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"No, I have forgotten nothing-and I tried I have felt and dreamt fine things-impossible things-just as you did." She stopped, and then as if she could say no more she added with a little sound that was like a sob, though there were no tears in her eyes, "I did what I did but I kept him off-your kiss is still on my lips, George, and no man's shall ever come on top of it." "And now?"

"I know the lawsuit has gone against you, that everything has gone wrong with you, "she had evidently not heard of Sandway Strip; "but I could make everything right."

"No," he said quickly, and drew back as if he had been stung, "I don't want you to do the sort of thing for me that you wanted to do for Derbyshire."

"I only want you to be free," she pleaded humbly, "free to take me away-to the shanty you talked of; I don't want either of us to have more than will take us there. You said

we might be two happy beggars by the wayside, going on to seek the magic way-it's what I want to do."

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"I must go in," she said at last, "it is time."

"Come across and look at the dining-room for a moment."

The door was still open; the lights had been extinguishedall but a stray one here and there. They stood outside; but they caught the breath of the orange-trees, and through them they saw in the dim room all the confusion and signs of the feast that had been.

"George Wendern gave a party," she said. They laughed softly as he took her back to the little gate.

THE END.

THE RESCUE OF WILL SCARLETT.

AN ADVENTURE OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRY MEN.

BY ALFRED NOYES.

I.

The scene is a common near Nottingham on May-day. A crowd of rustics and townsfolk is assembling to see the execution of WILL SCARLETT for stealing the king's deer.

First Rustic. A black May-day! Where yonder gallows

glowers

We should have raised the May-pole.

Second Rustic.

Ay, no songs,

No kisses in the ring, no Easter ale,
No white-pot custards and no country jigs
To-day; no lads and lasses on the green
Crowning their queen of may.

[Enter ROBIN HOOD disguised as an old beggar with
a green patch on one eye. He is followed by
ALLAN-A-DALE disguised as a wandering minstrel.]
Is this the place,

Robin.
Masters, where they'll be going to hang Will Scarlett?
First Rustic. Ay, father, more's the pity.

Robin.
Eh! Don't ye think
There may be scuffling, masters? There's a many
That seems to like him well, here, roundabout.
Second Rustic. Too many halberts round him.

chance.

There's no

Robin. I've heard the forest might break out, the lads In Lincoln green, you wot of! If they did?

First Rustic. There's many here would swing a cudgel and

help

To trip the Sheriff up. If Robin Hood

Were only here! But then-he's outlawed now.

[ALLAN-A-DALE moves away, singing to his harp, and draws near several other foresters, also disguised, as if to ask them for alms.]

Song.

Outlawed? But not alone, for Truth

Is outlawed too!

You cannot banish us, proud world!
We banish you!

Copyright in the United States of America.

Second Rustic. Ay, and there's big rewards out. It would be Sure death for him to try a rescue now. The biggest patch of Lincoln green we'll see This day, is that same patch on thy old eye! Eh, lads?

Allan-a-Dale (sings).

Go by, proud world, with all your din,
Your gold, your pomp, your guile,
Your dust, your greed, you cannot win,
From Her, one smile.

Now which is outlawed, which alone?
Around us fall and rise

The leaves, the ferns, the sea-like moan
Of Paradise!

Third Rustic.

What's more, they say Prince John is out

This very day, scouring thro' Sherwood Forest,

To capture Lady Marian.

Robin (sharply).

You heard that?

Third Rustic. Ay, for they say she's flown to Sherwood Forest!

Second Rustic. Ah! Ah? That's why he went. I saw Prince John!

With these same eyes I saw him riding out

To Sherwood, not an hour ago.

Robin.

You saw him?

Second Rustic. Ay, and he only took three men-at-arms. First Rustic. Three men-at-arms! Why, then, he must ha' known

That Robin's men would all be busy here!

He's none so bold. He would not risk his skin!

I think there'll be some scuffling after all.

Robin. Ay, tell 'em so-go, spread it through the crowd! [He mutters to himself.]

He'd take some time to find her, but 'fore God

We must be quick; 'fore God we must be quick!

Second Rustic. Why, father, one would never think to see

thee

Thou hadst so sound a heart!

First Rustic.

Ah, here they come!

The Sheriff and his men; and, in the midst,
There's poor Will Scarlett bound.

[The crowd murmurs.]

Ah, here they come!

Look at the halberts shining! Can you see him?

First Rustic. Ay, there he is. His face is white; but, Lord,

He takes it bravely.

Second Rustic.

He's a brave poacher, Will!

Sheriff. Back with the crowd there, guards, delay no time! [The SHERIFF's men march in with WILL SCARLETT. In front of them dances SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF, the Fool, singing a wild song.]

Shadow-of-a-Leaf (singing).

The Forest shall conquer! The Forest shall conquer! The Forest shall conquer!

Your world is growing old;

But a Princess sleeps in the green-wood,
Whose hair is brighter than gold.

The Forest shall conquer! The Forest shall conquer! The
Forest shall conquer!

O hearts that bleed and burn,
Her lips are redder than roses,

Who sleeps in the faëry fern.

The Forest shall conquer! The Forest shall conquer! The
Forest shall conquer!

By the Beauty that wakes anew
Milk-white with the fragrant hawthorn
In the drip of the dawn-red dew.

The Forest shall conquer! The Forest shall conquer! The
Forest shall conquer!

O, hearts that are weary of pain,
Come back to your home in Faërie,
And wait till she wakes again.

Some Women in the Crowd. Ah, ah, poor lad!

Robin (eagerly).

I cannot see!

What are they doing now?

First Rustic. The Sheriff's angered now!

Second Rustic. Ay, for they say a messenger has come From that same godless hangman whose lean neck

I'd like to twist, saying he is delayed.

'Tis the first godly deed he has ever done.

Third Rustic. The Sheriff says he will not be delayed.

But who will take the hangman's office?

Robin.

Masters,

I have a thought. Make way! Let me bespeak

The Sheriff!

Rustics.

How now, father, what's to do?

Robin. Make way, I tell you. Here's the man they want! Sheriff. What's this?

Robin.

Against Will Scarlett. Let me have the task

Good master Sheriff, I've a grudge

Ah-h-h, the old devil!

Of sending him to heaven!

Crowd.

Robin. I'll shoot him one on either side, just graze him, To show you how I love him; then, the third

Slick in his heart.

[He shoots. A murmur goes up from the crowd.] Take care! You've cut the cord

Sheriff (angrily).

That bound him on that side!

Robin.

I will be careful!

Then, here's the second!

[He takes a steady aim.]

A Rustic to His Neighbours. 'I faith, lads, he can shoot! What's in the wind? That green patch on his eye Smacks of the merry men! He's tricking them!

[ROBIN shoots. A louder murmur goes up from the crowd.] Sheriff. You have cut the rope again!

A Cry. He has cut him free! Robin. All right! All right! It's just to tease the dog! Here's for the third now!

[He aims and shoots quickly! There is a loud cry of a wounded man, then a shout from the crowd.] Ah-h-h, he has missed: he has killed

The Crowd.
One of the guards!

[blocks in formation]

Robin (throwing off his beggar's crouch and hurling the Sheriff and several of his men back amongst the crowd).

Sherwood! A merry Sherwood! [His cloak drops off.] Crowd. Ah! ha! The Lincoln Green! A Robin Hood! [A bugle peals, and immediately some of the yokels throw off their disguise and the Lincoln green appears as by magic amongst the crowd. guards are rushed and hustled by them. ROBIN and several of his men make a ring round WILL SCARLETT.]

Sheriff. It is the outlawed Earl of Huntingdon ; There is a great reward upon his head.

Down with him!

The

[The SHERIFF'S men make a rush at the little band. A KNIGHT in jet-black armour, with a red-cross shield, suddenly appears and forces his way through the mob, sword in hand.]

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