the holly-tree(圣树)-第9节
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running at all short； that don't signify； because I'm a part proprietor of this
inn； and it could stand over。〃
Boots assures me that when they clapped their hands； and jumped for
joy again； and called him 〃Good Cobbs！〃 and 〃Dear Cobbs！〃 and bent
across him to kiss one another in the delight of their confiding hearts； he
felt himself the meanest rascal for deceiving 'em that ever was born。
〃Is there anything you want just at present； sir？〃 says Cobbs； mortally
ashamed of himself。
〃We should like some cakes after dinner；〃 answered Master Harry；
folding his arms； putting out one leg； and looking straight at him； 〃and two
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apples；and jam。 With dinner we should like to have toast…and…water。
But Norah has always been accustomed to half a glass of currant wine at
dessert。 And so have I。〃
〃It shall be ordered at the bar； sir；〃 says Cobbs； and away he went。
Boots has the feeling as fresh upon him at this minute of speaking as
he had then； that he would far rather have had it out in half…a… dozen
rounds with the Governor than have combined with him； and that he
wished with all his heart there was any impossible place where those two
babies could make an impossible marriage； and live impossibly happy
ever afterwards。 However； as it couldn't be； he went into the Governor's
plans； and the Governor set off for York in half an hour。
The way in which the women of that housewithout exceptionevery
one of 'emmarried and singletook to that boy when they heard the story；
Boots considers surprising。 It was as much as he could do to keep 'em
from dashing into the room and kissing him。 They climbed up all sorts
of places； at the risk of their lives； to look at him through a pane of glass。
They was seven deep at the keyhole。 They was out of their minds about
him and his bold spirit。
In the evening； Boots went into the room to see how the runaway
couple was getting on。 The gentleman was on the window…seat；
supporting the lady in his arms。 She had tears upon her face； and was
lying； very tired and half asleep； with her head upon his shoulder。
〃Mrs。 Harry Walmers； Junior； fatigued； sir？〃 says Cobbs。
〃Yes； she is tired； Cobbs； but she is not used to be away from home；
and she has been in low spirits again。 Cobbs； do you think you could
bring a biffin； please？〃
〃I ask your pardon； sir；〃 says Cobbs。 〃What was it you？〃
〃I think a Norfolk biffin would rouse her； Cobbs。 She is very fond of
them。〃
Boots withdrew in search of the required restorative； and when he
brought it in； the gentleman handed it to the lady； and fed her with a spoon；
and took a little himself； the lady being heavy with sleep； and rather cross。
〃What should you think； sir；〃 says Cobbs； 〃of a chamber candlestick？〃
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The gentleman approved； the chambermaid went first； up the great
staircase； the lady； in her sky…blue mantle； followed； gallantly escorted by
the gentleman； the gentleman embraced her at her door； and retired to his
own apartment； where Boots softly locked him up。
Boots couldn't but feel with increased acuteness what a base deceiver
he was； when they consulted him at breakfast （they had ordered sweet
milk…and…water； and toast and currant jelly； over… night） about the pony。
It really was as much as he could do； he don't mind confessing to me； to
look them two young things in the face； and think what a wicked old
father of lies he had grown up to be。 Howsomever； he went on a lying
like a Trojan about the pony。 He told 'em that it did so unfortunately
happen that the pony was half clipped； you see； and that he couldn't be
taken out in that state； for fear it should strike to his inside。 But that he'd
be finished clipping in the course of the day； and that to…morrow morning
at eight o'clock the pheayton would be ready。 Boots's view of the whole
case； looking back on it in my room； is； that Mrs。 Harry Walmers； Junior；
was beginning to give in。 She hadn't had her hair curled when she went
to bed； and she didn't seem quite up to brushing it herself； and its getting
in her eyes put her out。 But nothing put out Master Harry。 He sat
behind his breakfast…cup； a tearing away at the jelly； as if he had been his
own father。
After breakfast； Boots is inclined to consider that they drawed
soldiers；at least； he knows that many such was found in the fire… place；
all on horseback。 In the course of the morning； Master Harry rang the
bell；it was surprising how that there boy did carry on； and said； in a
sprightly way； 〃Cobbs； is there any good walks in this neighbourhood？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 says Cobbs。 〃There's Love Lane。〃
〃Get out with you； Cobbs！〃that was that there boy's expression；
〃you're joking。〃
〃Begging your pardon； sir；〃 says Cobbs； 〃there really is Love Lane。
And a pleasant walk it is； and proud shall I be to show it to yourself and
Mrs。 Harry Walmers； Junior。〃
〃Norah； dear；〃 said Master Harry； 〃this is curious。 We really ought to
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see Love Lane。 Put on your bonnet； my sweetest darling； and we will go
there with Cobbs。〃
Boots leaves me to judge what a Beast he felt himself to be； when that
young pair told him； as they all three jogged along together； that they had
made up their minds to give him two thousand guineas a year as head…
gardener； on accounts of his being so true a friend to 'em。 Boots could
have wished at the moment that the earth would have opened and
swallowed him up； he felt so mean； with their beaming eyes a looking at
him； and believing him。 Well； sir； he turned the conversation as well as
he could； and he took 'em down Love Lane to the water…meadows； and
there Master Harry would have drowned himself in half a moment more； a
getting out a water…lily for her；but nothing daunted that boy。 Well； sir；
they was tired out。 All being so new and strange to 'em； they was tired as
tired could be。 And they laid down on a bank of daisies； like the children
in the wood； leastways meadows； and fell asleep。
Boots don't knowperhaps I do；but never mind； it don't signify either
waywhy it made a man fit to make a fool of himself to see them two
pretty babies a lying there in the clear still sunny day； not dreaming half so
hard when they was asleep as they done when they was awake。 But；
Lord！ when you come to think of yourself； you know； and what a game
you have been up to ever since you was in your own cradle； and what a
poor sort of a chap you are； and how it's always either Yesterday with you；
or else To…morrow； and never To… day； that's where it is！
Well； sir； they woke up at last； and then one thing was getting pretty
clear to Boots； namely； that Mrs。 Harry Walmerses； Junior's； temper was
on the move。 When Master Harry took her round the waist； she said he
〃teased her so；〃 and when he says； 〃Norah； my young May Moon； your
Harry tease you？〃 she tells him； 〃Yes； and I want to go home！〃
A biled fowl； and baked bread…and…butter pudding； brought Mrs。
Walmers up a little； but Boots could have wished； he must privately own
to me； to have seen her more sensible of the woice of love； and less
abandoning of herself to currants。 However； Master Harry； he kept up；
and his noble heart was as fond as ever。 Mrs。 Walmers turned very
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sleepy about dusk； and began to cry。 Therefore； Mrs。 Walmers went off
to bed as per yesterday； and Master Harry
