That evening,Marian and her father talked for a long time about Robin, the sheriff and Prince John.
‘Marian, why don't you marry the sheriff?' said her father. He is rich and important, and he is a friend of Prince John. I am afraid of the prince. Please marry the sheriff, and forget Robin Fitzooth.'
Marian took her father's hand. ‘Father, I am sorry to bring you so many problems. I will not marry the sheriff, but he will be angry with me, not you. Listen. Tomorrow I will leave the house very early and stay with my uncle. The sheriff will come late in the morning. Tell your men to look for me. Look in every room. Be very angry. Then the sheriff will think that you
know nothing!'
‘You are right, Marian,' said her father. ‘You will have to marry the sheriff or leave here. Go then to my brother's house. But who will go with you?'
‘Good Friar Tuck is staying here tonight,' answered Marian. 'He will help me.'
‘That fat churchman?' said her father. ‘He is a strange friar. He fights too well for a churchman. People say that the Abbot of St Mary's hates him. The friar had to leave the abbey.'
‘Friar Tuck does not like the abbot because the abbot takes a lot of money from the villagers,' answered Marian. ‘Friar Tuck says that the church has to help poor people.'
‘Mm,' said her father. ‘The abbot does live very well. He is a greedy man. Friar Tuck is greedy too - he eats more than ten men! But he is a brave man and very strong. Yes, take Friar Tuck
with you.'
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