62 MAY 



So yesterday we had our revels, and very in- 

 teresting they were in ways totally unexpected. 



The Vicar and Jim were so determined to do 

 the thing thoroughly that the latter actually pro- 

 duced an old Survey of the parish, temp. 

 Edward VI., and attempted to trace out the 

 revelling-place of former times. He decided that 

 a field which bore the name of The Butts was 

 probably the scene of ancient hilarity, and that 

 it should also witness our modern revellings. It 

 was near the village green for one thing, which 

 made it a convenient resort ; and, for another, it 

 was surrounded by a high fence which allowed 

 the impresario of the dramatic company to conduct 

 rehearsals in privacy within its sheltered precincts. 

 There was much trouble, which the promoters of 

 the scheme tried to keep to themselves, in carrying 

 through these rehearsals of their open-air play, 

 Robin Hood. Of course I was told nothing about 

 it by either Jim or the Vicar, but one of the 

 actresses informed me in private of the agitation 

 caused in the highest circles by the vagaries of 

 Maid Marian, who persisted throughout in making 

 love to Friar Tuck, instead of responding to the 

 advances of her chartered lover. 



Now Friar Tuck was in his rightful person the 

 young brother of the Vicar, at home under a 

 species of compulsion exercised by the authorities 

 at Oxford, and it was easy to guess that he would 

 not be slow to encourage Maid Marian in her 

 naughtiness. 



However, the day came at last, and brightly 

 enough it broke. Jim had composed a May song, 



