Page 159 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

scanning his face closely.
‘A young face,’ quoth he in a low voice, half to himself, ‘a
kind face, a good face. ‘Tis like a maiden’s for purity, and,
withal, the fairest that e’er mine eyes did see; but, if I may
judge fairly by thy looks, grief cometh to young as well as
to old.’ At these words, spoken so kindly, the poor lad’s eyes
brimmed up with tears. ‘Nay, nay,’ said Robin hastily, ‘cheer
up, lad; I warrant thy case is not so bad that it cannot be
mended. What may be thy name?’
‘Allen a Dale is my name, good master.’
‘Allen a Dale,’ repeated Robin, musing. ‘Allen a Dale. It
doth seem to me that the name is not altogether strange
to mine ears. Yea, surely thou art the minstrel of whom we
have been hearing lately, whose voice so charmeth all men.
Dost thou not come from the Dale of Rotherstream, over
beyond Stavely?’
‘Yea, truly,’ answered Allan, ‘I do come thence.’
‘How old art thou, Allan?’ said Robin.
‘I am but twenty years of age.’
‘Methinks thou art overyoung to be perplexed with
trouble,’ quoth Robin kindly; then, turning to the others,
he cried, ‘Come, lads, busk ye and get our feast ready; only
thou, Will Scarlet, and thou, Little John, stay here with me.’
Then, when the others had gone, each man about his busi-
ness, Robin turned once more to the youth. ‘Now, lad,’ said
he, ‘tell us thy troubles, and speak freely. A flow of words
doth ever ease the heart of sorrows; it is like opening the
waste weir when the mill dam is overfull. Come, sit thou
here beside me, and speak at thine ease.’

1 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood