Dickens' Stories About Children Every Child Can Read Read online

  III.

  THE RUNAWAY COUPLE.

  THE Boots at the Holly Tree Inn was the young man named Cobbs, whoblacked the shoes, and ran errands, and waited on the people at the inn;and this is the story that he told, one day.

  "Supposing a young gentleman not eight years old was to run away with afine young woman of seven, would you consider that a queer start? Thatthere is a start as I--the Boots at the Holly Tree Inn--have seen withmy own eyes; and I cleaned the shoes they ran away in, and they was solittle that I couldn't get my hand into 'em.

  "Master Harry Walmers' father, he lived at the Elms, away by Shooter'sHill, six or seven miles from London. He was uncommon proud of MasterHarry, as he was his only child; but he didn't spoil him neither. He wasa gentleman that had a will of his own, and an eye of his own, and thatwould be minded. Consequently, though he made quite a companion of thefine bright boy, still he kept the command over him, and the child _was_a child. I was under-gardener there at that time; and one morningMaster Harry, he comes to me and says--

  "'Cobbs, how should you spell Norah, if you was asked?' and then beguncutting 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 placetogether, 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 andshe had been frightened of him. One day he stops along, with her, whereBoots was hoeing weeds in the gravel, and says--speaking up, 'Cobbs,' hesays, '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, MasterHarry, I am sure.' 'Because Norah likes you, Cobbs.' 'Indeed, sir?That's very gratifying.' 'Gratifying, Cobbs? It's better than millionsof the brightest diamonds to be liked by Norah.' 'Certainly, sir.''You're going away, ain't you, Cobbs?' 'Yes, sir.' 'Would you likeanother situation, Cobbs?' 'Well, sir, I shouldn't object, if it was agood 'un.' 'Then, Cobbs,' says he, 'you shall be our head-gardener whenwe are married.' And he tucks her, in her little sky-blue mantle, underhis arm, and walks away.

  "It was better than a picter, and equal to a play, to see them babieswith their long, bright, curling hair, their sparkling eyes, and theirbeautiful light tread, a-rambling about the garden, deep in love. Bootswas of opinion that the birds believed they was birds, and kept up with'em, singing to please 'em. Sometimes, they would creep under the Tuliptree, and would sit there with their arms round one another's necks, andtheir soft cheeks touching, a-reading about the prince and the dragon,and the good and bad enchanters, and the king's fair daughter. Sometimeshe would hear them planning about having a house in a forest, keepingbees and a cow, and living entirely on milk and honey. Once he came uponthem by the pond, and heard Master Harry say, 'Adorable Norah, kiss me,and say you love me to distraction, or I'll jump in headforemost.' AndBoots made no question he would have done it, if she hadn't done as heasked her.

  "'Cobbs,' says Master Harry, one evening, when Cobbs was watering theflowers, 'I am going on a visit, this present mid-summer, to mygrandmamma's at York.'

  "'Are you, indeed, sir? I hope you'll have a pleasant time. I am goinginto 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 andthen said, 'I shall be very glad, indeed, to go, Cobbs--Norah's going.'

  "'You'll be all right then, sir,' says Cobbs, 'with your beautifulsweetheart by your side.'

  "'Cobbs,' returned the boy, flushing, 'I never let anybody joke about itwhen 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'regoing 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.'[A]

  "'Whew!' says Cobbs, 'that's a spanking sum of money, Master Harry.'

  "'A person could do a great 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 theyhave been joking her about me, and pretending to laugh at our beingengaged. Pretending to make game of it, Cobbs!'

  "'Such, sir,' says Cobbs, 'is the wickedness of human natur'.'

  "The boy, looking exactly like his father, stood for a few minutes withhis glowing face towards the sunset, and then departed with, 'Goodnight, Cobbs. I'm going in.'

  "I was the Boots at the Holly Tree Inn when one summer afternoon thecoach drives up, and out of the coach gets these two children.

  "The guard says to our governor, the inn-keeper, 'I don't quite make outthese little passengers, but the young gentleman's words was, that theywere to be brought here.' The young gentleman gets out; hands his ladyout; gives the driver something for himself; says to our governor,'We're to stop here to-night, please. Sitting-room and two bedrooms willbe required. Chops and cherry-pudding for two!' and tucks her, in herlittle sky-blue mantle, under his arm, and walks into the house muchbolder than brass.

  "Boots leaves me to judge what the amazement of that establishment waswhen those two tiny creatures, all alone by themselves, was marched intothe parlor--much more so when he, who had seen them without their seeinghim, gave the governor his views of the errand they was upon. 'Cobbs,'says the governor, 'if this is so, I must set off myself to York andquiet their friends' minds. In which case you must keep your eye upon'em, and humor 'em, till I come back. But, before I take these measures,Cobbs, I should wish you to find out from themselves whether youropinions is correct.' 'Sir, to you,' says Cobbs, 'that shall be donedirectly.'

  "So Boots goes up stairs to the parlor, and there he finds Master Harryon an enormous sofa a-drying the eyes of Miss Norah with hispocket-hankecher. Their little legs were entirely off the ground ofcourse, and it really is not possible for Boots to express to me howsmall them children looked.

  "'It's Cobbs! It's Cobbs!' cries Master Harry, and comes running to him,and catching hold of his hand. Miss Norah comes running to him ont'other side, and catching hold of his t'other hand, and they both jumpfor joy.

  "'I see you a-getting out, sir,' says Cobbs. 'I thought it was you. Ithought I couldn't be mistaken in your height and figure. What's theobject of your journey, sir? Are you going to be married?'

  "'We are going to be married, Cobbs, at Gretna Green,' returned the boy.'We have run away on purpose. Norah has been in rather low spirits,Cobbs; but she'll be happy, now we have found you to be our friend.'

  "'Thank you, sir, and thank _you_, miss,' says Cobbs, 'for your goodopinion. Did you bring any luggage with you, sir?'

  "If I will believe Boots when he gives me his word and honor upon it,the lady had got a parasol, a smelling-bottle, a round and a half ofcold buttered toast, eight peppermint drops, and a hair-brush--seeminglya doll's. The gentleman had got about half a dozen yards of string, aknife, three or four sheets of writing-paper folded up surprisinglysmall, an orange, and a china mug with his name upon it.

  "'What may be the exact natur' of your plans, sir?' says Cobbs.

  "'To go on,' replied the boy--which the courage of that boy wassomething wonderful!--'in the morning, and be married to-morrow.'

  "'Just so, sir,' says Cobbs. 'Would it meet your views, sir, if I was togo with you?'

  "When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out,'Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs! Yes!'

  "'Well, sir,' says Cobbs. 'If you will excuse my having the freedom togive an opinion, what I should recommend would be this. I'm acquaintedwith a pony, sir, which, put in a phaeton that I coul
d borrow, wouldtake you and Mrs. Harry Walmers, Jr. (myself driving, if you agree), tothe end of your journey in a very short space of time. I am notaltogether sure, sir, that this pony will be at liberty to-morrow, buteven if you had to wait over to-morrow for him, it might be worth yourwhile. As to the small account for your board here, sir, in case you wasto find yourself running at all short, that don't signify, because I'm apart proprietor of this inn, and it could stand over.'

  "Boots tells me that when they clapped their hands and jumped for joyagain, and called him, 'Good Cobbs!' and 'Dear Cobbs!' and bent acrosshim to kiss one another in the delight of their trusting hearts, he felthimself the meanest rascal for deceiving 'em that ever was born.

  "'Is there anything you want just at present, sir?' says Cobbs, mortallyashamed of himself.

  "'We would like some cakes after dinner,' answered Master Harry, foldinghis arms, putting out one leg, and looking straight at him, 'and twoapples--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 atdessert. And so have I.'

  "'It shall be ordered at the bar, sir,' says Cobbs, and away he went.

  "'The way in which the women of that house--without exception--everyoneof 'em--married and single, took to that boy when they heard the story,Boots considers surprising. It was as much as he could do to keep 'emfrom dashing into the room and kissing him. They climbed up all sorts ofplaces, at the risk of their lives, to look at him through a pane ofglass. They were seven deep at the key-hole. They were out of theirminds about him and his bold spirit.

  "In the evening Boots went into the room, to see how the runaway couplewas getting on. The gentleman was on the window-seat, supporting thelady in his arms. She had tears upon her face, and was lying, very tiredand half-asleep, with her head upon his shoulder.

  "'Mrs. Harry Walmers, Jr., tired, 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 couldbring a biffin, please?'

  "'I ask your pardon, sir,' says Cobbs. 'What was it you--'

  "'I think a Norfolk biffin[B] would rouse her, Cobbs. She is very fondof them.'

  "Boots withdrew in search of the required restorative, and, when hebrought it in, the gentleman handed it to the lady, and fed her with aspoon, and took a little himself. The lady being heavy with sleep, andrather cross. 'What should you think, sir,' says Cobbs, 'of a chambercandlestick?' The gentleman approved; the chambermaid went first, up thegreat staircase; the lady, in her sky-blue mantle, followed, gallantlyled by the gentleman; the gentleman kissed her at the door, and retiredto his own room, where Boots softly locked him up.

  "Boots couldn't but feel what a base deceiver he was when they asked himat breakfast (they had ordered sweet milk-and-water, and toast andcurrant jelly, overnight) about the pony. It really was as much as hecould do, he don't mind confessing to me, to look them two young thingsin the face, and think how wicked he had grown up to be. Howsomever, hewent on a-lying like a Trojan, about the pony. He told 'em it did sounfortunately happen that the pony was half-clipped, you see, and thathe couldn't be taken out in that state for fear that it should strike tohis inside. But that he'd be finished clipping in the course of the day,and that to-morrow morning at eight o'clock the phaeton would be ready.Boots' view of the whole case, looking back upon it in my room, is, thatMrs. Harry Walmers, Jr., was beginning to give in. She hadn't had herhair curled when she went to bed, and she didn't seem quite up tobrushing it herself, and it's getting in her eyes put her out. Butnothing put out Master Harry. He sat behind his breakfast cup, a-tearingaway at the jelly, as if he had been his own father.

  "After breakfast Boots is inclined to think that they drawedsoldiers--at least, he knows that many such was found in the fireplace,all on horseback. In the course of the morning Master Harry rang thebell--it was surprising how that there boy did carry on--and said in asprightly way, 'Cobbs, is there any good walks in this neighborhood?'

  "'Yes, sir,' says Cobbs. 'There's Love Lane.'

  "'Get out with you, Cobbs!'--that was that there boy'sexpression--'you're joking.'

  "'Begging your pardon, sir,' says Cobbs, 'there really is Love Lane. Anda pleasant walk it is, and proud I shall be to show it to yourself andMrs. Harry Walmers, Jr.'

  "'Norah, dear,' said Master Harry, 'this is curious. We really ought tosee Love Lane. Put on your bonnet, my sweetest darling, and we will gothere with Cobbs.'

  "Boots leaves me to judge what a beast he felt himself to be, when thatyoung pair told him, as they all three jogged along together, that theyhad made up their minds to give him two thousand guineas a year ashead-gardener, on account of his being so true a friend to 'em. Bootscould have wished at the moment that the earth would have opened andswallowed him up; he felt so mean with their beaming eyes a-looking athim, and believing him. Well, sir, he turned the conversation as well ashe could, and he took 'em down Love Lane to the water-meadows, and thereMaster Harry would have drowned himself in half a moment more, a-gettingout a water-lily for her--but nothing frightened that boy. Well, sir,they was tired out. All being so new and strange to 'em, they was tiredas tired could be. And they laid down on a bank of daisies, like thechildren in the wood, leastways meadows, and fell asleep.

  "Well, sir, they woke up at last, and then one thing was getting prettyclear to Boots, namely, that Mrs. Harry Walmers', Jr., temper was on themove. When Master Harry took her round the waist she said he 'teased herso,' and when he says, 'Norah, my young May Moon, your Harry tease you?'she tells him, 'Yes; and I want to go home!'

  "However, Master Harry he kept up, and his noble heart was as fond asever. Mrs. Walmers turned very sleepy about dusk and began to cry.Therefore, Mrs. Walmers went off to bed as per yesterday; and MasterHarry ditto repeated.

  "About eleven or twelve at night comes back the inn-keeper in a chaise,along with Mr. Walmers and an elderly lady. Mr. Walmers looks amused andvery serious, both at once, and says to our missis, 'We are very muchindebted to you, ma'am, for your kind care of our little children, whichwe can never sufficiently acknowledge. Pray, ma'am where is my boy?' Ourmissis says, 'Cobbs has the dear children in charge, sir. Cobbs, showforty!' Then he says to Cobbs, 'Ah, Cobbs! I am glad to see _you_. Iunderstand 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 methat 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 withMaster Harry. For Master Harry is a fine boy, sir, and will do youcredit and honor.' And Boots signifies to me that if the fine boy'sfather had contradicted him in the daring state of mind in which he thenwas, he thinks he should have 'fetched him a crack,' and taken theconsequences.

  "But Mr. Walmers only says, 'No, Cobbs. No, my good fellow. Thank you!'And the door being open, goes in.

  "Boots goes in too, holding the light, and he sees Mr. Walmers go up tothe bedside, bend gently down, and kiss the little sleeping face. Thenhe stands looking at it for a minute, looking wonderfully like it; andthen he gently shakes the little shoulder.

  "'Harry, my dear boy! Harry!'

  "Master Harry starts up and looks at him. Looks at Cobbs, too. Such isthe honor of that mite that he looks at Cobbs to see whether he hasbrought him into trouble.

  "'I am not angry, my child. I only want you to dress yourself and comehome.'

  "'Yes, pa.'

  "Master Harry dresses himself quickly. His breast begins to swell whenhe has nearly finished, and it swells more and more as he standsa-looking at his father; his father standing a-looking at him, the quietimage of him.

  "'Please may I'--the spirit of that little creatur', and the way he kepthis rising tears down!--'Please, dear pa--may I--kiss Norah before Igo?'

  "'You may, my child.'

  "So he takes Master Harry in his hand, and Boots leads the way with thecandle, and they come to that other
bedroom; where the elderly lady isseated by the bed, and poor little Mrs. Harry Walmers, Jr., is fastasleep. There the father lifts the child up to the pillow, and he layshis little face down for an instant by the little warm face of poorunconscious little Mrs. Harry Walmers, Jr., and gently draws it tohim--a sight so touching to the chambermaids who are peeping through thedoor that one of them calls out, 'It's a shame to part 'em!' But thischambermaid was always, as Boots informs me, a soft-hearted one. Notthat there was any harm in that girl. Far from it."

  FOOTNOTES:

  [A] For the benefit of some of our young readers, it may be well toexplain that this is about the same as a bill of twenty-five dollarswould be in America.

  [B] A biffin is a red apple, growing near Norfolk, and generally eatenafter having been baked.