“She knows nothing of that, and is to know nothing of it from us. The proper person to tell her is Mrs. Pepperill. So mind, Jan, not a word about Mr. Quarm. Understand, not a word. So look cheerful and whistle.”
“What shall I whistle? Jackson’s ‘Tee-dum’?”
“Of course not, something lively. The ‘Green Bushes.’”
“Why the ‘Green Bushes’?”
“Oh, silly Jan!” Then she began to sing’
“’The old lover arrived, the maiden was gone;
He sighed very deeply, he stood all alone,
“She is on with another, before off with me,
So adieu ye green bushes for ever!” said he.‘
“Green bushes’that is the orchard, Jan, where grow the silver peninks.”