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第7节

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小说: the holly-tree 字数: 每页4000字

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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 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。〃



〃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 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 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?〃  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

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