THE RUNAWAY COUPLE.
"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.
THE RUNAWAY COUPLE.]
"Master Harry Walmers's father, he lived at the Elms, away by Shooter'sHill, six or seven miles from London. He was uncommon proud of MasterHarry, as was his only child; but he didn't spoil him neither. He was agentleman that had a will of his own, and an eye of his own, and thatwould be minded. Consequently, though he made quite a companion ofthe fine bright boy, still he kept the command over him, and the child_was_ a child. I was under gardener there at that time I and one morningMaster Harry, he comes to me and says--
"'Cobbs, how should you spell Norah, if you were asked?' and he took outhis little knife and began cutting that name in print all over thefence. The next day as it might be, he stops, along with Miss Norah,where I was hoeing weeds in the gravel, and says, speaking up--
"'Cobbs, I like you! Why do I like you do you think, Cobbs? Because Norahlikes you.'
"'Indeed, sir,' says I. 'That's very gratifying.'
"'Gratifying, Cobbs?' says Master Harry. 'It's better than a million ofthe brightest diamonds, to be liked by Norah. You're going away ain'tyou, Cobbs? Then you shall be our head gardener when we're married.' Andhe tucks her, in her little sky-blue mantle, under his arm, and walksaway.
"I was the boots at this identical Holly-Tree Inn when one summerafternoon the coach drives up, and out of the coach gets these twochildren. The young gentleman gets out; hands his lady out; gives theguard something for himself; says to my governor, the landlord: 'We'reto stop here to-night, please. Sitting room and two bed-rooms will berequired. Mutton chops and cherry pudding for two!' and tucks her underhis arm, and walks into the house, much bolder than brass.
"I had seen 'em without their seeing me, and I gave the governor myviews of the expedition they was upon. 'Cobbs,' says the governor, 'ifthis is so, I must set off myself and quiet their friends' minds. Inwhich case you must keep your eye upon 'em, and humor 'em, until I comeback. But before I take these measures, Cobbs, I should wish you to findout from themselves whether your opinion is correct.'
"So I goes upstairs, and there I finds Master Harry on an e-nor-moussofa a-drying the eyes of Miss Norah with his pocket handkercher. Theirlittle legs was entirely off the ground, of course, and it really is notpossible to express how small them children looked. 'It's Cobbs! it'sCobbs!' cries Master Harry, and he comes a-runing to me, and catchinghold of my hand. Miss Norah, she comes running to me on t'other side,and catching hold of my t'other hand, and they both jump for joy. Andwhat I had took to be the case was the case.
"'We're going to be married, Cobbs, at Gretna Green,' says the boy.'We've 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.'
"'I give you my word and honor upon it that, by way of luggage the ladyhad got a parasol, a smelling-bottle, a round and a half of coldbuttered toast, eight peppermint drops, and a doll's hair-brush. Thegentleman had got about a dozen yards of string, a knife, three or foursheets of writing-paper folded up surprisingly small, a orange, and achaney mug with his name on it.
"'What may be the exact nature of your plans, sir?' says I.
"'To go on,' replies the boy, 'in the morning, and be marriedto-morrow.'
"'Just so, sir. Well, sir, 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 would take you and Mrs. Harry Walmers junior tothe end of your journey in a very short space of time. I am notaltogether sure, sir, that the pony will be at liberty to-morrow, buteven if you had to wait for him it might be worth your while.'
"They clapped their hands and jumped for joy, and called me 'GoodCobbs!' and 'Dear Cobbs!' and says I, 'Is there anything you want atpresent, sir?'
"'We should like some cakes after dinner,' answers Mr. Harry, 'and twoapples--and jam. With dinner we should like to have toast and water. ButNorah has always been accustomed to half a glass of currant wine atdessert, and so have I.'
"'They shall be ordered, sir,' I answered, and away I went; and the wayin which all the women in the house went on about that boy and his boldspirit was a thing to see. They climbed up all sorts of places to get alook at him, and they peeped, seven deep, through the keyhole.
"In the evening, after the governor had set off for the Elms, I went intothe room to see how the run-away couple was getting on. The gentlemanwas on the window seat, supporting the lady in his arms. She had tearsupon her face, and was lying very tired and half asleep, with her headupon his shoulder.
"'Mrs. Harry Walmers junior fatigued, sir?'
"'Yes, she's tired, Cobbs; she's been in low spirits again; she isn'tused to being in a strange place, you see. Could you bring a Norfolkbiffin, Cobbs? I think that would do her good.'
"Well, I fetched the biffin, and Master Harry fed her with a spoon; butthe lady being heavy with sleep and rather cross, I suggested bed, andcalled a chambermaid, but Master Harry must needs escort her himself,and carry the candle for her. After embracing her at her own door heretired to his room, where I softly locked him in.
"They consulted me at breakfast (they had ordered sweet milk and water,and toast and currant jelly, over night) about the pony, and I told 'emthat it did unfortunately happen that the pony was half clipped, butthat he'd be finished clipping in the course of the day, and thatto-morrow morning at eight o'clock he would be ready. My own opinion isthat Mrs. Harry Walmers junior was beginning to give in. She hadn't hadher hair curled when she went to bed, and she didn't seem quite up tobrushing it herself, and it getting into her eyes put her out. Butnothing put out Mr. Harry. He sat behind his breakfast cup tearing awayat the jelly, as if he'd been his own father.
"In the course of the morning, Master Harry rung the bell,--it wassurprising how that there boy did carry on,--and said in a sprightlyway, 'Cobbs, is there any good walks in the neighborhood?'
"'Yes, sir, there's Love Lane.'
"'Get out with you, Cobbs!'--that was that there mite'sexpression--'you're joking.'
"'Begging your pardon, sir, there really is a Love Lane, and a pleasantwalk it is; and proud shall I be to show it to yourself and Mrs. HarryWalmers junior.'
"Well, I took him down Love Lane to the water meadows, and there MasterHarry would have drowned himself in another minute a getting out awater-lily for her. But they was tired out. All being so new and strangeto them, they were as tired as tired could be. And they laid down on abank of daisies and fell asleep.
"They woke up at last, and then one thing was getting pretty clear tome, namely, that Mrs. Harry Walmers junior's temper was on the move.When Master Harry took her round the waist, she said he 'teased her so';and when he says, 'Norah, my young May moon, your Harry tease you?' shetells him, 'Yes, and I want to go home.'
"A boiled fowl, and baked bread and butter pudding, brought Mrs. Walmersup a little; but I could have wished, I must privately own, to have seenher more sensible to the voice of love and less abandoning herself tothe currants in the pudding. However, Master Harry, he kep' up, and hisnoble heart was as fond as ever. Mrs. Walmers turned very sleepy aboutdusk, and began to cry. Therefore, Mrs. Walmers went off to bed as peryesterday; and Master Harry ditto repeated.
"About eleven at night comes back the governor in a chaise, along ofMaster Harry's father and a elderly lady. And Master Harry's door beingunlocked by me, Master Harry's father goes in, goes up to the bedside,bends gently down, and kisses the little sleeping face. Then he standslooking at it for a moment, looking wonderfully like it; and then hegently shakes the little shoulder. 'Harry, my dear boy! Harry!'
"Master Harry starts up and looks at his pa. Such is the honor of thatmite, that he looks at me, too
, to see whether he has brought me intotrouble.
"'I am not angry, my child. I only want you to dress yourself and comehome.'
"'Yes, Pa.' Master Harry dresses himself quick.
"'Please may I--please, dear pa--may I--kiss Norah before I go?'
"Master Harry's father he takes Master Harry in his hand, and I leadsthe way with the candle to that other bedroom where the elderly lady isseated by the bed, and poor little Mrs. Harry Walmers junior is fastasleep. There the father lifts the boy up to the pillow, and he lays hislittle face down for an instant by the little warm face of poor littleMrs. Harry Walmers junior, and gently draws it to him.
"And that's all about it. Master Harry's father drove away in the chaisehaving hold of Master Harry's hand. The elderly lady Mrs. Harry Walmersjunior that was never to be (she married a captain long after and wentto India) went off next day."
Charles Dickens' Children Stories Page 4