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 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.
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