Robin Hood's Barn 



mon aspects of the world outside. Very bleak 

 the empty table. And across it a looming figure 

 still frocked in the habiliments of office — ^rather 

 like Silenus in his coflPee cups. I should like now 

 to know of what during that strange inclusion in 

 the morning service, I found it appropriate 

 matter to converse. Of one thing I am certain; 

 that when the old white horse and buggy had 

 shambled to my dormitory, I sprang too quick 

 for courtesy or dignity from my place of priv- 

 ilege beside the Cloth. 



Where was my demeanor, where my compo- 

 sure? Too late to recall them as I fluttered safe 

 to my retreat. Still I had excuses and a-plenty 

 with which to prop my toppled pride. The 

 encounter I expected was to leap from under 

 cover with a step both rash and gamesome. And 

 instead it had borne down upon me in the open 

 with a heavy and encumbered tread. The target 

 for which I kept my arrows pointed was a gay 

 sprig, at most a simamer wilding. I could not — 

 for very sportsmanship — have let one fly against 

 such a massive bulwark of the church. Now, 

 however, I was on my guard and should go 



[184] 



