English
TheyfoundagreatdealtodothatmorningandMarywaslateinreturningtothehouseandwasalsoinsuchahurrytogetbacktoherworkthatshequiteforgotColinuntilthelastmoment.
“TellColinthatIcan’tcomeandseehimyet,”shesaidtoMartha.“I’mverybusyinthegarden.”
Marthalookedratherfrightened.
“Eh!MissMary,”shesaid,“itmayputhimalloutofhumorwhenItellhimthat.”
ButMarywasnotasafraidofhimasotherpeoplewereandshewasnotaself-sacrificingperson.
“Ican’tstay,”sheanswered.“Dickon’swaitingforme.”Andsheranaway.
Theafternoonwasevenlovelierandbusierthanthemorninghadbeen.
Alreadynearlyalltheweedswereclearedoutofthegardenandmostoftherosesandtreeshadbeenprunedordugabout.
DickonhadbroughtaspadeofhisownandhehadtaughtMarytouseallhertools,sothatbythistimeitwasplainthatthoughthelovelywildplacewasnotlikelytobecomea“gardener’sgarden”itwouldbeawildernessofgrowingthingsbeforethespringtimewasover.
“There’llbeappleblossomsan’cherryblossomsoverhead,”Dickonsaid,workingawaywithallhismight.
“An’there’llbepeachan’plumtreesinbloomagainstth’walls,an’th’grass’llbeacarpeto’flowers.”
Thelittlefoxandtherookwereashappyandbusyastheywere,andtherobinandhismateflewbackwardandforwardliketinystreaksoflightning.
Sometimestherookflappedhisblackwingsandsoaredawayoverthetree-topsinthepark.
EachtimehecamebackandperchednearDickonandcawedseveraltimesasifhewererelatinghisadventures,andDickontalkedtohimjustashehadtalkedtotherobin.
OncewhenDickonwassobusythathedidnotanswerhimatfirst,Sootflewontohisshouldersandgentlytweakedhisearwithhislargebeak.
WhenMarywantedtorestalittleDickonsatdownwithherunderatreeandoncehetookhispipeoutofhispocketandplayedthesoftstrangelittlenotesandtwosquirrelsappearedonthewallandlookedandlistened.
“Tha’sagoodbitstrongerthantha’was,”Dickonsaid,lookingatherasshewasdigging.“Tha’sbeginningtolookdifferent,forsure.”
Marywasglowingwithexerciseandgoodspirits.
“I’mgettingfatterandfattereveryday,”shesaidquiteexultantly.“Mrs.Medlockwillhavetogetmesomebiggerdresses.Marthasaysmyhairisgrowingthicker.Itisn’tsoflatandstringy.”
Thesunwasbeginningtosetandsendingdeepgold-coloredraysslantingunderthetreeswhentheyparted.
“It’llbefinetomorrow,”saidDickon.“I’llbeatworkbysunrise.”
“SowillI,”saidMary.
Sheranbacktothehouseasquicklyasherfeetwouldcarryher.
ShewantedtotellColinaboutDickon’sfoxcubandtherookandaboutwhatthespringtimehadbeendoing.Shefeltsurehewouldliketohear.
Soitwasnotverypleasantwhensheopenedthedoorofherroom,toseeMarthastandingwaitingforherwithadolefulface.
“Whatisthematter?”sheasked.“WhatdidColinsaywhenyoutoldhimIcouldn’tcome?”
“Eh!”saidMartha,“Iwishtha’dgone.Hewasnighgoin’intooneo’histantrums.There’sbeenanicetodoallafternoontokeephimquiet.Hewouldwatchtheclockallth’time.”
Mary’slipspinchedthemselvestogether.
ShewasnomoreusedtoconsideringotherpeoplethanColinwasandshesawnoreasonwhyanill-temperedboyshouldinterferewiththethingshelikedbest.
Sheknewnothingaboutthepitifulnessofpeoplewhohadbeenillandnervousandwhodidnotknowthattheycouldcontroltheirtempersandneednotmakeotherpeopleillandnervous,too.
WhenshehadhadaheadacheinIndiashehaddoneherbesttoseethateverybodyelsealsohadaheadacheorsomethingquiteasbad.
Andshefeltshewasquiteright;butofcoursenowshefeltthatColinwasquitewrong.
Hewasnotonhissofawhenshewentintohisroom.
Hewaslyingflatonhisbackinbedandhedidnotturnhisheadtowardherasshecamein.
ThiswasabadbeginningandMarymarcheduptohimwithherstiffmanner.
“Whydidn’tyougetup?”shesaid.
“IdidgetupthismorningwhenIthoughtyouwerecoming,”heanswered,withoutlookingather.
“Imadethemputmebackinbedthisafternoon.
MybackachedandmyheadachedandIwastired.Whydidn’tyoucome?”
“IwasworkinginthegardenwithDickon,”saidMary.
Colinfrownedandcondescendedtolookather.
“Iwon’tletthatboycomehereifyougoandstaywithhiminsteadofcomingtotalktome,”hesaid.
Maryflewintoafinepassion.Shecouldflyintoapassionwithoutmakinganoise.Shejustgrewsourandobstinateanddidnotcarewhathappened.
“IfyousendDickonaway,I’llnevercomeintothisroomagain!”sheretorted.
“You’llhavetoifIwantyou,”saidColin.
“Iwon’t!”saidMary.
“I’llmakeyou,”saidColin.“Theyshalldragyouin.”
“Shallthey,Mr.Rajah!”saidMaryfiercely.
“Theymaydragmeinbuttheycan’tmakemetalkwhentheygetmehere.
I’llsitandclenchmyteethandnevertellyouonething.Iwon’tevenlookatyou.I’llstareatthefloor!”
Theywereaniceagreeablepairastheyglaredateachother.
Iftheyhadbeentwolittlestreetboystheywouldhavesprungateachotherandhadarough-and-tumblefight.
Asitwas,theydidthenextthingtoit.
“Youareaselfishthing!”criedColin.
“Whatareyou?”saidMary.“Selfishpeoplealwayssaythat.Anyoneisselfishwhodoesn’tdowhattheywant.You’remoreselfishthanIam.You’rethemostselfishboyIeversaw.”
“I’mnot!”snappedColin.“I’mnotasselfishasyourfineDickonis!HekeepsyouplayinginthedirtwhenheknowsIamallbymyself.He’sselfish,ifyoulike!”
Mary’seyesflashedfire.
“He’snicerthananyotherboythateverlived!”shesaid.“He’s—he’slikeanangel!”Itmightsoundrathersillytosaythatbutshedidnotcare.
“Aniceangel!”Colinsneeredferociously.“He’sacommoncottageboyoffthemoor!”
“He’sbetterthanacommonRajah!”retortedMary.“He’sathousandtimesbetter!”
Becauseshewasthestrongerofthetwoshewasbeginningtogetthebetterofhim.
Thetruthwasthathehadneverhadafightwithanyonelikehimselfinhislifeand,uponthewhole,itwasrathergoodforhim,thoughneitherhenorMaryknewanythingaboutthat.
Heturnedhisheadonhispillowandshuthiseyesandabigtearwassqueezedoutandrandownhischeek.
Hewasbeginningtofeelpatheticandsorryforhimself—notforanyoneelse.
“I’mnotasselfishasyou,becauseI’malwaysill,andI’msurethereisalumpcomingonmyback,”hesaid.“AndIamgoingtodiebesides.”
“You’renot!”contradictedMaryunsympathetically.
Heopenedhiseyesquitewidewithindignation.Hehadneverheardsuchathingsaidbefore.Hewasatoncefuriousandslightlypleased,ifapersoncouldbebothatonetime.
“I’mnot?”hecried.“Iam!YouknowIam!Everybodysaysso.”
“Idon’tbelieveit!”saidMarysourly.“Youjustsaythattomakepeoplesorry.Ibelieveyou’reproudofit.Idon’tbelieveit!Ifyouwereaniceboyitmightbetrue—butyou’retoonasty!”
InspiteofhisinvalidbackColinsatupinbedinquiteahealthyrage.
“Getoutoftheroom!”heshoutedandhecaughtholdofhispillowandthrewitather.
Hewasnotstrongenoughtothrowitfaranditonlyfellatherfeet,butMary’sfacelookedaspinchedasanutcracker.
“I’mgoing,”shesaid.“AndIwon’tcomeback!”Shewalkedtothedoorandwhenshereacheditsheturnedroundandspokeagain.
“Iwasgoingtotellyouallsortsofnicethings,”shesaid.“DickonbroughthisfoxandhisrookandIwasgoingtotellyouallaboutthem.NowIwon’ttellyouasinglething!”
Shemarchedoutofthedoorandcloseditbehindher,andtheretohergreatastonishmentshefoundthetrainednursestandingasifshehadbeenlisteningand,moreamazingstill—shewaslaughing.
Shewasabighandsomeyoungwomanwhooughtnottohavebeenatrainednurseatall,asshecouldnotbearinvalidsandshewasalwaysmakingexcusestoleaveColintoMarthaoranyoneelsewhowouldtakeherplace.
Maryhadneverlikedher,andshesimplystoodandgazedupatherasshestoodgigglingintoherhandkerchief..
“Whatareyoulaughingat?”sheaskedher.
“Atyoutwoyoungones,”saidthenurse.
“It’sthebestthingthatcouldhappentothesicklypamperedthingtohavesomeonetostanduptohimthat’sasspoiledashimself;”andshelaughedintoherhandkerchiefagain.
“Ifhe’dhadayoungvixenofasistertofightwithitwouldhavebeenthesavingofhim.”
“Ishegoingtodie?”
“Idon’tknowandIdon’tcare,”saidthenurse.“Hystericsandtemperarehalfwhatailshim.”
“Whatarehysterics?”askedMary.
“You’llfindoutifyouworkhimintoatantrumafterthis—butatanyrateyou’vegivenhimsomethingtohavehystericsabout,andI’mgladofit.”
Marywentbacktoherroomnotfeelingatallasshehadfeltwhenshehadcomeinfromthegarden.
ShewascrossanddisappointedbutnotatallsorryforColin.
Shehadlookedforwardtotellinghimagreatmanythingsandshehadmeanttotrytomakeuphermindwhetheritwouldbesafetotrusthimwiththegreatsecret.
Shehadbeenbeginningtothinkitwouldbe,butnowshehadchangedhermindentirely.
Shewouldnevertellhimandhecouldstayinhisroomandnevergetanyfreshairanddieifheliked!Itwouldservehimright!
ShefeltsosourandunrelentingthatforafewminutesshealmostforgotaboutDickonandthegreenveilcreepingovertheworldandthesoftwindblowingdownfromthemoor.
Marthawaswaitingforherandthetroubleinherfacehadbeentemporarilyreplacedbyinterestandcuriosity.
Therewasawoodenboxonthetableanditscoverhadbeenremovedandrevealedthatitwasfullofneatpackages.
“Mr.Cravensentittoyou,”saidMartha.“Itlooksasifithadpicture-booksinit.”
Maryrememberedwhathehadaskedherthedayshehadgonetohisroom.
“Doyouwantanything—dolls—toys—books?”
Sheopenedthepackagewonderingifhehadsentadoll,andalsowonderingwhatsheshoulddowithitifhehad.Buthehadnotsentone.
TherewereseveralbeautifulbookssuchasColinhad,andtwoofthemwereaboutgardensandwerefullofpictures.
Thereweretwoorthreegamesandtherewasabeautifullittlewriting-casewithagoldmonogramonitandagoldpenandinkstand.
Everythingwassonicethatherpleasurebegantocrowdherangeroutofhermind.Shehadnotexpectedhimtorememberheratallandherhardlittleheartgrewquitewarm.
“IcanwritebetterthanIcanprint,”shesaid,“andthefirstthingIshallwritewiththatpenwillbealettertotellhimIammuchobliged.”
IfshehadbeenfriendswithColinshewouldhaveruntoshowhimherpresentsatonce,andtheywouldhavelookedatthepicturesandreadsomeofthegardeningbooksandperhapstriedplayingthegames,andhewouldhaveenjoyedhimselfsomuchhewouldneveroncehavethoughthewasgoingtodieorhaveputhishandonhisspinetoseeiftherewasalumpcoming.
Hehadawayofdoingthatwhichshecouldnotbear.
Itgaveheranuncomfortablefrightenedfeelingbecausehealwayslookedsofrightenedhimself.
Hesaidthatifhefeltevenquitealittlelumpsomedayheshouldknowhishunchhadbeguntogrow.
SomethinghehadheardMrs.Medlockwhisperingtothenursehadgivenhimtheideaandhehadthoughtoveritinsecretuntilitwasquitefirmlyfixedinhismind.
Mrs.Medlockhadsaidhisfather’sbackhadbeguntoshowitscrookednessinthatwaywhenhewasachild.
HehadnevertoldanyonebutMarythatmostofhis“tantrums”astheycalledthemgrewoutofhishystericalhiddenfear.
Maryhadbeensorryforhimwhenhehadtoldher.
“Healwaysbegantothinkaboutitwhenhewascrossortired,”shesaidtoherself.“Andhehasbeencrosstoday.Perhaps—perhapshehasbeenthinkingaboutitallafternoon.”
Shestoodstill,lookingdownatthecarpetandthinking.
“IsaidIwouldnevergobackagain—”shehesitated,knittingherbrows—”butperhaps,justperhaps,Iwillgoandsee—ifhewantsme—inthemorning.
Perhapshe’lltrytothrowhispillowatmeagain,but—Ithink—I’llgo.”
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