Приключения Робин Гуда
Robin Hood Turns Beggar
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"Peace,friend,"saidtheCornEngrosser,"forthisisnomatterforjesting.Thesolesoftheseclogsarenotwhattheyseemtobe,foreachoneisasweetlittlebox;andbytwistingthesecondnailfromthetoe,theupperoftheshoeandpartofthesoleliftsuplikealid,andinthespaceswithinarefourscoreandtenbrightgoldenpoundsineachshoe,allwrappedinhair,tokeepthemfromclinkingandsotellingtalesofthemselves."
WhentheCornEngrosserhadtoldthis,Robinbrokeintoaroaroflaughterand,layinghishandsuponthebridlerein,stoppedthesad-lookingnag."Stay,goodfriend,"quothhe,betweenburstsofmerriment,"thouarttheslyestoldfoxthate’erIsawinallmylife!—Inthesolesofhisshoon,quotha!—IfeverItrustapoor-seemingmanagain,shavemyheadandpaintitblue!Acornfactor,ahorsejockey,anestateagent,andajackdawforcunningness,sayI!"Andhelaughedagaintillheshookinhisshoeswithmirth.
AllthistimetheCornEngrosserhadbeenstaringatRobin,hismouthagapewithwonder."Artthoumad,"quothhe,"totalkinthisway,soloudandinsuchaplace?Letusforward,andsavethymirthtillwearesafeandsoundatNewark."
"Nay,"quothRobin,thetearsofmerrimentwetonhischeeks,"onsecondthoughtsIgonofartherthanhere,forIhavegoodfriendshereabouts.Thoumaystgoforwardifthoudostlist,thousweetprettyfellow,butthoumustgoforwardbarefoot,forIamafraidthatthyshoonmustbeleftbehind.