, 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