Summary
Robin, Luke, and John wake up the next morning. They discover that they have taken a wrong turn and have gone beyond the White Swan Inn. Now they have to turn around. They get directions from a shepherd. As they walk, John sings “heartily.” They approach a stream and Brother Luke encourages Robin to take a dip. Robin is nervous to do so because the water is quite cold. Finally, he goes into the river and is glad he made the effort.
The trio then goes for food and drink at a place called the Shepherd’s Bush. They strike up a conversation with the host and discuss the plague and the ongoing war. Robin informs the host that there will be peace by Christmastime, and the host is skeptical, saying that there is always some sort of battle between groups.
They set out again and come across an inn called the White Hart. The friar is suspicious of the place and feels it is not the best inn to stay the night, but there is no other choice. At the White Hart, there is no food and there are “ruffian”-type characters hanging out who eye Luke’s money pouch. Robin has a fitful night of sleep. He wakes in the middle of the night to hear two “evil-looking” men sitting downstairs, talking about robbing John and Brother Luke.
Robin wakes up the friar and John informs them that there are thieves below. The three of them sneak out the window with all their possessions, just in the nick of time. When the thieves realize that they have fled, they become angry and try to chase after them. Robin throws his crutches at them, bringing them down. The trio runs through the village and into the open country, finally finding a barn where they sleep for the rest of the night.
In the following days, Robin, Brother Luke, and John continue making their way towards London. As they come more into the city, they begin to notice eccentrically dressed students everywhere, lounging and talking. Robin misses his mother deeply and wonders about where she is. They approach a sign for a fair and they end up spending hours there, watching tournaments and tasting food. That night, they stay at an abbey, and the next morning, they head out again. It has now been one week since they started their journey.
They enter a forest that is near the Welsh border. They spend all day walking through the woods with “no sign of its coming to an end.” Finally, as night falls, they stay at a cottage belonging to a woodcutter and his wife. They set out again as daylight comes, reach the edge of the woods, and head towards the hills. They walk through the mist for a while until they finally reach their destination, the town of Lindsay, arriving before sundown. Robin is nervous to meet with Sir Peter because of his crutches.
When Robin meets Sir Peter, though, he is welcomed warmly. He meets his wife, Lady Constance, and their children, Alison, Henry, and Richard. Robin tells them that he will make a “sorry page” because of his condition, but Sir Peter insists that everyone has a role to play and a way to serve, no matter the limitation. He tells Robin: “‘If we do what we are able, a door always opens to something else.’”
Robin is enchanted with the town and his new home. He takes in the view from the top of the castle. He explores the castle and John takes him to the stable to see the horses. Robin longs to ride the horses and wonders if he will ever again be able to mount one. Brother Luke plans a study and recreation schedule for Robin that will coincide with his duties as a page. Sir Peter tells Robin that he expects him to take time learning to shoot and studying Latin. He is excused from the duty of serving at the high table where nobles come to visit because it is difficult for him physically. Robin befriends one of the castle hounds named D’Ath.
Analysis
The adventure of Robin, Brother Luke, and John continues as they make their way to Lindsay. The trip gets rather dicey as they stumble upon the White Hart Inn and nearly get robbed and attacked by a pair of thieves. The scene at the seedy inn is depicted in a way that builds the suspense, describing every split second of movement so that we feel as if we are right there with the characters. The reader is also made to wonder, in the moment, if Robin will make it out of the window in time with his disability, and his success shows us how much abler he has become in recent months.
The historical backdrop of war is especially apparent in this section of the book. When the group meets a host at a local lodge, they speak of the ongoing conflicts that never seem to end. When they walk through the giant woods near the border, it is noted that, at any moment, they could be attacked by Welsh marauders, as there is a conflict between England and Wales. And at Sir Peter’s house, Robin also discovers that, despite the serenity of the castle, there are always battles afoot as neighboring armies covet Lindsay’s land.
In such perilous times, it is necessary to have a sense of courage. The 10-year-old Robin's bravery is tested at many moments in the story, such as when he hears the plotting of the robbers at the White Hart, or when he is told by Brother Luke to dip into the cold river without clothes. Luke evokes an image of Robin’s father, who is known for his bravery, in order to inspire Robin to be strong in such moments and push past his limits. It is for this reason that the boy has been able to recover from his ailment so rapidly.
Yet Robin is still very much a child. This is made apparent in the scene in Oxford when he spots a lady attendant and momentarily misses his mother. He wonders where she is and if she knows that he is walking with a crutch. Despite Robin’s growing bravery, he misses this basic aspect of nurturance, especially after having been estranged from his mother for so many months.
Marguerite de Angeli uses particularly vivid language in this section to make the scenes come alive. One instance of this comes in the Oxford street scene, where the author’s descriptions of the “silks and velvets from Italy and France” and “the pigeon pies, the honey tarts, that suckling pig” serve to illustrate the delight and excitement of Robin as he experiences his first carnival. She also paints a picture of the hilly countryside between the large forest and Lindsay, where there are “Welsh mountains loom[ing] in the blue distance” and mist that hangs like a “white blanket.”
