Page:Dickens - A Child s History of England, 1900.djvu/479

Rh 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 'un."

"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. B

oots 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 the 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 himself—only 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?"