English
Themoorwashiddeninmistwhenthemorningcame,andtherainhadnotstoppedpouringdown.Therecouldbenogoingoutofdoors.
MarthawassobusythatMaryhadnoopportunityoftalkingtoher,butintheafternoonsheaskedhertocomeandsitwithherinthenursery.
Shecamebringingthestockingshewasalwaysknittingwhenshewasdoingnothingelse.
“What’sthematterwiththee?”sheaskedassoonastheysatdown.“Tha’looksasiftha’dsomethin’tosay.”
“Ihave.Ihavefoundoutwhatthecryingwas,”saidMary.
Marthaletherknittingdroponherkneeandgazedatherwithstartledeyes.
“Tha’hasn’t!”sheexclaimed.“Never!”
“Ihearditinthenight,”Marywenton.“AndIgotupandwenttoseewhereitcamefrom.ItwasColin.Ifoundhim.”
Martha’sfacebecameredwithfright.
“Eh!MissMary!”shesaidhalfcrying.
“Tha’shouldn’thavedoneit—tha’shouldn’t!Tha’llgetmeintrouble.
Inevertoldtheenothin’abouthim—buttha’llgetmeintrouble.
Ishalllosemyplaceandwhat’llmotherdo!”
“Youwon’tloseyourplace,”saidMary.“HewasgladIcame.WetalkedandtalkedandhesaidhewasgladIcame.”
“Washe?”criedMartha.“Arttha’sure?
Tha’doesn’tknowwhathe’slikewhenanythingvexeshim.
He’sabigladtocrylikeababy,butwhenhe’sinapassionhe’llfairscreamjusttofrightenus.
Heknowsusdaren’tcalloursoulsourown.”
“Hewasn’tvexed,”saidMary.“IaskedhimifIshouldgoawayandhemademestay.
HeaskedmequestionsandIsatonabigfootstoolandtalkedtohimaboutIndiaandabouttherobinandgardens.Hewouldn’tletmego.Heletmeseehismother’spicture.BeforeIlefthimIsanghimtosleep.”
Marthafairlygaspedwithamazement.
“Icanscarcelybelievethee!”sheprotested.
“It’sasiftha’dwalkedstraightintoalion’sden.
Ifhe’dbeenlikeheismosttimeshe’dhavethrowedhimselfintooneofhistantrumsandrousedth’house.Hewon’tletstrangerslookathim.”
“Heletmelookathim.Ilookedathimallthetimeandhelookedatme.Westared!”saidMary.
“Idon’tknowwhattodo!”criedagitatedMartha.“IfMrs.Medlockfindsout,she’llthinkIbrokeordersandtoldtheeandIshallbepackedbacktomother.”
“HeisnotgoingtotellMrs.Medlockanythingaboutityet.It’stobeasortofsecretjustatfirst,”saidMaryfirmly.“Andhesayseverybodyisobligedtodoashepleases.”
“Aye,that’strueenough—th’badlad!”sighedMartha,wipingherforeheadwithherapron.
“HesaysMrs.Medlockmust.Andhewantsmetocomeandtalktohimeveryday.Andyouaretotellmewhenhewantsme.”
“Me!”saidMartha;“Ishalllosemyplace—Ishallforsure!”
“Youcan’tifyouaredoingwhathewantsyoutodoandeverybodyisorderedtoobeyhim,”Maryargued.
“Doestha’meantosay,”criedMarthawithwideopeneyes,“thathewasnicetothee!”
“Ithinkhealmostlikedme,”Maryanswered.
“Thentha’musthavebewitchedhim!”decidedMartha,drawingalongbreath.
“DoyoumeanMagic?”inquiredMary.
“I’veheardaboutMagicinIndia,butIcan’tmakeit.
IjustwentintohisroomandIwassosurprisedtoseehimIstoodandstared.
Andthenheturnedroundandstaredatme.
AndhethoughtIwasaghostoradreamandIthoughtperhapshewas.
Anditwassoqueerbeingtherealonetogetherinthemiddleofthenightandnotknowingabouteachother.
Andwebegantoaskeachotherquestions.
AndwhenIaskedhimifImustgoawayhesaidImustnot.”
“Th’world’scomin’toaend!”gaspedMartha.
“Whatisthematterwithhim?”askedMary.
“Nobodyknowsforsureandcertain,”saidMartha.
“Mr.Cravenwentoffhisheadlikewhenhewasborn.
Th’doctorsthoughthe’dhavetobeputina‘sylum.
ItwasbecauseMrs.CravendiedlikeItoldyou.Hewouldn’tseteyesonth’baby.
Hejustravedandsaidit’dbeanotherhunchbacklikehimandit’dbetterdie.”
“IsColinahunchback?”Maryasked.“Hedidn’tlooklikeone.”
“Heisn’tyet,”saidMartha.“Buthebeganallwrong.
Mothersaidthattherewasenoughtroubleandraginginth’housetosetanychildwrong.
Theywasafraidhisbackwasweakan’they’vealwaysbeentakin’careofit—keepin’himlyin’downandnotlettin’himwalk.
Oncetheymadehimwearabracebuthefrettedsohewasdownrightill.
Thenabigdoctorcametoseehiman’madethemtakeitoff.
Hetalkedtoth’otherdoctorquiterough—inapoliteway.
Hesaidthere’dbeentoomuchmedicineandtoomuchlettin’himhavehisownway.”
“Ithinkhe’saveryspoiledboy,”saidMary.
“He’sth’worstyoungnowtaseverwas!”saidMartha.
“Iwon’tsayashehasn’tbeenillagoodbit.
He’shadcoughsan’coldsthat’snearlykilledhimtwoorthreetimes.
Oncehehadrheumaticfeveran’oncehehadtyphoid.Eh!Mrs.Medlockdidgetafrightthen.
He’dbeenoutofhisheadan’shewastalkin’toth’nurse,thinkin’hedidn’tknownothin’,an’shesaid,‘He’lldiethistimesureenough,an’bestthingforhiman’foreverybody.’
An’shelookedathiman’therehewaswithhisbigeyesopen,starin’atherassensibleasshewasherself.
Shedidn’tknowwha’dhappenbuthejuststaredatheran’says,‘Yougivemesomewateran’stoptalkin’.’”
“Doyouthinkhewilldie?”askedMary.
“Mothersaysthere’snoreasonwhyanychildshouldlivethatgetsnofreshairan’doesn’tdonothin’butlieonhisbackan’readpicture-booksan’takemedicine.
He’sweakandhatesth’troubleo’bein’takenouto’doors,an’hegetscoldsoeasyhesaysitmakeshimill.”
Marysatandlookedatthefire.“Iwonder,”shesaidslowly,“ifitwouldnotdohimgoodtogooutintoagardenandwatchthingsgrowing.Itdidmegood.”
“Oneofth’worstfitsheeverhad,”saidMartha,“wasonetimetheytookhimoutwheretherosesisbythefountain.
He’dbeenreadin’inapaperaboutpeoplegettin’somethin’hecalled‘rosecold’an’hebegantosneezean’saidhe’dgotitan’thenanewgardenerasdidn’tknowth’rulespassedbyan’lookedathimcurious.
Hethrewhimselfintoapassionan’hesaidhe’dlookedathimbecausehewasgoingtobeahunchback.
Hecriedhimselfintoafeveran’wasillallnight.”
“Ifheevergetsangryatme,I’llnevergoandseehimagain,”saidMary.
“He’llhavetheeifhewantsthee,”saidMartha.“Tha’mayaswellknowthatatth’start.”
Verysoonafterwardabellrangandsherolledupherknitting.
“Idaresayth’nursewantsmetostaywithhimabit,”shesaid.“Ihopehe’sinagoodtemper.”
Shewasoutoftheroomabouttenminutesandthenshecamebackwithapuzzledexpression.
“Well,tha’hasbewitchedhim,”shesaid.
“He’suponhissofawithhispicture-books.
He’stoldthenursetostayawayuntilsixo’clock.I’mtowaitinthenextroom.
Th’minuteshewasgonehecalledmetohiman’says,‘IwantMaryLennoxtocomeandtalktome,andrememberyou’renottotellanyone.’You’dbettergoasquickasyoucan.”
Marywasquitewillingtogoquickly.ShedidnotwanttoseeColinasmuchasshewantedtoseeDickon;butshewantedtoseehimverymuch.
Therewasabrightfireonthehearthwhensheenteredhisroom,andinthedaylightshesawitwasaverybeautifulroomindeed.
Therewererichcolorsintherugsandhangingsandpicturesandbooksonthewallswhichmadeitlookglowingandcomfortableeveninspiteofthegrayskyandfallingrain.
Colinlookedratherlikeapicturehimself.
Hewaswrappedinavelvetdressing-gownandsatagainstabigbrocadedcushion.Hehadaredspotoneachcheek.
“Comein,”hesaid.“I’vebeenthinkingaboutyouallmorning.”
“I’vebeenthinkingaboutyou,too,”answeredMary.“Youdon’tknowhowfrightenedMarthais.ShesaysMrs.Medlockwillthinkshetoldmeaboutyouandthenshewillbesentaway.”
Hefrowned.
“Goandtellhertocomehere,”hesaid.“Sheisinthenextroom.”
Marywentandbroughtherback.PoorMarthawasshakinginhershoes.Colinwasstillfrowning.
“HaveyoutodowhatIpleaseorhaveyounot?”hedemanded.
“Ihavetodowhatyouplease,sir,”Marthafaltered,turningquitered.
“HasMedlocktodowhatIplease?”
“Everybodyhas,sir,”saidMartha.
“Well,then,ifIorderyoutobringMissMarytome,howcanMedlocksendyouawayifshefindsitout?”
“Pleasedon’tlether,sir,”pleadedMartha.
“I’llsendherawayifshedarestosayawordaboutsuchathing,”saidMasterCravengrandly.“Shewouldn’tlikethat,Icantellyou.”
“Thankyou,sir,”bobbingacurtsy,“Iwanttodomyduty,sir.”
“WhatIwantisyourduty”saidColinmoregrandlystill.“I’lltakecareofyou.Nowgoaway.”
WhenthedoorclosedbehindMartha,ColinfoundMistressMarygazingathimasifhehadsetherwondering.
“Whydoyoulookatmelikethat?”heaskedher.“Whatareyouthinkingabout?”
“Iamthinkingabouttwothings.”
“Whatarethey?Sitdownandtellme.”
“Thisisthefirstone,”saidMary,seatingherselfonthebigstool.
“OnceinIndiaIsawaboywhowasaRajah.
Hehadrubiesandemeraldsanddiamondsstuckalloverhim.
HespoketohispeoplejustasyouspoketoMartha.
Everybodyhadtodoeverythinghetoldthem—inaminute.
Ithinktheywouldhavebeenkillediftheyhadn’t.”
“IshallmakeyoutellmeaboutRajahspresently,”hesaid,“butfirsttellmewhatthesecondthingwas.”
“Iwasthinking,”saidMary,“howdifferentyouarefromDickon.”
“WhoisDickon?”hesaid.“Whataqueername!”
Shemightaswelltellhim,shethoughtshecouldtalkaboutDickonwithoutmentioningthesecretgarden.
ShehadlikedtohearMarthatalkabouthim.Besides,shelongedtotalkabouthim.Itwouldseemtobringhimnearer.
“HeisMartha’sbrother.Heistwelveyearsold,”sheexplained.
“Heisnotlikeanyoneelseintheworld.
HecancharmfoxesandsquirrelsandbirdsjustasthenativesinIndiacharmsnakes.
Heplaysaverysofttuneonapipeandtheycomeandlisten.”
Thereweresomebigbooksonatableathissideandhedraggedonesuddenlytowardhim.“Thereisapictureofasnake-charmerinthis,”heexclaimed.“Comeandlookatit”
Thebookwasabeautifulonewithsuperbcoloredillustrationsandheturnedtooneofthem.
“Canhedothat?”heaskedeagerly.
“Heplayedonhispipeandtheylistened,”Maryexplained.“Buthedoesn’tcallitMagic.
Hesaysit’sbecausehelivesonthemoorsomuchandheknowstheirways.
Hesayshefeelssometimesasifhewasabirdorarabbithimself,helikesthemso.Ithinkheaskedtherobinquestions.
Itseemedasiftheytalkedtoeachotherinsoftchirps.”
Colinlaybackonhiscushionandhiseyesgrewlargerandlargerandthespotsonhischeeksburned.
“Tellmesomemoreabouthim,”hesaid.
“Heknowsallabouteggsandnests,”Marywenton.
“Andheknowswherefoxesandbadgersandotterslive.
Hekeepsthemsecretsothatotherboyswon’tfindtheirholesandfrightenthem.
Heknowsabouteverythingthatgrowsorlivesonthemoor.”
“Doeshelikethemoor?”saidColin.“Howcanhewhenit’ssuchagreat,bare,drearyplace?”
“It’sthemostbeautifulplace,”protestedMary.
“Thousandsoflovelythingsgrowonitandtherearethousandsoflittlecreaturesallbusybuildingnestsandmakingholesandburrowsandchipperingorsingingorsqueakingtoeachother.
Theyaresobusyandhavingsuchfunundertheearthorinthetreesorheather.It’stheirworld.”
“Howdoyouknowallthat?”saidColin,turningonhiselbowtolookather.
“Ihaveneverbeenthereonce,really,”saidMarysuddenlyremembering.“Ionlydroveoveritinthedark.Ithoughtitwashideous.
MarthatoldmeaboutitfirstandthenDickon.
WhenDickontalksaboutityoufeelasifyousawthingsandheardthemandasifyouwerestandingintheheatherwiththesunshiningandthegorsesmellinglikehoney—andallfullofbeesandbutterflies.”
“Youneverseeanythingifyouareill,”saidColinrestlessly.Helookedlikeapersonlisteningtoanewsoundinthedistanceandwonderingwhatitwas.
“Youcan’tifyoustayinaroom,”saidMary.
“Icouldn’tgoonthemoor,”hesaidinaresentfultone.
Marywassilentforaminuteandthenshesaidsomethingbold.
“Youmight—sometime.”
Hemovedasifhewerestartled.
“Goonthemoor!HowcouldI?Iamgoingtodie.”
“Howdoyouknow?”saidMaryunsympathetically.Shedidn’tlikethewayhehadoftalkingaboutdying.Shedidnotfeelverysympathetic.Shefeltratherasifhealmostboastedaboutit.
“Oh,I’vehearditeversinceIremember,”heansweredcrossly.“TheyarealwayswhisperingaboutitandthinkingIdon’tnotice.TheywishIwould,too.”
MistressMaryfeltquitecontrary.Shepinchedherlipstogether.
“IftheywishedIwould,”shesaid,“Iwouldn’t.Whowishesyouwould?”
“Theservants—andofcourseDr.CravenbecausehewouldgetMisselthwaiteandberichinsteadofpoor.
Hedaren’tsayso,buthealwayslookscheerfulwhenIamworse.
WhenIhadtyphoidfeverhisfacegotquitefat.Ithinkmyfatherwishesit,too.”
“Idon’tbelievehedoes,”saidMaryquiteobstinately.
ThatmadeColinturnandlookatheragain.
“Don’tyou?”hesaid.
Andthenhelaybackonhiscushionandwasstill,asifhewerethinking.Andtherewasquitealongsilence.
Perhapstheywerebothofthemthinkingstrangethingschildrendonotusuallythink.
“IlikethegranddoctorfromLondon,becausehemadethemtaketheironthingoff,”saidMaryatlast“Didhesayyouweregoingtodie?”
“No.”.
“Whatdidhesay?”
“Hedidn’twhisper,”Colinanswered.“PerhapsheknewIhatedwhispering.Iheardhimsayonethingquitealoud.
Hesaid,‘Theladmightliveifhewouldmakeuphismindtoit.Puthiminthehumor.’Itsoundedasifhewasinatemper.”
“I’lltellyouwhowouldputyouinthehumor,perhaps,”saidMaryreflecting.
Shefeltasifshewouldlikethisthingtobesettledonewayortheother.“IbelieveDickonwould.He’salwaystalkingaboutlivethings.
Henevertalksaboutdeadthingsorthingsthatareill.
He’salwayslookingupintheskytowatchbirdsflying—orlookingdownattheearthtoseesomethinggrowing.
Hehassuchroundblueeyesandtheyaresowideopenwithlookingabout.
Andhelaughssuchabiglaughwithhiswidemouth—andhischeeksareasred—asredascherries.”
Shepulledherstoolnearertothesofaandherexpressionquitechangedattheremembranceofthewidecurvingmouthandwideopeneyes.
“Seehere,”shesaid.“Don’tletustalkaboutdying;Idon’tlikeit.Letustalkaboutliving.LetustalkandtalkaboutDickon.Andthenwewilllookatyourpictures.”
Itwasthebestthingshecouldhavesaid.
TotalkaboutDickonmeanttotalkaboutthemoorandaboutthecottageandthefourteenpeoplewholivedinitonsixteenshillingsaweek—andthechildrenwhogotfatonthemoorgrasslikethewildponies.
AndaboutDickon’smother—andtheskipping-rope—andthemoorwiththesunonit—andaboutpalegreenpointsstickingupoutoftheblacksod.
AnditwasallsoalivethatMarytalkedmorethanshehadevertalkedbefore—andColinbothtalkedandlistenedashehadneverdoneeitherbefore.
Andtheybothbegantolaughovernothingsaschildrenwillwhentheyarehappytogether.
Andtheylaughedsothatintheendtheyweremakingasmuchnoiseasiftheyhadbeentwoordinaryhealthynaturalten-year-oldcreatures—insteadofahard,little,unlovinggirlandasicklyboywhobelievedthathewasgoingtodie.
Theyenjoyedthemselvessomuchthattheyforgotthepicturesandtheyforgotaboutthetime.
TheyhadbeenlaughingquiteloudlyoverBenWeatherstaffandhisrobin,andColinwasactuallysittingupasifhehadforgottenabouthisweakback,whenhesuddenlyrememberedsomething.
“Doyouknowthereisonethingwehaveneveroncethoughtof,”hesaid.“Wearecousins.”
Itseemedsoqueerthattheyhadtalkedsomuchandneverrememberedthissimplethingthattheylaughedmorethanever,becausetheyhadgotintothehumortolaughatanything.
AndinthemidstofthefunthedooropenedandinwalkedDr.CravenandMrs.Medlock.
Dr.CravenstartedinactualalarmandMrs.Medlockalmostfellbackbecausehehadaccidentallybumpedagainsther.
“GoodLord!”exclaimedpoorMrs.Medlockwithhereyesalmoststartingoutofherhead.“GoodLord!”
“Whatisthis?”saidDr.Craven,comingforward.“Whatdoesitmean?”
ThenMarywasremindedoftheboyRajahagain.
Colinansweredasifneitherthedoctor’salarmnorMrs.Medlock’sterrorwereoftheslightestconsequence.
Hewasaslittledisturbedorfrightenedasifanelderlycatanddoghadwalkedintotheroom.
“Thisismycousin,MaryLennox,”hesaid.“Iaskedhertocomeandtalktome.Ilikeher.ShemustcomeandtalktomewheneverIsendforher.”
Dr.CraventurnedreproachfullytoMrs.Medlock.“Oh,sir”shepanted.“Idon’tknowhowit’shappened.There’snotaservantontheplacetha’ddaretotalk—theyallhavetheirorders.”
“Nobodytoldheranything,”saidColin.“Sheheardmecryingandfoundmeherself.Iamgladshecame.Don’tbesilly,Medlock.”
MarysawthatDr.Cravendidnotlookpleased,butitwasquiteplainthathedarenotopposehispatient.HesatdownbyColinandfelthispulse.
“Iamafraidtherehasbeentoomuchexcitement.Excitementisnotgoodforyou,myboy,”hesaid.
“Ishouldbeexcitedifshekeptaway,”answeredColin,hiseyesbeginningtolookdangerouslysparkling.“Iambetter.Shemakesmebetter.
Thenursemustbringupherteawithmine.Wewillhaveteatogether.”
Mrs.MedlockandDr.Cravenlookedateachotherinatroubledway,buttherewasevidentlynothingtobedone.
“Hedoeslookratherbetter,sir,”venturedMrs.Medlock.“But”—thinkingthematterover—“helookedbetterthismorningbeforeshecameintotheroom.”
“Shecameintotheroomlastnight.Shestayedwithmealongtime.
ShesangaHindustanisongtomeanditmademegotosleep,”saidColin.“IwasbetterwhenIwakenedup.Iwantedmybreakfast.Iwantmyteanow.Tellnurse,Medlock.”
Dr.Cravendidnotstayverylong.HetalkedtothenurseforafewminuteswhenshecameintotheroomandsaidafewwordsofwarningtoColin.
Hemustnottalktoomuch;hemustnotforgetthathewasill;hemustnotforgetthathewasveryeasilytired.
Marythoughtthatthereseemedtobeanumberofuncomfortablethingshewasnottoforget.
Colinlookedfretfulandkepthisstrangeblack-lashedeyesfixedonDr.Craven’sface.
“Iwanttoforgetit,”hesaidatlast.“Shemakesmeforgetit.ThatiswhyIwanther.”
Dr.Cravendidnotlookhappywhenhelefttheroom.
Hegaveapuzzledglanceatthelittlegirlsittingonthelargestool.
Shehadbecomeastiff,silentchildagainassoonasheenteredandhecouldnotseewhattheattractionwas.
Theboyactuallydidlookbrighter,however—andhesighedratherheavilyashewentdownthecorridor.
“TheyarealwayswantingmetoeatthingswhenIdon’twantto,”saidColin,asthenursebroughtintheteaandputitonthetablebythesofa.“Now,ifyou’lleatIwill.Thosemuffinslooksoniceandhot.TellmeaboutRajahs.”
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