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neither。 He was a gentleman that had a will of his own and a eye of
his own； and that would be minded。 Consequently； though he made
quite a companion of the fine bright boy； and was delighted to see
him so fond of reading his fairy books； and was never tired of
hearing him say my name is Norval； or hearing him sing his songs
about Young May Moons is beaming love； and When he as adores thee
has left but the name； and that； still he kept the command over the
child； and the child was a child； and it's to be wished more of 'em
was！
How did Boots happen to know all this？ Why； through being under…
gardener。 Of course he couldn't be under…gardener； and be always
about； in the summer…time； near the windows on the lawn； a mowing；
and sweeping； and weeding； and pruning； and this and that； without
getting acquainted with the ways of the family。 Even supposing
Master Harry hadn't come to him one morning early； and said； 〃Cobbs；
how should you spell Norah； if you was asked？〃 and then began
cutting it in print all over the fence。
He couldn't say he had taken particular notice of children before
that； but really it was pretty to see them two mites a going about
the place together； deep in love。 And the courage of the boy！
Bless your soul； he'd have throwed off his little hat； and tucked up
his little sleeves； and gone in at a Lion； he would； if they had
happened to meet one； and she had been frightened of him。 One day
he stops； along with her； where Boots was hoeing weeds in the
gravel； and says； speaking up； 〃Cobbs；〃 he says； 〃I like you。〃 〃Do
you； sir？ I'm proud to hear it。〃 〃Yes； I do； Cobbs。 Why do I like
you； do you think； Cobbs？〃 〃Don't know； Master Harry； I am sure。〃
〃Because Norah likes you； Cobbs。〃 〃Indeed； sir？ That's very
gratifying。〃 〃Gratifying； Cobbs？ It's better than millions of the
brightest diamonds to be liked by Norah。〃 〃Certainly； sir。〃
〃You're going away； ain't you； Cobbs？〃 〃Yes； sir。〃 〃Would you like
another situation； Cobbs？〃 〃Well； sir； I shouldn't object； if it
was a good Inn。〃 〃Then； Cobbs；〃 says he； 〃you shall be our Head
Gardener when we are married。〃 And he tucks her； in her little sky…
blue mantle； under his arm； and walks away。
Boots could assure me that it was better than a picter； and equal to
a play； to see them babies； with their long； bright； curling hair；
their sparkling eyes； and their beautiful light tread； a rambling
about the garden； deep in love。 Boots was of opinion that the birds
believed they was birds； and kept up with 'em； singing to please
'em。 Sometimes they would creep under the Tulip…tree； and would sit
there with their arms round one another's necks； and their soft
cheeks touching； a reading about the Prince and the Dragon； and the
good and bad enchanters； and the king's fair daughter。 Sometimes he
would hear them planning about having a house 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；
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 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 hims