l green wicket, bolted
on the inner side."

"Indeed?" said Martin.

"And worse to come. The length of the hedge there is a great duckpond,
nine yards broad, and three wild ducks swimming on it. Alas!" he cried,
"I shall never see my lovely girl again!"

"Love is a mighty power," said Martin Pippin, "but there are doubtless
things it cannot do."

"I ask so little," sighed Robin Rue. "Only to send her a primrose for
her hair-band, and have again whatever flower she wears there now."

"Would this really content you?" said Martin Pippin.

"I would then consent to live," swore Robin Rue, "long enough at all
events to make an end of my sowing."

"Well, that would be something," said Martin cheerfully, "for fields
must not go fallow that are appointed to bear. Direct me to your
Gillian's Apple-Orchard."

"It is useless," Robin said. "For even if you could cross the duckpond,
and evade the ducks, and compass the green gate, my sweetheart's
father's milkmaids are not to be come over by any man; and they watch
the Well-House day and night."

"Yet direct me to the orchard," repeated Martin Pippin, and thrummed
his lute a little.

"Oh, sir," said Robin anxiously, "I must warn you that it is a long and
weary way, it may be as much as two mile by the road." And he looked
disconsolately at the Minstrel, as though in fear that he would be
discouraged from the adventure.

"It can but be attempted," answered Martin, "and now tell me only
whether I go north or south as the road runs."

"Gillman the farmer, her father," said Robin Rue, "has moreover a very
big stick--"

"Heaven help us!" cried Martin, and took to his heels.

"That ends it!" sighed the sorry lover.

"At least let us make a beginning!" quoth Martin Pippin.

He leaped the gate, mocked at a cuckoo, plucked a primrose, and went
singing up the road.

Robin Rue resumed his sowing and his tears.

"Maids," said Joscelyn, "what is this coming across the duckpond?"

"It is a man," said little Joan.

The six girls came running and crowding to the wicket, standing
a-tiptoe and peeping between each other's sunbonnets. Their sunbonnets
and their gowns were as green as lettuce-leaves.

"Is he coming on a raft?" asked Jessica, who stood behind.

"No," said Jane, "he is coming on his two feet. He has taken off his
shoes, but I fear his breeches will suffer."

"He is giving bread to the ducks," said Jennifer.

"He has a lute on his back," said Joyce.

"Man