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."