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"No doubt," interpolated Robin, mentally," I should not be surprised if that wicked-eyed little Maude had not, by her pretty looks, beguiled of their kind

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thoughts all the young men in the castle, serving-men, gaolers, men-at-arms, and all, and, by the Mass! a very pleasant style of being beguiled truly."

"to

"She induced him," continued Christabel, drink, while she sung to him, and the poor man, overjoyed by the grace shown him-a kindness with which Maude tells me she had never before favoured him, or indeed any of the people-"

"Certainly not," thought Robin, with an inward laugh, "not by any means."

"Swallowed more wine and affectionate looks than his poor head could bear, and becoming intoxicated, he sunk into a sound sleep. Maude obtained the key of your cell, and her confessor happening, fortunately, to be in spiritual attendance upon her, she, in her deep anxiety to minister to my peace of mind,

as well as to my most earnest wishes, confided to { for I have not seen him-is a dear, kind, fatherly him the strait we were in, and he-as she tells me, saint."

No. 6.

[AUTHOR'S OWN EDITION.

"Yes," said she, eagerly, “it is that; why do you one who loves you tenderly and truly, who will make ask? Do you know him?"

"Ah, but the maiden's won," thought Robin; "the point is gained; a fair journey to thee, thou sweet couple!" So thought Allan, but the conjec{tures of both were wrong. Allan would not disturb her gentle ruth, but awaited its passing away in silence. At length she raised her head from his shoulder, and said:

"Allan, dear Allan, hear me! I have not the same power of expression given to me that you possess ; 1 am not gifted with the capability of clothing my

simple thoughts in the earnest and impassioned language that you have just uttered; but I feel as deeply, however inadequately my thoughts may find a tongue in my words. Allan, you know I love you truly and sincerely; and by the value you set upon that affec. tion, do not tempt me. I implore you, do not tempt me. I repeat, I love you; would follow you, work, slave, die for you, cheerfully this instant. I would quit this place, any spot-the world owns not one small spot in which might exist the combination of all that could make life one untiring joy, I would not quit to be with you, dear Allan, even were you in an agony of wretchedness; but Allan, my father is here. Were my father any other but my father, I would not hesitate one second; but he is my father, Allan, and however painful the sacrifice may be personally to me, I cannot leave him-I cannot leave him. He is harsh and cross, wayward and violent, but he loves me-I know he does in his heart most tenderly; he is alone, quite alone in the world; his hasty temper forbids that his dependants should feel an affection for him, and the same failing has deprived him of all friends. My mother, whom he passionately loved, was taken from him by her Maker when I was a child, a mere infant; he has no one to have a kind thought or word for him but me. I cannot quit him; I cannot! Do not look so, Allan. I cannot bear an unkind, a harsh look from you, it will break my heart. Consider, Allan,-reflect, you asked me to plead with myself for you. I ask the same of you; I am his child, Allan, his only child-the only tie that links him to the world: the only thing he loves, and is beloved by ; for I do love him, albeit you seem not to understand it. Ask me not to quit him, Allan! ask me not in such words, and in such a tone; for while you speak thus, I should forget all that honour and self-esteem should make me remember. Tempt me not, I do most earnestly implore you; by the love you bear me, do not. I-I cannot quit him." A passionate flood of tears interrupted her, and again, almost in a fainting state, her head made a pillow of his shoulder.

"Poor girl!" muttered Robin, feeling as if he had an egg whole in his throat; "poor sweet girl! it is a fearful struggle between love and duty."

It was a fearful struggle between love and duty; and no one there felt it more deeply than did Allan. For a while the feelings struggling in his breast were almost more than he could bear, but by a tremendous effort he so far conquered them as to be able to speak, though in a voice that was rendered hoarse and husky by emotion.

come, I feel assured-when thou wilt be mine, without having infringed or violated any duty."

"Dearest Allan !" murmured Christabel, through' her sobs and tears; she could articulate no more; and Allan, who could appreciate her thankfulness, although she was unable to express it, pressed her hand fervently, without uttering another word.

At this juncture a small side-door, situated in a' niche, next to where Robin was hidden, opened suddenly, and Maude appeared, bearing in her hand a lighted taper. She ran hastily forward towards her young mistress, and was closely followed by honest Friar Tuck.

"Oh, my dear lady!" she cried, "such a misfortune! Oh, dear, what's to be done! We shall all be slaughtered without mercy or shrift! Oh, dear! oh, dear! was there ever such a misfortune ?""

"For Heaven's sake, Maude," said Christabel, startled by this sudden intrusion; "what has oc curred to alarm you thus ? Speak, tell me what does it mean ?"

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"It means, my lady, that we shall be sent into the other world without a single question being asked us, whether we are ready or not. I am not ready; never was ready; I never shall be. I'll tell the fiery old gentleman so. I'll scream it to him, if he won't hear me. I'm not going to be cut off in my prime without a word for't, never believe it."

"What is all this rambling about? Why do you not speak, girl? Are you mad? What means all this? Tuck, cannot you tell me ?" said Allan, who addressed Maude first sternly, and then the friar, for a solution of this strange interruption.

"No," replied Tuck; "I know no more than this. I was seated-no-kneeling." "Sitting," said Maude.

"No, Maude,” answered Tuck; "I was kneeling at my devotions"At your ale," interrupted Maude, scornfully ; "at your devotions, indeed, you sot." "Fair and softly, pretty Maude," said Tuck, "goes You are skittishly inclined to-night, methinks, sweet Maude."

far.

"Whatever my inclining, you are none of it," returned Maude, pettishly.

"For mercy's sake cease this wrangling," cried Allan; "and let us know the reason of your sudden and alarmed appearance; if there is danger, inform us of what it consists, that we may know how to meet it ?"

"Ask Friar Tuck," returned Maude, throwing up her head with a disdainful toss; "you sought your information of him but now, let him answer you.

"Maude, this is cruel of you," said Christabel; "tell me, I beseech you, what is there to fear ?"

"My own, my proudly loved and honoured Christabel," said he, "thy wish is mine; thinkest thou I would suffer my selfishness, whatever the agony I might endure, to weigh an atom in the scale with 'Why this, my lady; your ladyship is aware that what thou hast nobly thought thy duty, even to a I gave Egbert Lanner more wine than his head had sacrifice of thy happiness? No, Christabel, even strength to bear, and that it accordingly sent him to' though thy wish, I will not say determination, should sleep, from which he was awakened by a message from blight my fondest hopes, make my life a wasted, my lord baron, who intended to pay that young withered thing-and I say not this with any covert cavalier at your side a visit. Well, my lady, as Egbert idea of inducing thee to change-I would not have was disturbed before he had had time to sleep off the thee lose one jot of thy self-esteem, even for the in-effects of the wine, he marched into the baron's pretense happiness I might receive, didst thou comply with my earnest solicitation to make my home thine. No, my own love! stay here, more adored, more honoured than thou hast ever been; a change must come, and that speedily; but not in such a guise that in after years thou canst ever reproach thyself with having done aught thou hadst a shadow of a doubt was not right. Thou art right, now, sweet Christabel, as thou hast ever been since I have known thee, and I will wait patiently until the time shall arrive,—and it will

sence exceedingly drunk, my lady; he stuck his arms a-kimbo,and asked my lord what he wanted with him?. at the same time expressing a hope that the tough old' dog, meaning my lord the baron, had got the upperhand of the gout in his shoulder, and fetched him a terrible slap on it. You know, my lady, what an awful temper your father has been in this week past, and to-day more particularly. But when Egbert hit him this blow, if you had but have seen him--as I did, for I feared some disaster, and followed Egbert into

your father's presence-Oh, my lady, if you had seen him, never could you have forgotten him; he was like a savage bull struck in a sore place; he stormed, he raved, he swore such dreadful things, and then ordered Egbert to be thrown into the moat; he snatched the keys from the poor fellow's girdle first, however, and commanded him to show him which was the key of the dungeon in which they had placed your-that young cavalier. Egbert was almost sobered by his situation, and on looking over them turned quite pale, and said it wasn't there; of course it was not, for I had got it. Well, my lady, my lord the baron turned as white as your veil, and his lips quivered with passion. He instantly ordered lights to be brought to proceed to the dungeon, telling Egbert to prepare for sudden shrift; for if the prisoner was gone { he'd hang him at once from the castle walls, and leave him for the crows to peck; shocking, my lady, was it not? Directly I heard this I ran off for Friar Tuck, made him run with me to the dungeon, locked the door, and here's the key; so if that young gentleman wishes to get off in a safe skin he must come at once, before the uproar reaches my father's ears, else he'll never let him pass the portcullis; there's not a moment to lose: come, sir, away with you, I'll lead you direct from here to the castle gates.'

"Fly, dear Allan, quick," cried Christabel, earnestly; 'tarry not a moment; if my father should discover you, I fear the consequences-for he is so sudden and violent in his anger. Quick, Allan, quick."

"But you, dear Christabel," urged he.

"Think not of me, Allan; we shall meet again," she uttered, hastily, "if not on this earth, at least in heaven."

"Our separation shall not be for so long a period; Christabel," returned Allan, "unless I die suddenly, we shall shortly meet again, trust me.'

"To be sure," chimed in Maude, "you're no true lover else; pray, sir, if you don't wish to die suddenly, come away at once. "But are you sure your father will let us out ?" inquired Friar Tuck.

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off at once. For myself I care little; I have had, young as I am, many 'scapes for my life in the green wood, between wild beast, outlaws, and stray arrows; and even were I to be cut off, 'twould matter littleI have none to grieve for me; but you, Allan, you have your sister and-and-others to grieve for your fall. They are tied to you by feelings and circumstances beyond the common run of human fellowship, and you have therefore no right to be hazardous and careless of your life, when two such beings have a lifeinterest in you. Come, let us away at once."

The four looked at the boy who had uttered this, with a feeling something approaching to wonder; and Maude, in the fullness of her approbation, ejaculated, "Bless his heart!" There was much prudence in what he had uttered, and it was considered advisable to put it into practice, particularly as the tramp of footsteps was heard in the passage leading to the chapel.

"Oh! the Lord have mercy upon us, and forgive us our sins! here comes your father!" cried Maude. "Fly, dear Allan, quick, quick!" exclaimed Christabel.

Allan returned Friar Tuck his gown, and he imme. {diately donned it.

"Heaven bless and protect thee, my dearest Christabel," fervently uttered Allan, embracing her. "Farewell; we meet again shortly, never to part."

"This way, this way," cried Maude, holding open the side door, through which Allan, having imprinted a passionate kiss upon the lips of Christabel, darted. "St. Benedict keep thee, sweet daughter Maude !” said Friar Tuck, about to perform the same kindness for her as he had witnessed Allan bestow on Christabel.

"Fool!" she cried, and pushed him through, "I'm coming with you."

"The Holy Virgin guide and help thee in thy strait, and bring all happiness to thee, dear lady," gently uttered Robin, raising the lady Christabel's hand gallantly and gracefully to his lips.

"Amen," she replied.

Am I sure? to be sure I am sure; he let you in, "Now, my pretty Maude, I am with you," said and if he knows nothing of this affair-which he Robin, passing his hand round the damsel's waist, does not at present, for he has been doing double duty-from which she most unceremoniously detached it, but I doubt but he will know if you stay much longer and said to her lady-he will let you out again," said Maude, making a long-winded parenthesis.

"But there were three of us," suggested the friar. "Ay," said Allan, hastily, "where is Robin Hood?" "Here!" uttered he, advancing suddenly from his concealment.

There was a slight scream from the two females, and a movement by the two males, as Robin's voice sounded in the chapel, but the alarm was speedily dissipated on his approach. Maude was one of the first to recover, and greeted him rather more warmly than Friar Tuck felt pleased at observing.

"You have escaped, then," she cried. "How bold! how clever! But you look and are a forward rogue" -and she gave him a playful tap with her little hand across the cheek. Robin was uncommonly near giving her a kiss, but the presence of the company restrained his affectionate impulse.

"Were you imprisoned, Robin ?" asked Allan, in astonishment.

"I'll answer all your questions when we are safe away; I promise you I have had nearly enough of Nottingham Castle, and, believe me, there is little time to lose if we are to get clear off; the Baron will not be long knocking at your dungeon door ere he discovers your absence, and then his first order will be to prevent all persons quitting the castle; so let us

"To your beads, madam, to your beads; and when your father comes, be very much surprised, and know nothing. Kneel, my lady, it will look better; kneel. Oh! the saints keep us, here he is and all his troop!" {—and she quickly disappeared through the side door, closing it silently but firmly, as the Baron, at the head of a party of his retainers, entered the usual entry, and found his daughter kneeling at the foot of the tomb, even as Allan had discovered her.

The fugitives kept on at a smart pace through several winding passages; Allan first, having quitted Christabel, now anxious to get clear of the castle; Tuck next, somewhat indignant at the push and cognomen of "fool!" which he had received from Maude in the chapel; and Robin brought up the rear with Maude, of whom, when the winding of the passages hid his friends from sight, he had essayed, but in vain, to

steal a kiss.

then said, "Nay, my pretty maiden, I said nearly were placed at his head and feet. The weeping Marenough-and so I have-of the castle; but not neargaret, his sister, was led from the apartment by her enough of you, dear girl."

"Do you mean that?" she said, stopping and looking him steadfastly in the eyes. "Do I not?" he replied.

"Oh!" she rejoined, "that alters the case."

"I knew it did," said Robin, throwing his arms round her neck, and giving her, without the least resistance on her part, a hearty kiss, much to the danger of the destruction of the taper, the only light they had. "I wish you'd move a little faster," cried Friar Tuck, suddenly turning back; "which way are we to go ?" "Straight on," said Maude, advancing briskly and getting before them all. "This way, this way"-and she raced swiftly through the intricacies of the passages for some little time, until they came out at the { end of one of the wings, a short distance from the keep. She summoned her father, and the four awaited his approach and first words with considerable excitement; it was, however, speedily allayed, for he cried

"What, returning, cavaliers? I hoped to have had a stoup of wine with you, good Friar Tuck, at least; what, you must go, eh? Well, a fair good even to you, gentle sirs; farewell, friar, we shall see you anon."

husband, and Father Eldred sat him down to keep watch by the body. The night waxed on a-pacethe moon was high in the heavens-and Gilbert began to wonder at the prolonged absence of Robin and his guests; he also for the first time missed Marian. Acting upon his first impulse he sought his wife's chamber, to which she had retired to pray for the departed soul of her brother, and made inquiries of her respecting his fair guest; the answer, that she had left the cottage for a stroll in the woods, added to his uneasiness, and with some considerable alarm he armed himself and left his cottage in search of her. He began to fear she might have fallen a victim to one of the wolves, with which the forest abounded, or what was perhaps worse, the relentless outrage of one of the numerous outlaws infesting the wood.

Either way there was cause for apprehension, and it was evident something must have befallen her, or she would not have remained abroad alone until so late an hour. Perhaps she had lost her way, and he thought he would try what making the forest echo with his voice might effect; but then he was withheld by the idea that it might only serve, if she was unfor{tunately in the hands of ruffians, to forewarn them of his approach, and so enable them effectually to screen "Even so, my son," returned Friar Tuck, wishing her from his sight. He knew thoroughly every inlet himself safe out, and surmising, to the best of his and outlet, and he resolved to try what a swift and belief, that he would not see him there anon. The strict scrutiny of each would produce. Accordingly drawbridge was lowered, and Allan passed swiftly he wandered up and down, through brake, covert, over it, as did Friar Tuck, after bidding Maude fare-thicket, glade, and alley; at length, as he turned into well, and bestowing a benediction on her father; one darker than usual from the thickness and massing Robin squeezed her hand, and she, while her father's of the surrounding foliage, a slight groan struck upon head was turned, seized his hand, raised it to her his ear and on his heart at the same moment. His lips, and imprinted a fervent kiss upon it, much to bow was strung, and drawing an arrow from his his surprise, and sorrow, if her act was sincere, that quiver, ready for instant use, in case of sudden emerhe had gone so far in his attention to her. gency, he advanced to the spot from whence the sound proceeded; he distinguished a form laying upon the ground; he neared it quickly; it was his dog Lance, lying with little life in him, and a desperate gash in the head. With an exclamation of surprise, mingled somewhat with a foreboding of evil, he knelt down and raised the poor animal's head upon his knee; the creature recognised him, and turned his faint eyes upon his master, feebly wagging his tail, expressive of pleasure at again seeing him.

"We shall meet again," she uttered, in a low voice. "I hope so," replied Robin. "In the mean time, dear Maude, try and discover where they have placed my bow and arrows; if you can get them away, will you keep them for me ?"

"I will, if I die for it," resumed Maude.

"Your companions await you, sir," said the warder. "The Holy Mother's blessing upon you! good night," cried Robin, and darted over the drawbridge. He joined Allan and the friar, and the three kept up a rare pace as they descended the hill, passed through the town, and paused not till they once more found themselves in Sherwood Forest.

"Poor old Lance, it is an evil foreboding for me to find you thus; poor old dog-who was it? what were they, eh ?" The dog gave a low growl and tried to raise himself, but vainly-he had not the strength to accomplish it.

"Ah! as I expected-some of those marauding, thieving, hell hounds. God help thee, poor maiden!if thou'rt in their merciless clutches, I shudder to think what thy fate must be-perhaps is; however, I must bestir myself if I wish to be of service to thee. Poor old Lance, I cannot leave thee thus; thy wound is a deep one, but does not appear mortal-we'll try what binding it up will do; and from his pouch he drew some fine buckskin, which it was usual in case of sudden wounds to carry upon the person; he wiped away the coagulated blood, sought for a few herbs, which he found and bruised, then applied them to the wound, bound up his head, lifted him from the place where he was laying to a more retired spot, and laid him there he trusted, to recover; the dog seemed to feel his kindness, for he gave a long, low whine, and once more there was a feeble vibration of the tail. apAlthough there was something ludicrous in the pearance of the hound with his head thus bound, yet it had no such effect upon Gilbert, for he looked upon him with the fear of losing one of the staunchest