The scent of the hawthorn and lilac intoxicated
them and they laughed tremendously because Robin Hood's name was
like Robin's own and he was a man and she was a girl. They could
scarcely stop laughing and Donal rolled over and over on the grass,
half from unconquerable high spirits and half to make Robin laugh
still more.
He had some beautiful coloured glass marbles in his pocket
and he showed her how to play with them, and gave her two of the
prettiest. He could shoot them over the ground in a way to thrill
the beholder. He could hop on one leg as far as he liked. He could
read out of books.
"Do you like me?" he said once in a pause between displays of his
prowess.
Robin was kneeling upon the grass watching him and she clasped
her little hands as if she were uttering a prayer.
"Oh, yes, yes!" she yearned. "Yes! Yes!"
"I like you," he answered; "I told my mother all about you."
He came to her and knelt by her side.
"Have you a mother?" he asked.
"No," shaking her head.
"Do you live with your aunt?"
"No, I don't live with anybody."
He looked puzzled.
"Isn't there any lady in your house?" he put it to her. She
brightened a little, relieved to think she had something to tell
him.
"There's the Lady Downstairs," she said. "She's so pretty--so
pretty."
"Is she----" he stopped and shook his head. "She couldn't be your
mother," he corrected himself.
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