English
Afteranotherweekofrainthehigharchofblueskyappearedagainandthesunwhichpoureddownwasquitehot.
ThoughtherehadbeennochancetoseeeitherthesecretgardenorDickon,MistressMaryhadenjoyedherselfverymuch.Theweekhadnotseemedlong.
ShehadspenthoursofeverydaywithColininhisroom,talkingaboutRajahsorgardensorDickonandthecottageonthemoor.
TheyhadlookedatthesplendidbooksandpicturesandsometimesMaryhadreadthingstoColin,andsometimeshehadreadalittletoher.
Whenhewasamusedandinterestedshethoughthescarcelylookedlikeaninvalidatall,exceptthathisfacewassocolorlessandhewasalwaysonthesofa.
“Youareaslyyoungonetolistenandgetoutofyourbedtogofollowingthingsuplikeyoudidthatnight,”Mrs.Medlocksaidonce.
“Butthere’snosayingit’snotbeenasortofblessingtothelotofus.
He’snothadatantrumorawhiningfitsinceyoumadefriends.
Thenursewasjustgoingtogiveupthecasebecauseshewassosickofhim,butshesaysshedoesn’tmindstayingnowyou’vegoneondutywithher,”laughingalittle.
InhertalkswithColin,Maryhadtriedtobeverycautiousaboutthesecretgarden.
Therewerecertainthingsshewantedtofindoutfromhim,butshefeltthatshemustfindthemoutwithoutaskinghimdirectquestions.
Inthefirstplace,asshebegantoliketobewithhim,shewantedtodiscoverwhetherhewasthekindofboyyoucouldtellasecretto.
HewasnotintheleastlikeDickon,buthewasevidentlysopleasedwiththeideaofagardennooneknewanythingaboutthatshethoughtperhapshecouldbetrusted.
Butshehadnotknownhimlongenoughtobesure.
Thesecondthingshewantedtofindoutwasthis:Ifhecouldbetrusted—ifhereallycould—wouldn’titbepossibletotakehimtothegardenwithouthavinganyonefinditout?
ThegranddoctorhadsaidthathemusthavefreshairandColinhadsaidthathewouldnotmindfreshairinasecretgarden.
PerhapsifhehadagreatdealoffreshairandknewDickonandtherobinandsawthingsgrowinghemightnotthinksomuchaboutdying.
MaryhadseenherselfintheglasssometimeslatelywhenshehadrealizedthatshelookedquiteadifferentcreaturefromthechildshehadseenwhenshearrivedfromIndia.Thischildlookednicer.EvenMarthahadseenachangeinher.
“Th’airfromth’moorhasdonetheegoodalready,”shehadsaid.
“Tha’rtnotnighsoyellerandtha’rtnotnighsoscrawny.
Eventha’hairdoesn’tslampdownontha’headsoflat.
It’sgotsomelifeinitsoasitsticksoutabit.”
“It’slikeme,”saidMary.“It’sgrowingstrongerandfatter.I’msurethere’smoreofit.”
“Itlooksit,forsure,”saidMartha,rufflingitupalittleroundherface.“Tha’rtnothalfsouglywhenit’sthatwayan’there’sabito’redintha’cheeks.”
IfgardensandfreshairhadbeengoodforherperhapstheywouldbegoodforColin.Butthen,ifhehatedpeopletolookathim,perhapshewouldnotliketoseeDickon.
“Whydoesitmakeyouangrywhenyouarelookedat?”sheinquiredoneday.
“Ialwayshatedit,”heanswered,“evenwhenIwasverylittle.
ThenwhentheytookmetotheseasideandIusedtolieinmycarriageeverybodyusedtostareandladieswouldstopandtalktomynurseandthentheywouldbegintowhisperandIknewthentheyweresayingIshouldn’tlivetogrowup.
Thensometimestheladieswouldpatmycheeksandsay‘Poorchild!’
OncewhenaladydidthatIscreamedoutloudandbitherhand.Shewassofrightenedsheranaway.”
“Shethoughtyouhadgonemadlikeadog,”saidMary,notatalladmiringly.
“Idon’tcarewhatshethought,”saidColin,frowning.
“Iwonderwhyyoudidn’tscreamandbitemewhenIcameintoyourroom?”saidMary.Thenshebegantosmileslowly.
“Ithoughtyouwereaghostoradream,”hesaid.“Youcan’tbiteaghostoradream,andifyouscreamtheydon’tcare.”
“Wouldyouhateitif—ifaboylookedatyou?”Maryaskeduncertainly.
Helaybackonhiscushionandpausedthoughtfully.
“There’soneboy,”hesaidquiteslowly,asifhewerethinkingovereveryword,“there’soneboyIbelieveIshouldn’tmind.It’sthatboywhoknowswherethefoxeslive—Dickon.”
“I’msureyouwouldn’tmindhim,”saidMary.
“Thebirdsdon’tandotheranimals,”hesaid,stillthinkingitover,“perhapsthat’swhyIshouldn’t.He’sasortofanimalcharmerandIamaboyanimal.”
Thenhelaughedandshelaughedtoo;infactitendedintheirbothlaughingagreatdealandfindingtheideaofaboyanimalhidinginhisholeveryfunnyindeed.
WhatMaryfeltafterwardwasthatsheneednotfearaboutDickon.
OnthatfirstmorningwhentheskywasblueagainMarywakenedveryearly.
Thesunwaspouringinslantingraysthroughtheblindsandtherewassomethingsojoyousinthesightofitthatshejumpedoutofbedandrantothewindow.
Shedrewuptheblindsandopenedthewindowitselfandagreatwaftoffresh,scentedairblewinuponher.
ThemoorwasblueandthewholeworldlookedasifsomethingMagichadhappenedtoit.
Thereweretenderlittleflutingsoundshereandthereandeverywhere,asifscoresofbirdswerebeginningtotuneupforaconcert.
Maryputherhandoutofthewindowandhelditinthesun.
“It’swarm—warm!”shesaid.“Itwillmakethegreenpointspushupandupandup,anditwillmakethebulbsandrootsworkandstrugglewithalltheirmightundertheearth.”
Shekneeleddownandleanedoutofthewindowasfarasshecould,breathingbigbreathsandsniffingtheairuntilshelaughedbecausesherememberedwhatDickon’smotherhadsaidabouttheendofhisnosequiveringlikearabbit’s.“Itmustbeveryearly,”shesaid.
“ThelittlecloudsareallpinkandI’veneverseentheskylooklikethis.Nooneisup.Idon’tevenhearthestableboys.”
Asuddenthoughtmadeherscrambletoherfeet.
“Ican’twait!Iamgoingtoseethegarden!”
Shehadlearnedtodressherselfbythistimeandsheputonherclothesinfiveminutes.
Sheknewasmallsidedoorwhichshecouldunboltherselfandsheflewdownstairsinherstockingfeetandputonhershoesinthehall.
Sheunchainedandunboltedandunlockedandwhenthedoorwasopenshesprangacrossthestepwithonebound,andthereshewasstandingonthegrass,whichseemedtohaveturnedgreen,andwiththesunpouringdownonherandwarmsweetwaftsaboutherandtheflutingandtwitteringandsingingcomingfromeverybushandtree.
Sheclaspedherhandsforpurejoyandlookedupintheskyanditwassoblueandpinkandpearlyandwhiteandfloodedwithspringtimelightthatshefeltasifshemustfluteandsingaloudherselfandknewthatthrushesandrobinsandskylarkscouldnotpossiblyhelpit.
Sheranaroundtheshrubsandpathstowardsthesecretgarden.
“Itisalldifferentalready,”shesaid.
“Thegrassisgreenerandthingsarestickingupeverywhereandthingsareuncurlingandgreenbudsofleavesareshowing.
ThisafternoonIamsureDickonwillcome.”
Thelongwarmrainhaddonestrangethingstotheherbaceousbedswhichborderedthewalkbythelowerwall.
Therewerethingssproutingandpushingoutfromtherootsofclumpsofplantsandtherewereactuallyhereandthereglimpsesofroyalpurpleandyellowunfurlingamongthestemsofcrocuses.
SixmonthsbeforeMistressMarywouldnothaveseenhowtheworldwaswakingup,butnowshemissednothing.
Whenshehadreachedtheplacewherethedoorhiditselfundertheivy,shewasstartledbyacuriousloudsound.
Itwasthecaw—cawofacrowanditcamefromthetopofthewall,andwhenshelookedup,theresatabigglossy-plumagedblue-blackbird,lookingdownatherverywiselyindeed.
Shehadneverseenacrowsoclosebeforeandhemadeheralittlenervous,butthenextmomenthespreadhiswingsandflappedawayacrossthegarden.
Shehopedhewasnotgoingtostayinsideandshepushedthedooropenwonderingifhewould.
Whenshegotfairlyintothegardenshesawthatheprobablydidintendtostaybecausehehadalightedonadwarfapple-treeandundertheapple-treewaslyingalittlereddishanimalwithaBushytail,andbothofthemwerewatchingthestoopingbodyandrust-redheadofDickon,whowaskneelingonthegrassworkinghard.
Maryflewacrossthegrasstohim.
“Oh,Dickon!Dickon!”shecriedout.“Howcouldyougetheresoearly!Howcouldyou!Thesunhasonlyjustgotup!”
Hegotuphimself,laughingandglowing,andtousled;hiseyeslikeabitofthesky.
“Eh!”hesaid.“Iwasuplongbeforehim.HowcouldIhavestayedabed!
Th’world’sallfairbegunagainthismornin’,ithas.
An’it’sworkin’an’hummin’an’scratchin’an’pipin’an’nest-buildin’an’breathin’outscents,tillyou’vegottobeoutonit‘steado’lyin’onyourback.
Whenth’sundidjumpup,th’moorwentmadforjoy,an’Iwasinthemidstofth’heather,an’Irunlikemadmyself,shoutin’an’singin’.An’Icomestraighthere.Icouldn’thavestayedaway.
Why,th’gardenwaslyin’herewaitin’!”
Maryputherhandsonherchest,panting,asifshehadbeenrunningherself.
“Oh,Dickon!Dickon!”shesaid.“I’msohappyIcanscarcelybreathe!”
Seeinghimtalkingtoastranger,thelittlebushy-tailedanimalrosefromitsplaceunderthetreeandcametohim,andtherook,cawingonce,flewdownfromitsbranchandsettledquietlyonhisshoulder.
“Thisisth’littlefoxcub,”hesaid,rubbingthelittlereddishanimal’shead.“It’snamedCaptain.An’thishere’sSoot.
Sootheflewacrossth’moorwithmean’Captainherunsameasifth’houndshadbeenafterhim.TheybothfeltsameasIdid.”
NeitherofthecreatureslookedasifheweretheleastafraidofMary.WhenDickonbegantowalkabout,SootstayedonhisshoulderandCaptaintrottedquietlyclosetohisside.
“Seehere!”saidDickon.“Seehowthesehaspushedup,an’thesean’these!An’Eh!Lookatthesehere!”
HethrewhimselfuponhiskneesandMarywentdownbesidehim.Theyhadcomeuponawholeclumpofcrocusesburstintopurpleandorangeandgold.Marybentherfacedownandkissedandkissedthem.
“Youneverkissapersoninthatway,”shesaidwhensheliftedherhead.“Flowersaresodifferent.”
Helookedpuzzledbutsmiled.
“Eh!”hesaid,“I’vekissedmothermanyatimethatwaywhenIcomeinfromth’moorafteraday’sroamin’an’shestoodthereatth’doorinth’sun,lookin’sogladan’comfortable.”
Theyranfromonepartofthegardentoanotherandfoundsomanywondersthattheywereobligedtoremindthemselvesthattheymustwhisperorspeaklow.
Heshowedherswellingleafbudsonrosebrancheswhichhadseemeddead.
Heshowedhertenthousandnewgreenpointspushingthroughthemould.
Theyputtheireageryoungnosesclosetotheearthandsniffeditswarmedspringtimebreathing;theydugandpulledandlaughedlowwithraptureuntilMistressMary’shairwasastumbledasDickon’sandhercheekswerealmostaspoppyredashis.
Therewaseveryjoyonearthinthesecretgardenthatmorning,andinthemidstofthemcameadelightmoredelightfulthanall,becauseitwasmorewonderful.
Swiftlysomethingflewacrossthewallanddartedthroughthetreestoaclosegrowncorner,alittleflareofred-breastedbirdwithsomethinghangingfromitsbeak.
DickonstoodquitestillandputhishandonMaryalmostasiftheyhadsuddenlyfoundthemselveslaughinginachurch.
“Wemunnotstir,”hewhisperedinbroadYorkshire.“Wemunnotscarcebreathe.
Iknowedhewasmate-huntin’whenIseedhimlast.It’sBenWeatherstaff’srobin.He’sbuildin’hisnest.He’llstayhereifusdon’tfighthim.”
Theysettleddownsoftlyuponthegrassandsattherewithoutmoving.
“Usmustn’tseemasifuswaswatchin’himtooclose,”saidDickon.
“He’dbeoutwithusforgoodifhegotth’notionuswasinterferin’now.
He’llbeagoodbitdifferenttillallthisisover.He’ssettin’uphousekeepin’.
He’llbeshyeran’readiertotakethingsill.
He’sgotnotimeforvisitin’an’gossipin’.
Usmustkeepstillabitan’trytolookasifuswasgrassan’treesan’bushes.
Thenwhenhe’sgotusedtoseein’usI’llchirpabitan’he’llknowus’llnotbeinhisway.”
MistressMarywasnotatallsurethatsheknew,asDickonseemedto,howtotrytolooklikegrassandtreesandbushes.
Buthehadsaidthequeerthingasifitwerethesimplestandmostnaturalthingintheworld,andshefeltitmustbequiteeasytohim,andindeedshewatchedhimforafewminutescarefully,wonderingifitwaspossibleforhimtoquietlyturngreenandputoutbranchesandleaves.
Butheonlysatwonderfullystill,andwhenhespokedroppedhisvoicetosuchasoftnessthatitwascuriousthatshecouldhearhim,butshecould.
“It’sparto’th’springtime,thisnest-buildin’is,”hesaid.
“Iwarrantit’sbeengoin’oninth’samewayeveryyearsinceth’worldwasbegun.
They’vegottheirwayo’thinkin’anddoin’thingsan’abodyhadbetternotmeddle.
Youcanloseafriendinspringtimeeasierthananyotherseasonifyou’retoocurious.”
“IfwetalkabouthimIcan’thelplookingathim,”Marysaidassoftlyaspossible.“Wemusttalkofsomethingelse.ThereissomethingIwanttotellyou.”
“He’lllikeitbetterifustalkso’somethin’else,”saidDickon.“Whatisittha’sgottotellme?”
“Well—doyouknowaboutColin?”shewhispered.
Heturnedhisheadtolookather.
“Whatdoestha’knowabouthim?”heasked.
“I’veseenhim.Ihavebeentotalktohimeverydaythisweek.Hewantsmetocome.HesaysI’mmakinghimforgetaboutbeingillanddying,”answeredMary.
Dickonlookedactuallyrelievedassoonasthesurprisediedawayfromhisroundface.
“Iamglado’that,”heexclaimed.“I’mrightdownglad.Itmakesmeeasier.IknowedImustsaynothin’abouthiman’Idon’tlikehavin’tohidethings.”
“Don’tyoulikehidingthegarden?”saidMary.
“I’llnevertellaboutit,”heanswered.
“ButIsaystomother,‘Mother,’Isays,‘Igotasecrettokeep.It’snotabad‘un,tha’knowsthat.
It’snoworsethanhidin’whereabird’snestis.Tha’doesn’tmindit,doestha’?’”
Maryalwayswantedtohearaboutmother.
“Whatdidshesay?”sheasked,notatallafraidtohear.
Dickongrinnedsweet-temperedly.
“Itwasjustlikeher,whatshesaid,”heanswered.“Shegivemyheadabitofaruban’laughedan’shesays,‘Eh,lad,tha’canhaveallth’secretstha’likes.I’veknowedtheetwelveyear’.’”
“HowdidyouknowaboutColin?”askedMary.
“EverybodyasknowedaboutMesterCravenknowedtherewasalittleladaswasliketobeacripple,an’theyknowedMesterCravendidn’tlikehimtobetalkedabout.
FolksissorryforMesterCravenbecauseMrs.Cravenwassuchaprettyyoungladyan’theywassofondofeachother.
Mrs.MedlockstopsinourcottagewhenevershegoestoThwaitean’shedoesn’tmindtalkin’tomotherbeforeuschildren,becausesheknowsushasbeenbroughtuptobetrusty.Howdidtha’findoutabouthim?
Marthawasinfinetroubleth’lasttimeshecamehome.
Shesaidtha’dheardhimfrettin’an’tha’wasaskin’questionsan’shedidn’tknowwhattosay.”
Marytoldhimherstoryaboutthemidnightwutheringofthewindwhichhadwakenedherandaboutthefaintfar-offsoundsofthecomplainingvoicewhichhadledherdownthedarkcorridorswithhercandleandhadendedwithheropeningofthedoorofthedimlylightedroomwiththecarvenfour-postedbedinthecorner.
Whenshedescribedthesmallivory-whitefaceandthestrangeblack-rimmedeyesDickonshookhishead.
“Them’sjustlikehismother’seyes,onlyherswasalwayslaughin’,theysay,”hesaid.
“TheysayasMr.Cravencan’tbeartoseehimwhenhe’sawakean’it’sbecausehiseyesissolikehismother’san’yetlookssodifferentinhismiserablebitofaface.”
“Doyouthinkhewantstodie?”whisperedMary.
“No,buthewisheshe’dneverbeenborn.
Mothershesaysthat’sth’worstthingonearthforachild.
Themasisnotwantedscarceeverthrives.
MesterCravenhe’dbuyanythin’asmoneycouldbuyforth’poorladbuthe’dliketoforgetashe’sonearth.
Foronething,he’safraidhe’lllookathimsomedayandfindhe’sgrowedhunchback.”
“Colin’ssoafraidofithimselfthathewon’tsitup,”saidMary.“Hesayshe’salwaysthinkingthatifheshouldfeelalumpcomingheshouldgocrazyandscreamhimselftodeath.”
“Eh!heoughtn’ttolietherethinkin’thingslikethat,”saidDickon.“Noladcouldgetwellasthoughtthemsorto’things.”
Thefoxwaslyingonthegrassclosebyhim,lookinguptoaskforapatnowandthen,andDickonbentdownandrubbedhisnecksoftlyandthoughtafewminutesinsilence.
Presentlyheliftedhisheadandlookedroundthegarden.
“Whenfirstwegotinhere,”hesaid,“itseemedlikeeverythingwasgray.Lookroundnowandtellmeiftha’doesn’tseeadifference.”
Marylookedandcaughtherbreathalittle.
“Why!”shecried,“thegraywallischanging.Itisasifagreenmistwerecreepingoverit.It’salmostlikeagreengauzeveil.”
“Aye,”saidDickon.“An’it’llbegreenerandgreenertillth’gray’sallgone.Cantha’guesswhatIwasthinkin’?”
“Iknowitwassomethingnice,”saidMaryeagerly.“IbelieveitwassomethingaboutColin.”
“Iwasthinkin’thatifhewasoutherehewouldn’tbewatchin’forlumpstogrowonhisback;he’dbewatchin’forbudstobreakonth’rose-bushes,an’he’dlikelybehealthier,”explainedDickon.
“Iwaswonderin’ifuscouldevergethiminth’humortocomeoutherean’lieunderth’treesinhiscarriage.”
“I’vebeenwonderingthatmyself.I’vethoughtofitalmosteverytimeI’vetalkedtohim,”saidMary.
“I’vewonderedifhecouldkeepasecretandI’vewonderedifwecouldbringhimherewithoutanyoneseeingus.
Ithoughtperhapsyoucouldpushhiscarriage.
Thedoctorsaidhemusthavefreshairandifhewantsustotakehimoutnoonedaredisobeyhim.
Hewon’tgooutforotherpeopleandperhapstheywillbegladifhewillgooutwithus.
Hecouldorderthegardenerstokeepawaysotheywouldn’tfindout.”
DickonwasthinkingveryhardashescratchedCaptain’sback.
“It’dbegoodforhim,I’llwarrant,”hesaid.
“Us’dnotbethinkin’he’dbetterneverbeenborn.
Us’dbejusttwochildrenwatchin’agardengrow,an’he’dbeanother.
Twoladsan’alittlelassjustlookin’onatth’springtime.
Iwarrantit’dbebetterthandoctor’sstuff.”
“He’sbeenlyinginhisroomsolongandhe’salwaysbeensoafraidofhisbackthatithasmadehimqueer,”saidMary.
“Heknowsagoodmanythingsoutofbooksbuthedoesn’tknowanythingelse.
Hesayshehasbeentooilltonoticethingsandhehatesgoingoutofdoorsandhatesgardensandgardeners.
Buthelikestohearaboutthisgardenbecauseitisasecret.
Idaren’ttellhimmuchbuthesaidhewantedtoseeit.”
“Us’llhavehimoutheresometimeforsure,”saidDickon.“Icouldpushhiscarriagewellenough.
Hastha’noticedhowth’robinan’hismatehasbeenworkin’whilewe’vebeensittin’here?
Lookathimperchedonthatbranchwonderin’whereit’dbebesttoputthattwighe’sgotinhisbeak.”
Hemadeoneofhislowwhistlingcallsandtherobinturnedhisheadandlookedathiminquiringly,stillholdinghistwig.
DickonspoketohimasBenWeatherstaffdid,butDickon’stonewasoneoffriendlyadvice.
“Wheres’evertha’putsit,”hesaid,“it’llbeallright.Tha’knewhowtobuildtha’nestbeforetha’cameouto’th’egg.Getonwiththee,lad.Tha’stgotnotimetolose.”
“Oh,Idoliketohearyoutalktohim!”Marysaid,laughingdelightedly.
“BenWeatherstaffscoldshimandmakesfunofhim,andhehopsaboutandlooksasifheunderstoodeveryword,andIknowhelikesit.
BenWeatherstaffsaysheissoconceitedhewouldratherhavestonesthrownathimthannotbenoticed.”
Dickonlaughedtooandwentontalking.
“Tha’knowsuswon’ttroublethee,”hesaidtotherobin.“Usisnearbein’wildthingsourselves.Usisnest-buildin’too,blessthee.Lookouttha’doesn’ttellonus.”
Andthoughtherobindidnotanswer,becausehisbeakwasoccupied,Maryknewthatwhenheflewawaywithhistwigtohisowncornerofthegardenthedarknessofhisdew-brighteyemeantthathewouldnottelltheirsecretfortheworld.
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