Page 195 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

and so get thyself into the church, that thou mayst be there
when thou art wanted; meantime, Little John, Will Stutely,
and I will follow thee anon.’
So Friar Tuck clambered over the wall, crossed the road,
and came to the church, where the old friar was still labor-
ing with the great key, the lock being somewhat rusty and
he somewhat old and feeble.
‘Hilloa, brother,’ quoth Tuck, ‘let me aid thee.’ So saying,
he took the key from the other’s hand and quickly opened
the door with a turn of it.
‘Who art thou, good brother?’ asked the old friar, in a
high, wheezing voice. ‘Whence comest thou, and whither
art thou going?’ And he winked and blinked at stout Friar
Tuck like an owl at the sun.
‘Thus do I answer thy questions, brother,’ said the other.
‘My name is Tuck, and I go no farther than this spot, if thou
wilt haply but let me stay while this same wedding is going
forward. I come from Fountain Dale and, in truth, am a
certain poor hermit, as one may say, for I live in a cell be-
side the fountain blessed by that holy Saint Ethelrada. But,
if I understand aught, there is to be a gay wedding here to-
day; so, if thou mindest not, I would fain rest me in the cool
shade within, for I would like to see this fine sight.’
‘Truly, thou art welcome, brother,’ said the old man, lead-
ing the way within. Meantime, Robin Hood, in his guise of
harper, together with Little John and Will Stutely, had come
to the church. Robin sat him down on a bench beside the
door, but Little John, carrying the two bags of gold, went
within, as did Will Stutely.

1 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood