Page:The art of story-telling, with nearly half a hundred stories, y Julia Darrow Cowles .. (IA artofstorytellin00cowl).pdf/210

 *pearance, and seemed to have lost his pride, for he had but one foot in the stirrup, and his hood hung down over his eyes, and his clothes and trappings were mean and old.

But Little John showed him courtesy, and knelt before him saying:

"Welcome, gentle knight; welcome to the greenwood. My master has been waiting for you, fasting these three hours."

"Who is your master?" asked the knight; and John answered, "Robin Hood."

"He is a good yeoman," said the knight, "and I have heard men speak well of him."

So the knight, whose name was Sir Richard-at-the-Lee, rode on his way with Little John, till they came to where Robin was waiting; and Robin took off his hood and went on his knee, saying, courteously:

"Welcome, Sir Knight. I have awaited thee these three hours."

And the gentle knight replied with fair words:

"God save thee, good Robin, and all thy company."

When they had thus exchanged greetings, they washed and wiped their hands, and sat them down to their dinner. They had bread