Page 250 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

dale walked Little John, the fresh wind blowing in his face
and his robes fluttering behind him, and so at last he came
to a crossroad that led to Tuxford. Here he met three pret-
ty lasses, each bearing a basket of eggs to market. Quoth
he, ‘Whither away, fair maids?’ And he stood in their path,
holding his staff in front of them, to stop them.
Then they huddled together and nudged one another,
and one presently spake up and said, ‘We are going to the
Tuxford market, holy friar, to sell our eggs.’
‘Now out upon it!’ quoth Little John, looking upon them
with his head on one side. ‘Surely, it is a pity that such fair
lasses should be forced to carry eggs to market. Let me tell
you, an I had the shaping of things in this world, ye should
all three have been clothed in the finest silks, and ride upon
milk-white horses, with pages at your side, and feed upon
nothing but whipped cream and strawberries; for such a life
would surely befit your looks.’
At this speech all three of the pretty maids looked down,
blushing and simpering. One said, ‘La!’ another, ‘Marry, a’
maketh sport of us!’ and the third, ‘Listen, now, to the holy
man!’ But at the same time they looked at Little John from
out the corners of their eyes.
‘Now, look you,’ said Little John, ‘I cannot see such dain-
ty damsels as ye are carrying baskets along a highroad. Let
me take them mine own self, and one of you, if ye will, may
carry my staff for me.’
‘Nay,’ said one of the lasses, ‘but thou canst not carry
three baskets all at one time.’
‘Yea, but I can,’ said Little John, ‘and that I will show you