English
Maryransofastthatshewasratheroutofbreathwhenshereachedherroom.
Herhairwasruffledonherforeheadandhercheekswerebrightpink.
Herdinnerwaswaitingonthetable,andMarthawaswaitingnearit.
“Tha’sabitlate,”shesaid.“Wherehastha’been?”
“I’veseenDickon!”saidMary.“I’veseenDickon!”
“Iknewhe’dcome,”saidMarthaexultantly.“Howdoestha’likehim?”
“Ithink—Ithinkhe’sbeautiful!”saidMaryinadeterminedvoice.
Marthalookedrathertakenabackbutshelookedpleased,too.
“Well,”shesaid,“he’sth’bestladaseverwasborn,butusneverthoughthewashandsome.Hisnoseturnsuptoomuch.”
“Ilikeittoturnup,”saidMary.
“An’hiseyesissoround,”saidMartha,atrifledoubtful.“Thoughthey’reanicecolor.”
“Ilikethemround,”saidMary.“Andtheyareexactlythecoloroftheskyoverthemoor.”
Marthabeamedwithsatisfaction.
“Mothersayshemade‘emthatcolorwithalwayslookin’upatth’birdsan’th’clouds.Buthehasgotabigmouth,hasn’the,now?”
“Ilovehisbigmouth,”saidMaryobstinately.“Iwishminewerejustlikeit.”
Marthachuckleddelightedly.
“It’dlookrarean’funnyinthybitofaface,”shesaid.“ButIknoweditwouldbethatwaywhentha’sawhim.Howdidtha’liketh’seedsan’th’gardentools?”
“Howdidyouknowhebroughtthem?”askedMary.
“Eh!Ineverthoughtofhimnotbringin’‘em.He’dbesuretobring‘emiftheywasinYorkshire.He’ssuchatrustylad.”
Marywasafraidthatshemightbegintoaskdifficultquestions,butshedidnot.
Shewasverymuchinterestedintheseedsandgardeningtools,andtherewasonlyonemomentwhenMarywasfrightened.
Thiswaswhenshebegantoaskwheretheflowersweretobeplanted.
“Whodidtha’askaboutit?”sheinquired.
“Ihaven’taskedanybodyyet,”saidMary,hesitating.“Well,Iwouldn’taskth’headgardener.He’stoogrand,Mr.Roachis.”
“I’veneverseenhim,”saidMary.“I’veonlyseenundergardenersandBenWeatherstaff.”
“IfIwasyou,I’daskBenWeatherstaff,”advisedMartha.
“He’snothalfasbadashelooks,forallhe’ssocrabbed.
Mr.CravenletshimdowhathelikesbecausehewasherewhenMrs.Cravenwasalive,an’heusedtomakeherlaugh.Shelikedhim.
Perhapshe’dfindyouacornersomewhereouto’theway.”
“Ifitwasoutofthewayandnoonewantedit,noonecouldmindmyhavingit,couldthey?”Marysaidanxiously.
“Therewouldn’tbenoreason,”answeredMartha.“Youwouldn’tdonoharm.”
Maryateherdinnerasquicklyasshecouldandwhensherosefromthetableshewasgoingtoruntoherroomtoputonherhatagain,butMarthastoppedher.
“I’vegotsomethin’totellyou,”shesaid.“IthoughtI’dletyoueatyourdinnerfirst.Mr.Cravencamebackthismornin’andIthinkhewantstoseeyou.”
Maryturnedquitepale.
“Oh!”shesaid.“Why!Why!Hedidn’twanttoseemewhenIcame.IheardPitchersayhedidn’t.”
“Well,”explainedMartha,“Mrs.Medlocksaysit’sbecauseo’mother.
Shewaswalkin’toThwaitevillagean’shemethim.
She’dneverspoketohimbefore,butMrs.Cravenhadbeentoourcottagetwoorthreetimes.
He’dforgot,butmotherhadn’tan’shemadeboldtostophim.
Idon’tknowwhatshesaidtohimaboutyoubutshesaidsomethin’asputhiminth’mindtoseeyoubeforehegoesawayagain,tomorrow.”
“Oh!”criedMary,“ishegoingawaytomorrow?Iamsoglad!”
“He’sgoin’foralongtime.Hemayn’tcomebacktillautumnorwinter.He’sgoin’totravelinforeignplaces.He’salwaysdoin’it.”
“Oh!I’msoglad—soglad!”saidMarythankfully.
Ifhedidnotcomebackuntilwinter,orevenautumn,therewouldbetimetowatchthesecretgardencomealive.
Evenifhefoundoutthenandtookitawayfromhershewouldhavehadthatmuchatleast.
“Whendoyouthinkhewillwanttosee—”
Shedidnotfinishthesentence,becausethedooropened,andMrs.Medlockwalkedin.
Shehadonherbestblackdressandcap,andhercollarwasfastenedwithalargebroochwithapictureofaman’sfaceonit.
ItwasacoloredphotographofMr.Medlockwhohaddiedyearsago,andshealwaysworeitwhenshewasdressedup.Shelookednervousandexcited.
“Yourhair’srough,”shesaidquickly.“Goandbrushit.Martha,helphertosliponherbestdress.Mr.Cravensentmetobringhertohiminhisstudy.”
AllthepinkleftMary’scheeks.Herheartbegantothumpandshefeltherselfchangingintoastiff,plain,silentchildagain.
ShedidnotevenanswerMrs.Medlock,butturnedandwalkedintoherbedroom,followedbyMartha.
Shesaidnothingwhileherdresswaschanged,andherhairbrushed,andaftershewasquitetidyshefollowedMrs.Medlockdownthecorridors,insilence.Whatwasthereforhertosay?
ShewasobligedtogoandseeMr.Cravenandhewouldnotlikeher,andshewouldnotlikehim.Sheknewwhathewouldthinkofher.
Shewastakentoapartofthehouseshehadnotbeenintobefore.
AtlastMrs.Medlockknockedatadoor,andwhensomeonesaid,“Comein,”theyenteredtheroomtogether.
Amanwassittinginanarmchairbeforethefire,andMrs.Medlockspoketohim.
“ThisisMissMary,sir,”shesaid.
“Youcangoandleaveherhere.IwillringforyouwhenIwantyoutotakeheraway,”saidMr.Craven.
Whenshewentoutandclosedthedoor,Marycouldonlystandwaiting,aplainlittlething,twistingherthinhandstogether.
Shecouldseethatthemaninthechairwasnotsomuchahunchbackasamanwithhigh,rathercrookedshoulders,andhehadblackhairstreakedwithwhite.
Heturnedhisheadoverhishighshouldersandspoketoher.
“Comehere!”hesaid.
Marywenttohim.
Hewasnotugly.Hisfacewouldhavebeenhandsomeifithadnotbeensomiserable.Helookedasifthesightofherworriedandfrettedhimandasifhedidnotknowwhatintheworldtodowithher.
“Areyouwell?”heasked.
“Yes,”answeredMary.
“Dotheytakegoodcareofyou?”
“Yes.”
Herubbedhisforeheadfretfullyashelookedherover.
“Youareverythin,”hesaid.
“Iamgettingfatter,”Maryansweredinwhatsheknewwasherstiffestway.
Whatanunhappyfacehehad!Hisblackeyesseemedasiftheyscarcelysawher,asiftheywereseeingsomethingelse,andhecouldhardlykeephisthoughtsuponher.
“Iforgotyou,”hesaid.“HowcouldIrememberyou?Iintendedtosendyouagovernessoranurse,orsomeoneofthatsort,butIforgot.”
“Please,”beganMary.“Please—”andthenthelumpinherthroatchokedher.
“Whatdoyouwanttosay?”heinquired.
“Iam—Iamtoobigforanurse,”saidMary.“Andplease—pleasedon’tmakemehaveagovernessyet.”
Herubbedhisforeheadagainandstaredather.
“ThatwaswhattheSowerbywomansaid,”hemutteredabsentmindedly.
ThenMarygatheredascrapofcourage.
“Isshe—issheMartha’smother?”shestammered.
“Yes,Ithinkso,”hereplied.
“Sheknowsaboutchildren,”saidMary.“Shehastwelve.Sheknows.”
Heseemedtorousehimself.
“Whatdoyouwanttodo?”
“Iwanttoplayoutofdoors,”Maryanswered,hopingthathervoicedidnottremble.“IneverlikeditinIndia.Itmakesmehungryhere,andIamgettingfatter.”
Hewaswatchingher.
“Mrs.Sowerbysaiditwoulddoyougood.Perhapsitwill,”hesaid.“Shethoughtyouhadbettergetstrongerbeforeyouhadagoverness.”
“ItmakesmefeelstrongwhenIplayandthewindcomesoverthemoor,”arguedMary.
“Wheredoyouplay?”heaskednext.
“Everywhere,”gaspedMary.“Martha’smothersentmeaskipping-rope.Iskipandrun—andIlookabouttoseeifthingsarebeginningtostickupoutoftheearth.Idon’tdoanyharm.”
“Don’tlooksofrightened,”hesaidinaworriedvoice.“Youcouldnotdoanyharm,achildlikeyou!Youmaydowhatyoulike.”
Maryputherhanduptoherthroatbecauseshewasafraidhemightseetheexcitedlumpwhichshefeltjumpintoit.Shecameastepnearertohim.
“MayI?”shesaidtremulously.
Heranxiouslittlefaceseemedtoworryhimmorethanever.
“Don’tlooksofrightened,”heexclaimed.“Ofcourseyoumay.
Iamyourguardian,thoughIamapooroneforanychild.Icannotgiveyoutimeorattention.
Iamtooill,andwretchedanddistracted;butIwishyoutobehappyandcomfortable.
Idon’tknowanythingaboutchildren,butMrs.Medlockistoseethatyouhaveallyouneed.
Isentforyouto-daybecauseMrs.SowerbysaidIoughttoseeyou.Herdaughterhadtalkedaboutyou.
Shethoughtyouneededfreshairandfreedomandrunningabout.”
“Sheknowsallaboutchildren,”Marysaidagaininspiteofherself.
“Sheoughtto,”saidMr.Craven.“Ithoughtherratherboldtostopmeonthemoor,butshesaid—Mrs.Cravenhadbeenkindtoher.”
Itseemedhardforhimtospeakhisdeadwife’sname.“Sheisarespectablewoman.
NowIhaveseenyouIthinkshesaidsensiblethings.Playoutofdoorsasmuchasyoulike.
It’sabigplaceandyoumaygowhereyoulikeandamuseyourselfasyoulike.Isthereanythingyouwant?”asifasuddenthoughthadstruckhim.“Doyouwanttoys,books,dolls?”
“MightI,”quaveredMary,“mightIhaveabitofearth?”
Inhereagernessshedidnotrealizehowqueerthewordswouldsoundandthattheywerenottheonesshehadmeanttosay.Mr.Cravenlookedquitestartled.
“Earth!”herepeated.“Whatdoyoumean?”
“Toplantseedsin—tomakethingsgrow—toseethemcomealive,”Maryfaltered.
Hegazedatheramomentandthenpassedhishandquicklyoverhiseyes.
“Doyou—careaboutgardenssomuch,”hesaidslowly.
“Ididn’tknowabouttheminIndia,”saidMary.“Iwasalwaysillandtiredanditwastoohot.Isometimesmadelittlebedsinthesandandstuckflowersinthem.Buthereitisdifferent.”
Mr.Cravengotupandbegantowalkslowlyacrosstheroom.
“Abitofearth,”hesaidtohimself,andMarythoughtthatsomehowshemusthaveremindedhimofsomething.Whenhestoppedandspoketoherhisdarkeyeslookedalmostsoftandkind.
“Youcanhaveasmuchearthasyouwant,”hesaid.
“Youremindmeofsomeoneelsewholovedtheearthandthingsthatgrow.
Whenyouseeabitofearthyouwant,”withsomethinglikeasmile,“takeit,child,andmakeitcomealive.”
“MayItakeitfromanywhere—ifit’snotwanted?”
“Anywhere,”heanswered.“There!Youmustgonow,Iamtired.”HetouchedthebelltocallMrs.Medlock.“Good-by.Ishallbeawayallsummer.”
Mrs.MedlockcamesoquicklythatMarythoughtshemusthavebeenwaitinginthecorridor.
“Mrs.Medlock,”Mr.Cravensaidtoher,“nowIhaveseenthechildIunderstandwhatMrs.Sowerbymeant.
Shemustbelessdelicatebeforeshebeginslessons.Givehersimple,healthyfood.Letherrunwildinthegarden.Don’tlookafterhertoomuch.
Sheneedslibertyandfreshairandrompingabout.
Mrs.Sowerbyistocomeandseehernowandthenandshemaysometimesgotothecottage.”
Mrs.Medlocklookedpleased.Shewasrelievedtohearthatsheneednot“lookafter”Marytoomuch.
Shehadfeltheratiresomechargeandhadindeedseenaslittleofherasshedared.
InadditiontothisshewasfondofMartha’smother.
“Thankyou,sir,”shesaid.“SusanSowerbyandmewenttoschooltogetherandshe’sassensibleandgood-heartedawomanasyou’dfindinaday’swalk.
Ineverhadanychildrenmyselfandshe’shadtwelve,andthereneverwashealthierorbetterones.MissMarycangetnoharmfromthem.
I’dalwaystakeSusanSowerby’sadviceaboutchildrenmyself.
She’swhatyoumightcallhealthy-minded—ifyouunderstandme.”
“Iunderstand,”Mr.Cravenanswered.“TakeMissMaryawaynowandsendPitchertome.”
WhenMrs.MedlockleftherattheendofherowncorridorMaryflewbacktoherroom.ShefoundMarthawaitingthere.Marthahad,infact,hurriedbackaftershehadremovedthedinnerservice.
“Icanhavemygarden!”criedMary.“ImayhaveitwhereIlike!
Iamnotgoingtohaveagovernessforalongtime!
YourmotheriscomingtoseemeandImaygotoyourcottage!
HesaysalittlegirllikemecouldnotdoanyharmandImaydowhatIlike—anywhere!”
“Eh!”saidMarthadelightedly,“thatwasniceofhimwasn’tit?”
“Martha,”saidMarysolemnly,“heisreallyaniceman,onlyhisfaceissomiserableandhisforeheadisalldrawntogether.”
Sheranasquicklyasshecouldtothegarden.
ShehadbeenawaysomuchlongerthanshehadthoughtsheshouldandsheknewDickonwouldhavetosetoutearlyonhisfive-milewalk.
Whensheslippedthroughthedoorundertheivy,shesawhewasnotworkingwhereshehadlefthim.
Thegardeningtoolswerelaidtogetherunderatree.
Sherantothem,lookingallroundtheplace,buttherewasnoDickontobeseen.
Hehadgoneawayandthesecretgardenwasempty—exceptfortherobinwhohadjustflownacrossthewallandsatonastandardrose-bushwatchingher.“He’sgone,”shesaidwoefully.“Oh!
washe—washe—washeonlyawoodfairy?”
Somethingwhitefastenedtothestandardrose-bushcaughthereye.
Itwasapieceofpaper,infact,itwasapieceofthelettershehadprintedforMarthatosendtoDickon.
Itwasfastenedonthebushwithalongthorn,andinaminutesheknewDickonhadleftitthere.
Thereweresomeroughlyprintedlettersonitandasortofpicture.
Atfirstshecouldnottellwhatitwas.
Thenshesawitwasmeantforanestwithabirdsittingonit.
Underneathweretheprintedlettersandtheysaid:
“Iwillcumbak.”
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