the holly-tree(圣树)-第8节
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in a forest； keeping bees and a cow； and living entirely on milk and honey。
Once he came upon them by the pond； and heard Master Harry say；
〃Adorable Norah； kiss me； and say you love me to distraction； or I'll jump
in head… foremost。〃 And Boots made no question he would have done it
if she hadn't complied。 On the whole； Boots said it had a tendency to
make him feel as if he was in love himselfonly he didn't exactly know
who with。
〃Cobbs；〃 said Master Harry； one evening； when Cobbs was watering
the flowers； 〃I am going on a visit； this present Midsummer； to my
grandmamma's at York。〃
〃Are you indeed； sir？ I hope you'll have a pleasant time。 I am
going into Yorkshire； myself； when I leave here。〃
〃Are you going to your grandmamma's； Cobbs？〃
〃No； sir。 I haven't got such a thing。〃
〃Not as a grandmamma； Cobbs？〃
〃No； sir。〃
The boy looked on at the watering of the flowers for a little while； and
then said； 〃I shall be very glad indeed to go； Cobbs；Norah's going。〃
〃You'll be all right then； sir；〃 says Cobbs； 〃with your beautiful
sweetheart by your side。〃
〃Cobbs；〃 returned the boy； flushing； 〃I never let anybody joke about it；
when I can prevent them。〃
〃It wasn't a joke； sir；〃 says Cobbs； with humility；〃wasn't so meant。〃
〃I am glad of that； Cobbs； because I like you； you know； and you're
going to live with us。Cobbs！〃
〃Sir。〃
〃What do you think my grandmamma gives me when I go down
there？〃
〃I couldn't so much as make a guess； sir。〃 〃A Bank of England five…
pound note； Cobbs。〃
〃Whew！〃 says Cobbs； 〃that's a spanking sum of money； Master Harry。〃
〃A person could do a good deal with such a sum of money as that；
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couldn't a person； Cobbs？〃
〃I believe you； sir！〃
〃Cobbs；〃 said the boy； 〃I'll tell you a secret。 At Norah's house； they
have been joking her about me； and pretending to laugh at our being
engaged；pretending to make game of it； Cobbs！〃
〃Such； sir；〃 says Cobbs； 〃is the depravity of human natur。〃
The boy； looking exactly like his father； stood for a few minutes with
his glowing face towards the sunset； and then departed with； 〃Good…night；
Cobbs。 I'm going in。〃
If I was to ask Boots how it happened that he was a…going to leave that
place just at that present time； well； he couldn't rightly answer me。 He
did suppose he might have stayed there till now if he had been anyways
inclined。 But； you see； he was younger then； and he wanted change。
That's what he wanted；change。 Mr。 Walmers； he said to him when he
gave him notice of his intentions to leave； 〃Cobbs；〃 he says； 〃have you
anythink to complain of？ I make the inquiry because if I find that any of
my people really has anythink to complain of； I wish to make it right if I
can。〃 〃No； sir。〃 says Cobbs； 〃thanking you； sir； I find myself as well
sitiwated here as I could hope to be anywheres。 The truth is； sir； that I'm
a…going to seek my fortun'。〃 〃O； indeed； Cobbs！〃 he says； 〃I hope you
may find it。〃 And Boots could assure mewhich he did； touching his
hair with his bootjack； as a salute in the way of his present calling that he
hadn't found it yet。
Well； sir！ Boots left the Elmses when his time was up； and Master
Harry； he went down to the old lady's at York； which old lady would have
given that child the teeth out of her head （if she had had any）； she was so
wrapped up in him。 What does that Infant do；for Infant you may call
him and be within the mark；but cut away from that old lady's with his
Norah； on a expedition to go to Gretna Green and be married！
Sir； Boots was at this identical Holly…Tree Inn （having left it several
times since to better himself； but always come back through one thing or
another）； when； one summer afternoon； the coach drives up； and out of the
coach gets them two children。 The Guard says to our Governor； 〃I don't
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quite make out these little passengers； but the young gentleman's words
was； that they was to be brought here。〃 The young gentleman gets out；
hands his lady out； gives the Guard something for himself； says to our
Governor； 〃We're to stop here to… night； please。 Sitting…room and two
bedrooms will be required。 Chops and cherry…pudding for two！〃 and tucks
her； in her sky…blue mantle； under his arm； and walks into the house much
bolder than Brass。
Boots leaves me to judge what the amazement of that establishment
was； when these two tiny creatures all alone by themselves was marched
into the Angel；much more so； when he； who had seen them without their
seeing him； give the Governor his views of the expedition they was upon。
〃Cobbs；〃 says the Governor； 〃if this is so； I must set off myself to York；
and quiet their friends' minds。 In which case you must keep your eye upon
'em； and humour 'em； till I come back。 But before I take these measures；
Cobbs； I should wish you to find from themselves whether your opinion is
correct。〃 〃Sir； to you；〃 says Cobbs； 〃that shall be done directly。〃
So Boots goes up…stairs to the Angel； and there he finds Master Harry
on a e…normous sofa；immense at any time； but looking like the Great Bed
of Ware； compared with him；a drying the eyes of Miss Norah with his
pocket…hankecher。 Their little legs was entirely off the ground； of course；
and it really is not possible for Boots to express to me how small them
children looked。
〃It's Cobbs！ It's Cobbs！〃 cries Master Harry； and comes running to
him； and catching hold of his hand。 Miss Norah comes running to him
on t'other side and catching hold of his t'other hand； and they both jump
for joy。
〃I see you a getting out； sir；〃 says Cobbs。 〃I thought it was you。 I
thought I couldn't be mistaken in your height and figure。 What's the
object of your journey； sir？Matrimonial？〃
〃We are going to be married； Cobbs； at Gretna Green；〃 returned the
boy。 〃We have run away on purpose。 Norah has been in rather low
spirits； Cobbs； but she'll be happy； now we have found you to be our
friend。〃
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〃Thank you； sir； and thank you； miss；〃 says Cobbs； 〃for your good
opinion。 Did you bring any luggage with you； sir？〃
If I will believe Boots when he gives me his word and honour upon it；
the lady had got a parasol； a smelling…bottle； a round and a half of cold
buttered toast； eight peppermint drops； and a hair… brush；seemingly a
doll's。 The gentleman had got about half a dozen yards of string； a knife；
three or four sheets of writing… paper folded up surprising small； a orange；
and a Chaney mug with his name upon it。
〃What may be the exact natur of your plans； sir？〃 says Cobbs。
〃To go on；〃 replied the boy；which the courage of that boy was
something wonderful！〃in the morning； and be married to…morrow。〃
〃Just so； sir；〃 says Cobbs。 〃Would it meet your views； sir； if I was to
accompany you？〃
When Cobbs said this； they both jumped for joy again； and cried out；
〃Oh； yes； yes； Cobbs！ Yes！〃
〃Well； sir；〃 says Cobbs。 〃If you will excuse my having the freedom
to give an opinion； what I should recommend would be this。 I'm
acquainted with a pony； sir； which； put in a pheayton that I could borrow；
would take you and Mrs。 Harry Walmers； Junior； （myself driving； if you
approved；） to the end of your journey in a very short space of time。 I am
not altogether sure； sir； that this pony will be at liberty to…morrow； but
even if you had to wait over to… morrow for him； it might be worth your
while。 As to the small account here； sir； in case you was to find yourself
running at all short； that don't signify； because I'm a p
