Page 131 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

Scarlet, the name fitteth thee well. Right glad am I to wel-
come thee among us. I am called Little John; and this is a
new member who has just joined us, a stout tanner named
Arthur a Bland. Thou art like to achieve fame, Will, let me
tell thee, for there will be many a merry ballad sung about
the country, and many a merry story told in Sherwood of
how Robin Hood taught Little John and Arthur a Bland
the proper way to use the quarterstaff; likewise, as it were,
how our good master bit off so large a piece of cake that he
choked on it.’
‘Nay, good Little John,’ quoth Robin gently, for he liked
ill to have such a jest told of him. ‘Why should we speak
of this little matter? Prythee, let us keep this day’s doings
among ourselves.’
‘With all my heart,’ quoth Little John. ‘But, good master,
I thought that thou didst love a merry story, because thou
hast so often made a jest about a certain increase of fatness
on my joints, of flesh gathered by my abiding with the Sher-
iff of—‘
‘Nay, good Little John,’ said Robin hastily, ‘I do bethink
me I have said full enough on that score.’
‘It is well,’ quoth Little John, ‘for in truth I myself have
tired of it somewhat. But now I bethink me, thou didst also
seem minded to make a jest of the rain that threatened last
night; so—‘
‘Nay, then,’ said Robin Hood testily, ‘I was mistaken. I re-
member me now it did seem to threaten rain.’
‘Truly, I did think so myself,’ quoth Little John, ‘there-
fore, no doubt, thou dost think it was wise of me to abide

1 0 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood