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Robin Hood Shoots Before Queen Eleanor
QueenEleanorsatinherroyalbower,throughtheopencasementsofwhichpouredthesweetyellowsunshineingreatfloodsofgoldenlight.Allaboutherstoodherladies-in-waitingchattinginlowvoices,whilesheherselfsatdreamilywherethemildaircamesoftlydriftingintotheroomladenwiththefreshperfumesofthesweetredrosesthatbloomedinthegreatgardenbeneaththewall.Tohercameonewhosaidthatherpage,RichardPartington,andfourstoutyeomenwaitedherpleasureinthecourtbelow.ThenQueenEleanorarosejoyouslyandbadethembestraightwayshownintoherpresence.
ThusRobinHoodandLittleJohnandWillScarletandAllanaDalecamebeforetheQueenintoherownroyalbower.ThenRobinkneeledbeforetheQueenwithhishandsfoldeduponhisbreast,sayinginsimplephrase,"HereamI,RobinHood.Thoudidstbidmecome,andlo,Idothybidding.Igivemyselftotheeasthytrueservant,andwilldothycommanding,evenifitbetothesheddingofthelastdropofmylife’sblood."
ButgoodQueenEleanorsmiledpleasantlyuponhim,biddinghimtoarise.Thenshemadethemallbeseatedtorestthemselvesaftertheirlongjourney.Richfoodwasbroughtthemandnoblewines,andshehadherownpagestowaituponthewantsoftheyeomen.Atlast,aftertheyhadeatenalltheycould,shebeganquestioningthemoftheirmerryadventures.
