Приключения Робин Гуда
The Adventure with Midge the Miller’s Son
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"Alas!"criedtheMiller,fallinguponhisknees,"spoilnotallmygoodmeal!Itcanbetteryounot,andwillruinme.Spareit,andIwillgiveupthemoneyinthebag."
"Ha!"quothRobin,nudgingWillScarlet."Isitso?AndhaveIfoundwherethymoneylies?Marry,IhaveawondrousnosefortheblessedimageofgoodKingHarry.IthoughtthatIsmelledgoldandsilverbeneaththebarleymeal.Bringitstraightforth,Miller."
ThenslowlytheMillerarosetohisfeet,andslowlyandunwillinglyheuntiedthemouthofthebag,andslowlythrusthishandsintothemealandbeganfumblingaboutwithhisarmsburiedtotheelbowsinthebarleyflour.Theothersgatheredroundhim,theirheadstogether,lookingandwonderingwhathewouldbringforth.
Sotheystood,allwiththeirheadsclosetogethergazingdownintothesack.Butwhilehepretendedtobesearchingforthemoney,theMillergatheredtwogreathandfulsofmeal."Ha,"quothhe,"heretheyare,thebeauties."Then,astheothersleanedstillmoreforwardtoseewhathehad,hesuddenlycastthemealintotheirfaces,fillingtheireyesandnosesandmouthswiththeflour,blindingandhalfchokingthem.ArthuraBlandwasworseoffthanany,forhismouthwasopen,agapewithwonderofwhatwastocome,sothatagreatcloudofflourflewdownhisthroat,settinghima-coughingtillhecouldscarcelystand.