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The boy； looking exactly like his father； stood for a few minutes
with his glowing face towards the sunset； and then departed with；
〃Good…night； Cobbs。 I'm going in。〃
If I was to ask Boots how it happened that he was a…going to leave
that place just at that present time； well； he couldn't rightly
answer me。 He did suppose he might have stayed there till now if he
had been anyways inclined。 But； you see； he was younger then； and
he wanted change。 That's what he wanted；change。 Mr。 Walmers； he
said to him when he gave him notice of his intentions to leave；
〃Cobbs；〃 he says； 〃have you anythink to complain of？ I make the
inquiry because if I find that any of my people really has anythink
to complain of； I wish to make it right if I can。〃 〃No； sir。〃 says
Cobbs； 〃thanking you； sir； I find myself as well sitiwated here as I
could hope to be anywheres。 The truth is； sir； that I'm a…going to
seek my fortun'。〃 〃O； indeed； Cobbs！〃 he says； 〃I hope you may find
it。〃 And Boots could assure mewhich he did； touching his hair
with his bootjack； as a salute in the way of his present calling
that he hadn't found it yet。
Well； sir！ Boots left the Elmses when his time was up； and Master
Harry； he went down to the old lady's at York； which old lady would
have given that child the teeth out of her head （if she had had
any）； she was so wrapped up in him。 What does that Infant do；for
Infant you may call him and be within the mark；but cut away from
that old lady's with his Norah； on a expedition to go to Gretna
Green and be married！
Sir； Boots was at this identical Holly…Tree Inn （having left it
several times since to better himself； but always come back through
one thing or another）； when； one summer afternoon； the coach drives
up； and out of the coach gets them two children。 The Guard says to
our Governor； 〃I don't quite make out these little passengers； but
the young gentleman's words was； that they was to be brought here。〃
The young gentleman gets out； hands his lady out； gives the Guard
something for himself； says to our Governor； 〃We're to stop here to…
night； please。 Sitting…room and two bedrooms will be required。
Chops and cherry…pudding for two！〃 and tucks her； in her sky…blue
mantle； under his arm； and walks into the house much bolder than
Brass。
Boots leaves me to judge what the amazement of that establishment
was； when these two tiny creatures all alone by themselves was
marched into the Angel；much more so； when he； who had seen them
without their seeing him； give the Governor his views of the
expedition they was upon。 〃Cobbs；〃 says the Governor； 〃if this is
so； I must set off myself to York； and quiet their friends' minds。
In which case you must keep your eye upon 'em； and humour 'em； till
I come back。 But before I take these measures； Cobbs； I should wish
you to find from themselves whether your opinion is correct。〃 〃Sir；
to you；〃 says Cobbs； 〃that shall be done directly。〃
So Boots goes up…stairs to the Angel； and there he finds Master
Harry on a e…normous sofa；immense at any time； but looking like
the Great Bed of Ware； compared with him；a drying the eyes of Miss
Norah with his pocket…hankecher。 Their little legs was entirely off
the ground； of course； and it really is not possible for Boots to
express to me how small 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
on t'other side and catching hold of his t'other hand； and they both
jump for joy。
〃I see you a getting out； sir；〃 says Cobbs。 〃I thought it was you。
I thought I couldn't be mistaken in your height and figure。 What's
the object of your journey； sir？Matrimonial？〃
〃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 good
opinion。 Did you bring any luggage with you； sir？〃
If I will believe Boots when he gives me his word and honour upon
it； the lady had got a parasol； a smelling…bottle； a round and a
half of cold buttered toast； eight peppermint drops； and a hair…
brush；seemingly a doll's。 The gentleman had got about half a
dozen yards of string； a knife； three or four sheets of writing…
paper folded up surprising small； a orange； and a Chaney 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 was
something wonderful！〃in the morning； and be married to…morrow。〃
〃Just so； sir；〃 says Cobbs。 〃Would it meet your views； sir； if I
was to accompany 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
to give an opinion； what I should recommend would be this。 I'm
acquainted with a pony； sir； which； put in a pheayton that I could
borrow； would take you and Mrs。 Harry Walmers； Junior； （myself
driving； if you approved；） to the end of your journey in a very
short space of time。 I am not altogether sure； sir； that this pony
will be at liberty to…morrow； but even if you had to wait over to…
morrow for him； it might be worth your while。 As to the small
account here； sir； in case you was to find yourself running at all
short； that don't signify； because I'm a part proprietor of this
inn； and it could stand over。〃
Boots assures me that when they clapped their hands； and jumped for
joy again； and called him 〃Good Cobbs！〃 and 〃Dear Cobbs！〃 and bent
across him to kiss one another in the delight of their confiding
hearts； he felt himself the meanest rascal for deceiving 'em that
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