Robin was very unwilling to consent to this, and assured her that there was more danger for her than the baron: but Marian was absolute.
"If so, then," said Robin, "I shall be your guide instead of Little John, and I shall leave him and Scarlet joint-regents of Sherwood during my absence, and the voice of Friar Tuck shall be decisive between them if they differ in nice questions of state policy." Marian objected to this, that there was more danger for Robin than either herself or the baron: but Robin was absolute in his turn.
"Talk not of my voice," said the friar; "for if Marian be a damsel errant, I will be her ghostly esquire." Robin insisted that this should not be, for number would only expose them to greater risk of detection.

The friar, after some debate, reluctantly acquiesced.
While they were discussing these matters, they heard the distant sound of horses' feet.
"Go," said Robin to Little John, "and invite yonder horseman to dinner." Little John bounded away, and soon came before a young man, who was riding in a melancholy manner, with the bridle hanging loose on the horse's neck, and his eyes drooping towards the ground.
"Whither go you ?" said Little John.
"Whithersoever my horse pleases," said the young man.
"And that shall be," said Little John, "whither I please to lead him.

I am commissioned to invite you to dine with my master." "Who is your master ?" said the young man.
"Robin Hood," said Little John.
"The bold outlaw ?" said the stranger.

"Neither he nor you should have made me turn an inch aside yesterday; but to-day I care not." "Then it is better for you," said Little John, "that you came to-day than yesterday, if you love dining in a whole skin: for my master is the pink of courtesy: but if his guests prove stubborn, he bastes them and his venison together, while the friar says mass before meat." The young man made no answer, and scarcely seemed to hear what Little John was saying, who therefore took the horse's bridle and led him to where Robin and his foresters were setting forth their dinner.

Robin seated the young man next to Marian.