English
Shelookedatthekeyquitealongtime.
Sheturneditoverandover,andthoughtaboutit.
AsIhavesaidbefore,shewasnotachildwhohadbeentrainedtoaskpermissionorconsulthereldersaboutthings.
Allshethoughtaboutthekeywasthatifitwasthekeytotheclosedgarden,andshecouldfindoutwherethedoorwas,shecouldperhapsopenitandseewhatwasinsidethewalls,andwhathadhappenedtotheoldrose-trees.
Itwasbecauseithadbeenshutupsolongthatshewantedtoseeit.
Itseemedasifitmustbedifferentfromotherplacesandthatsomethingstrangemusthavehappenedtoitduringtenyears.
Besidesthat,ifshelikeditshecouldgointoiteverydayandshutthedoorbehindher,andshecouldmakeupsomeplayofherownandplayitquitealone,becausenobodywouldeverknowwhereshewas,butwouldthinkthedoorwasstilllockedandthekeyburiedintheearth.
Thethoughtofthatpleasedherverymuch.
Livingasitwere,allbyherselfinahousewithahundredmysteriouslyclosedroomsandhavingnothingwhatevertodotoamuseherself,hadsetherinactivebraintoworkingandwasactuallyawakeningherimagination.
Thereisnodoubtthatthefresh,strong,pureairfromthemoorhadagreatdealtodowithit.
Justasithadgivenheranappetite,andfightingwiththewindhadstirredherblood,sothesamethingshadstirredhermind.
InIndiashehadalwaysbeentoohotandlanguidandweaktocaremuchaboutanything,butinthisplaceshewasbeginningtocareandtowanttodonewthings.
Alreadyshefeltless“contrary,”thoughshedidnotknowwhy.
Sheputthekeyinherpocketandwalkedupanddownherwalk.
Noonebutherselfeverseemedtocomethere,soshecouldwalkslowlyandlookatthewall,or,rather,attheivygrowingonit.Theivywasthebafflingthing.
Howsoevercarefullyshelookedshecouldseenothingbutthicklygrowing,glossy,darkgreenleaves.Shewasverymuchdisappointed.
Somethingofhercontrarinesscamebacktoherasshepacedthewalkandlookedoveritatthetree-topsinside.
Itseemedsosilly,shesaidtoherself,tobenearitandnotbeabletogetin.
Shetookthekeyinherpocketwhenshewentbacktothehouse,andshemadeuphermindthatshewouldalwayscarryitwithherwhenshewentout,sothatifsheevershouldfindthehiddendoorshewouldbeready.
Mrs.MedlockhadallowedMarthatosleepallnightatthecottage,butshewasbackatherworkinthemorningwithcheeksredderthaneverandinthebestofspirits.
“Igotupatfouro’clock,”shesaid.“Eh!
itwasprettyonth’moorwithth’birdsgettin’upan’th’rabbitsscamperin’aboutan’th’sunrisin’.Ididn’twalkallth’way.
Amangavemearideinhiscartan’Ididenjoymyself.”
Shewasfullofstoriesofthedelightsofherdayout.
Hermotherhadbeengladtoseeherandtheyhadgotthebakingandwashingalloutoftheway.
Shehadevenmadeeachofthechildrenadoughcakewithabitofbrownsugarinit.
“Ihad‘emallpipin’hotwhentheycameinfromplayin’onth’moor.
An’th’cottageallsmelto’nice,cleanhotbakin’an’therewasagoodfire,an’theyjustshoutedforjoy.
OurDickonhesaidourcottagewasgoodenoughforaking.”
Intheeveningtheyhadallsatroundthefire,andMarthaandhermotherhadsewedpatchesontornclothesandmendedstockingsandMarthahadtoldthemaboutthelittlegirlwhohadcomefromIndiaandwhohadbeenwaitedonallherlifebywhatMarthacalled“blacks”untilshedidn’tknowhowtoputonherownstockings.
“Eh!theydidliketohearaboutyou,”saidMartha.“Theywantedtoknowallaboutth’blacksan’aboutth’shipyoucamein.Icouldn’ttell‘emenough.”
Maryreflectedalittle.
“I’lltellyouagreatdealmorebeforeyournextdayout,”shesaid,“sothatyouwillhavemoretotalkabout.
Idaresaytheywouldliketohearaboutridingonelephantsandcamels,andabouttheofficersgoingtohunttigers.”
“Myword!”crieddelightedMartha.“Itwouldset‘emcleanofftheirheads.Wouldtha’reallydothat,Miss?ItwouldbesameasawildbeastshowlikeweheardtheyhadinYorkonce.”
“IndiaisquitedifferentfromYorkshire,”Marysaidslowly,asshethoughtthematterover.“Ineverthoughtofthat.DidDickonandyourmotherliketohearyoutalkaboutme?”
“Why,ourDickon’seyesnearlystartedouto’hishead,theygotthatround,”answeredMartha.
“Butmother,shewasputoutaboutyourseemin’tobeallbyyourselflike.
Shesaid,‘Hasn’tMr.Cravengotnogovernessforher,nornonurse?’
andIsaid,‘No,hehasn’t,thoughMrs.Medlocksayshewillwhenhethinksofit,butshesayshemayn’tthinkofitfortwoorthreeyears.’”
“Idon’twantagoverness,”saidMarysharply.
“Butmothersaysyououghttobelearnin’yourbookbythistimean’yououghttohaveawomantolookafteryou,an’shesays:‘Now,Martha,youjustthinkhowyou’dfeelyourself,inabigplacelikethat,wanderin’aboutallalone,an’nomother.
Youdoyourbesttocheerherup,’shesays,an’IsaidIwould.”
Marygaveheralong,steadylook.
“Youdocheermeup,”shesaid.“Iliketohearyoutalk.”
PresentlyMarthawentoutoftheroomandcamebackwithsomethingheldinherhandsunderherapron.
“Whatdoestha’think,”shesaid,withacheerfulgrin.“I’vebroughttheeapresent.”
“Apresent!”exclaimedMistressMary.Howcouldacottagefulloffourteenhungrypeoplegiveanyoneapresent!
“Amanwasdrivin’acrossthemoorpeddlin’,”Marthaexplained.“An’hestoppedhiscartatourdoor.
Hehadpotsan’pansan’oddsan’ends,butmotherhadnomoneytobuyanythin’.
Justashewasgoin’awayour‘LizabethEllencalledout,‘Mother,he’sgotskippin’-ropeswithredan’bluehandles.’
An’mothershecallsoutquitesudden,‘Here,stop,mister!Howmucharethey?’
An’hesays‘Tuppence’,an’mothershebeganfumblin’inherpocketan’shesaystome,‘Martha,tha’sbroughtmethywageslikeagoodlass,an’I’vegotfourplacestoputeverypenny,butI’mjustgoin’totaketuppenceoutofittobuythatchildaskippin’-rope,’an’sheboughtonean’hereitis.”
Shebroughtitoutfromunderherapronandexhibiteditquiteproudly.
Itwasastrong,slenderropewithastripedredandbluehandleateachend,butMaryLennoxhadneverseenaskipping-ropebefore.
Shegazedatitwithamystifiedexpression.
“Whatisitfor?”sheaskedcuriously.
“For!”criedoutMartha.
“Doestha’meanthatthey’venotgotskippin’-ropesinIndia,forallthey’vegotelephantsandtigersandcamels!Nowondermostof‘em’sblack.Thisiswhatit’sfor;justwatchme.”
Andsheranintothemiddleoftheroomand,takingahandleineachhand,begantoskip,andskip,andskip,whileMaryturnedinherchairtostareather,andthequeerfacesintheoldportraitsseemedtostareather,too,andwonderwhatonearththiscommonlittlecottagerhadtheimpudencetobedoingundertheirverynoses.ButMarthadidnotevenseethem.
TheinterestandcuriosityinMistressMary’sfacedelightedher,andshewentonskippingandcountedassheskippeduntilshehadreachedahundred.
“Icouldskiplongerthanthat,”shesaidwhenshestopped.“I’veskippedasmuchasfivehundredwhenIwastwelve,butIwasn’tasfatthenasIamnow,an’Iwasinpractice.”
Marygotupfromherchairbeginningtofeelexcitedherself.
“Itlooksnice,”shesaid.“Yourmotherisakindwoman.DoyouthinkIcouldeverskiplikethat?”
“Youjusttryit,”urgedMartha,handinghertheskipping-rope.
“Youcan’tskipahundredatfirst,butifyoupracticeyou’llmountup.That’swhatmothersaid.
Shesays,‘Nothin’willdohermoregoodthanskippin’rope.
It’sth’sensiblesttoyachildcanhave.
Letherplayoutinth’freshairskippin’an’it’llstretchherlegsan’armsan’givehersomestrengthin‘em.’”
ItwasplainthattherewasnotagreatdealofstrengthinMistressMary’sarmsandlegswhenshefirstbegantoskip.
Shewasnotverycleveratit,butshelikeditsomuchthatshedidnotwanttostop.
“Putontha’thingsandrunan’skipouto’doors,”saidMartha.“MothersaidImusttellyoutokeepouto’doorsasmuchasyoucould,evenwhenitrainsabit,soastha’wrapupwarm.”
Maryputonhercoatandhatandtookherskipping-ropeoverherarm.Sheopenedthedoortogoout,andthensuddenlythoughtofsomethingandturnedbackratherslowly.
“Martha,”shesaid,“theywereyourwages.Itwasyourtwo-pencereally.Thankyou.”
Shesaiditstifflybecauseshewasnotusedtothankingpeopleornoticingthattheydidthingsforher.
“Thankyou,”shesaid,andheldoutherhandbecauseshedidnotknowwhatelsetodo.
Marthagaveherhandaclumsylittleshake,asifshewasnotaccustomedtothissortofthingeither.Thenshelaughed.
“Eh!th’artaqueer,old-womanishthing,”shesaid.“Iftha’dbeenour‘LizabethEllentha’dhavegivenmeakiss.”
Marylookedstifferthanever.
“Doyouwantmetokissyou?”
Marthalaughedagain.
“Nay,notme,”sheanswered.“Iftha’wasdifferent,p’rapstha’dwanttothysel’.Buttha’isn’t.Runoffoutsidean’playwiththyrope.”
MistressMaryfeltalittleawkwardasshewentoutoftheroom.
Yorkshirepeopleseemedstrange,andMarthawasalwaysratherapuzzletoher.
Atfirstshehaddislikedherverymuch,butnowshedidnot.
Theskipping-ropewasawonderfulthing.
Shecountedandskipped,andskippedandcounted,untilhercheekswerequitered,andshewasmoreinterestedthanshehadeverbeensinceshewasborn.
Thesunwasshiningandalittlewindwasblowing—notaroughwind,butonewhichcameindelightfullittlegustsandbroughtafreshscentofnewlyturnedearthwithit.
Sheskippedroundthefountaingarden,anduponewalkanddownanother.
Sheskippedatlastintothekitchen-gardenandsawBenWeatherstaffdiggingandtalkingtohisrobin,whichwashoppingabouthim.
Sheskippeddownthewalktowardhimandheliftedhisheadandlookedatherwithacuriousexpression.
Shehadwonderedifhewouldnoticeher.Shewantedhimtoseeherskip.
“Well!”heexclaimed.“Uponmyword.
P’rapstha’artayoung‘un,afterall,an’p’rapstha’sgotchild’sbloodinthyveinsinsteadofsourbuttermilk.
Tha’sskippedredintothycheeksassureasmyname’sBenWeatherstaff.
Iwouldn’thavebelievedtha’coulddoit.”
“Ineverskippedbefore,”Marysaid.“I’mjustbeginning.Icanonlygouptotwenty.”
“Tha’keepon,”saidBen.“Tha’shapeswellenoughatitforayoung‘unthat’slivedwithheathen.
Justseehowhe’swatchin’thee,”jerkinghisheadtowardtherobin.“Hefollowedaftertheeyesterday.He’llbeatitagaintoday.
He’llbeboundtofindoutwhatth’skippin’-ropeis.He’sneverseenone.Eh!”
shakinghisheadatthebird,“tha’curiositywillbeth’deathoftheesometimeiftha’doesn’tlooksharp.”
Maryskippedroundallthegardensandroundtheorchard,restingeveryfewminutes.
Atlengthshewenttoherownspecialwalkandmadeuphermindtotryifshecouldskipthewholelengthofit.
Itwasagoodlongskipandshebeganslowly,butbeforeshehadgonehalf-waydownthepathshewassohotandbreathlessthatshewasobligedtostop.
Shedidnotmindmuch,becauseshehadalreadycounteduptothirty.
Shestoppedwithalittlelaughofpleasure,andthere,loandbehold,wastherobinswayingonalongbranchofivy.
Hehadfollowedherandhegreetedherwithachirp.
AsMaryhadskippedtowardhimshefeltsomethingheavyinherpocketstrikeagainstherateachjump,andwhenshesawtherobinshelaughedagain.
“Youshowedmewherethekeywasyesterday,”shesaid.“Yououghttoshowmethedoortoday;butIdon’tbelieveyouknow!”
Therobinflewfromhisswingingsprayofivyontothetopofthewallandheopenedhisbeakandsangaloud,lovelytrill,merelytoshowoff.
Nothingintheworldisquiteasadorablylovelyasarobinwhenheshowsoff—andtheyarenearlyalwaysdoingit.
MaryLennoxhadheardagreatdealaboutMagicinherAyah’sstories,andshealwayssaidthatwhathappenedalmostatthatmomentwasMagic.
Oneofthenicelittlegustsofwindrusheddownthewalk,anditwasastrongeronethantherest.
Itwasstrongenoughtowavethebranchesofthetrees,anditwasmorethanstrongenoughtoswaythetrailingspraysofuntrimmedivyhangingfromthewall.
Maryhadsteppedclosetotherobin,andsuddenlythegustofwindswungasidesomelooseivytrails,andmoresuddenlystillshejumpedtowarditandcaughtitinherhand.
Thisshedidbecauseshehadseensomethingunderit—aroundknobwhichhadbeencoveredbytheleaveshangingoverit.Itwastheknobofadoor.
Sheputherhandsundertheleavesandbegantopullandpushthemaside.
Thickastheivyhung,itnearlyallwasalooseandswingingcurtain,thoughsomehadcreptoverwoodandiron.
Mary’sheartbegantothumpandherhandstoshakealittleinherdelightandexcitement.
Therobinkeptsingingandtwitteringawayandtiltinghisheadononeside,asifhewereasexcitedasshewas.
Whatwasthisunderherhandswhichwassquareandmadeofironandwhichherfingersfoundaholein?
Itwasthelockofthedoorwhichhadbeenclosedtenyearsandsheputherhandinherpocket,drewoutthekeyandfounditfittedthekeyhole.Sheputthekeyinandturnedit.
Ittooktwohandstodoit,butitdidturn.
Andthenshetookalongbreathandlookedbehindherupthelongwalktoseeifanyonewascoming.Noonewascoming.
Nooneeverdidcome,itseemed,andshetookanotherlongbreath,becauseshecouldnothelpit,andsheheldbacktheswingingcurtainofivyandpushedbackthedoorwhichopenedslowly—slowly.
Thensheslippedthroughit,andshutitbehindher,andstoodwithherbackagainstit,lookingaboutherandbreathingquitefastwithexcitement,andwonder,anddelight.
Shewasstandinginsidethesecretgarden.
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