the holly-tree-第7部分

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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

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　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　sleepy　about　dusk；　and　began　to　cry。　　Therefore；　Mrs。

Walmers　went　off　to　bed　as　per　yesterday；　and　Master　Harry　ditto

repeated。



About　eleven　or　twelve　at　night　comes　back　the　Governor　in　a　chaise；

along　with　Mr。　Walmers　and　a　elderly　lady。　　Mr。　Walmers　looks　amused

and　very　serious；　both　at　once；　and　says　to　our　missis；　〃We　are　much

indebted　to　you；　ma'am；　for　your　kind　care　of　our　little　children；

which　we　can　never　sufficiently　acknowledge。　　Pray；　ma'am；　where　is

my　boy？〃　　Our　missis　says；　〃Cobbs　has　the　dear　child　in　charge；　sir。

Cobbs；　show　Forty！〃　　Then　he　says　to　Cobbs；　〃Ah；　Cobbs；　I　am　glad　to

see　you！　　I　understood　you　was　here！〃　　And　Cobbs　says；　〃Yes；　sir。

Your　most　obedient；　sir。〃



I　may　be　surprised　to　hear　Boots　say　it；　perhaps；　but　Boots　assures

me　that　his　heart　beat　like　a　hammer；　going　up…stairs。　　〃I　beg　your

pardon；　sir；〃　says　he；　while　unlocking　the　door；　〃I　hope　you　are　not

angry　with　Master　Harry。　　For　Master　Harry　is　a　fine　boy；　sir；　and

will　do　you　credit　and　honour。〃　　And　Boots　signifies　to　me；　that；　if

the　fine　boy's　father　had　contradicted　him　in　the　daring　state　of

mind　in　which　he　then　was；　he　thinks　he　should　have　〃fetched　him　a

crack；〃　and　taken　the　consequences。



But　Mr。　Walmers　only　says；　〃No；　Cobbs。　　No；　my　good　fellow。　　Thank

you！〃　　And；　the　door　being　opened；　goes　in。



Boots　goes　in　too；　holding　the　light；　and　he　sees　Mr。　Walmers　go　up

to　the　bedside；　bend　gently　down；　and　kiss　the　little　sleeping　face。

Then　he　stands　looking　at　it　for　a　minute；　looking　wonderfully　like

it　（they　do　say　he　ran　away　with　Mrs。　Walmers）；　and　then　he　gently

shakes　the　little　shoulder。



〃Harry；　my　dear　boy！　　Harry！〃



Master　Harry　starts　up　and　looks　at　him。　　Looks　at　Cobbs　too。　　Such

is　the　honour　of　that　mite；　that　he　looks　at　Cobbs；　to　see　whether

he　has　brought　him　into　trouble。



〃I　am　not　angry；　my　child。　　I　only　want　you　to　dress　yourself　and

come　home。〃



〃Yes；　pa。〃



Master　Harry　dresses　himself　quickly。　　His　breast　begins　to　swell

when　he　has　nearly　finished；　and　it　swells　more　and　more　as　he

stands；　at　last；　a　looking　at　his　father：　　his　father　standing　a

looking　at　him；　the　quiet　image　of　him。



〃Please　may　I〃the　spirit　of　that　little　creatur；　and　the　way　he

kept　his　rising　tears　down！〃please；　dear　pamay　Ikiss　Norah

before　I　go？〃



〃You　may；　my　child。〃



So　he　takes　Master　Harry　in　his　hand；　and　Boots　leads　the　way　with

the　candle；　and　they　come　to　that　other　bedroom；　where　the　elderly

lady　is　seated　by　the　bed；　and　poor　little　Mrs。　Harry　Walmers；

Junior；　is　fast　asleep。　　There　the　father　lifts　the　child　up　to　the

pillow；　and　he　lays　his　little　face　down　for　an　instant　by　the

little　warm　face　of　poor　unconscious　little　Mrs。　Harry　Walmers；

Junior；　and　gently　draws　it　to　him；a　sight　so　touching　to　the

chambermaids　who　are　peeping　through　the　door；　that　one　of　them

calls　out；　〃It's　a　shame　to　part　'em！〃　　But　this　chambermaid　was

always；　as　Boots　informs　me；　a　soft…hearted　one。　　Not　that　there　was

any　harm　in　that　girl。