out his legs to the fire； and throwing himself
back in his chair with the air of a man determined to be comfortable。 〃I
like to feel myself safe；〃 said the baron。
At that moment the woman caught her husband's arm； and all the party
following the direction of her eyes； looked simultaneously to the window；
where they had just time to catch a glimpse of an apparition of an armed
head； with its plumage tossing in the storm； on which the light shone from
within； and which disappeared immediately。
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CHAPTER XV
O knight； thou lack'st a cup of canary。 When did I see thee so put
down？Twelfth Night。
Several knocks； as from the knuckles of an iron glove； were given to
the door of the cottage； and a voice was heard entreating shelter from the
storm for a traveller who had lost his way。 Robin arose and went to the
door。
〃What are you？〃 said Robin。
〃A soldier；〃 replied the voice： 〃an unfortunate adherent of
Longchamp； flying the vengeance of Prince John。〃
〃Are you alone？〃 said Robin。
〃Yes；〃 said the voice： 〃it is a dreadful night。 Hospitable cottagers；
pray give me admittance。 I would not have asked it but for the storm。 I
would have kept my watch in the woods。〃
〃That I believe；〃 said Robin。 〃You did not reckon on the storm when
you turned into this pass。 Do you know there are rogues this way？〃
〃I do；〃 said the voice。
〃So do I；〃 said Robin。
A pause ensued； during which Robin listening attentively caught a
faint sound of whispering。
〃You are not alone；〃 said Robin。 〃Who are your companions？〃
〃None but the wind and the water；〃 said the voice； 〃and I would I had
them not。〃
〃The wind and the water have many voices；〃 said Robin； 〃but I never
before heard them say； What shall we do？〃
Another pause ensued： after which；
〃Look ye； master cottager；〃 said the voice； in an altered tone； 〃if you
do not let us in willingly； we will break down the door。〃
〃Ho！ ho！〃 roared the baron； 〃you are b