English
OfcourseDr.CravenhadbeensentforthemorningafterColinhadhadhistantrum.
Hewasalwayssentforatoncewhensuchathingoccurredandhealwaysfound,whenhearrived,awhiteshakenboylyingonhisbed,sulkyandstillsohystericalthathewasreadytobreakintofreshsobbingattheleastword.
Infact,Dr.Cravendreadedanddetestedthedifficultiesofthesevisits.
OnthisoccasionhewasawayfromMisselthwaiteManoruntilafternoon.
“Howishe?”heaskedMrs.Medlockratherirritablywhenhearrived.“Hewillbreakablood-vesselinoneofthosefitssomeday.Theboyishalfinsanewithhysteriaandself-indulgence.”
“Well,sir,”answeredMrs.Medlock,“you’llscarcelybelieveyoureyeswhenyouseehim.
Thatplainsour-facedchildthat’salmostasbadashimselfhasjustbewitchedhim.Howshe’sdoneitthere’snotelling.
TheLordknowsshe’snothingtolookatandyouscarcelyeverhearherspeak,butshedidwhatnoneofusdaredo.
Shejustflewathimlikealittlecatlastnight,andstampedherfeetandorderedhimtostopscreaming,andsomehowshestartledhimsothatheactuallydidstop,andthisafternoon—welljustcomeupandsee,sir.It’spastcrediting.”
ThescenewhichDr.Cravenbeheldwhenheenteredhispatient’sroomwasindeedratherastonishingtohim.
AsMrs.Medlockopenedthedoorheheardlaughingandchattering.
Colinwasonhissofainhisdressing-gownandhewassittingupquitestraightlookingatapictureinoneofthegardenbooksandtalkingtotheplainchildwhoatthatmomentcouldscarcelybecalledplainatallbecauseherfacewassoglowingwithenjoyment.
“Thoselongspiresofblueones—we’llhavealotofthose,”Colinwasannouncing.“They’recalledDel-phin-iums.”
“Dickonsaysthey’relarkspursmadebigandgrand,”criedMistressMary.“Thereareclumpstherealready.”
ThentheysawDr.Cravenandstopped.MarybecamequitestillandColinlookedfretful.
“Iamsorrytohearyouwereilllastnight,myboy,”Dr.Cravensaidatriflenervously.Hewasratheranervousman.
“I’mbetternow—muchbetter,”Colinanswered,ratherlikeaRajah.“I’mgoingoutinmychairinadayortwoifitisfine.Iwantsomefreshair.”
Dr.Cravensatdownbyhimandfelthispulseandlookedathimcuriously.
“Itmustbeaveryfineday,”hesaid,“andyoumustbeverycarefulnottotireyourself.”
“Freshairwon’ttireme,”saidtheyoungRajah.
Astherehadbeenoccasionswhenthissameyounggentlemanhadshriekedaloudwithrageandhadinsistedthatfreshairwouldgivehimcoldandkillhim,itisnottobewonderedatthathisdoctorfeltsomewhatstartled.
“Ithoughtyoudidnotlikefreshair,”hesaid.
“Idon’twhenIambymyself,”repliedtheRajah;“butmycousinisgoingoutwithme.”
“Andthenurse,ofcourse?”suggestedDr.Craven.
“No,Iwillnothavethenurse,”somagnificentlythatMarycouldnothelprememberinghowtheyoungnativePrincehadlookedwithhisdiamondsandemeraldsandpearlsstuckalloverhimandthegreatrubiesonthesmalldarkhandhehadwavedtocommandhisservantstoapproachwithsalaamsandreceivehisorders.
“Mycousinknowshowtotakecareofme.Iamalwaysbetterwhensheiswithme.Shemademebetterlastnight.AverystrongboyIknowwillpushmycarriage.”
Dr.Cravenfeltratheralarmed.IfthistiresomehystericalboyshouldchancetogetwellhehimselfwouldloseallchanceofinheritingMisselthwaite;buthewasnotanunscrupulousman,thoughhewasaweakone,andhedidnotintendtolethimrunintoactualdanger.
“Hemustbeastrongboyandasteadyboy,”hesaid.“AndImustknowsomethingabouthim.Whoishe?Whatishisname?”
“It’sDickon,”Maryspokeupsuddenly.ShefeltsomehowthateverybodywhoknewthemoormustknowDickon.Andshewasright,too.
ShesawthatinamomentDr.Craven’sseriousfacerelaxedintoarelievedsmile.
“Oh,Dickon,”hesaid.“IfitisDickonyouwillbesafeenough.He’sasstrongasamoorpony,isDickon.”
“Andhe’strusty,”saidMary.“He’sth’trustiestladi’Yorkshire.”ShehadbeentalkingYorkshiretoColinandsheforgotherself.
“DidDickonteachyouthat?”askedDr.Craven,laughingoutright.
“I’mlearningitasifitwasFrench,”saidMaryrathercoldly.“It’slikeanativedialectinIndia.Verycleverpeopletrytolearnthem.IlikeitandsodoesColin.”
“Well,well,”hesaid.“Ifitamusesyouperhapsitwon’tdoyouanyharm.Didyoutakeyourbromidelastnight,Colin?”
“No,”Colinanswered.“Iwouldn’ttakeitatfirstandafterMarymademequietshetalkedmetosleep—inalowvoice—aboutthespringcreepingintoagarden.”
“Thatsoundssoothing,”saidDr.Craven,moreperplexedthaneverandglancingsidewaysatMistressMarysittingonherstoolandlookingdownsilentlyatthecarpet.
“Youareevidentlybetter,butyoumustremember—”
“Idon’twanttoremember,”interruptedtheRajah,appearingagain.
“WhenIliebymyselfandrememberIbegintohavepainseverywhereandIthinkofthingsthatmakemebegintoscreambecauseIhatethemso.
IftherewasadoctoranywherewhocouldmakeyouforgetyouwereillinsteadofrememberingitIwouldhavehimbroughthere.”
Andhewavedathinhandwhichoughtreallytohavebeencoveredwithroyalsignetringsmadeofrubies.
“Itisbecausemycousinmakesmeforgetthatshemakesmebetter.”
Dr.Cravenhadnevermadesuchashortstayaftera“tantrum”;usuallyhewasobligedtoremainaverylongtimeanddoagreatmanythings.
Thisafternoonhedidnotgiveanymedicineorleaveanynewordersandhewassparedanydisagreeablescenes.
WhenhewentdownstairshelookedverythoughtfulandwhenhetalkedtoMrs.Medlockinthelibraryshefeltthathewasamuchpuzzledman.
“Well,sir,”sheventured,“couldyouhavebelievedit?”
“Itiscertainlyanewstateofaffairs,”saidthedoctor.“Andthere’snodenyingitisbetterthantheoldone.”
“IbelieveSusanSowerby’sright—Idothat,”saidMrs.Medlock.
“IstoppedinhercottageonmywaytoThwaiteyesterdayandhadabitoftalkwithher.
Andshesaystome,‘Well,SarahAnn,shemayn’tbeagoodchild,an’shemayn’tbeaprettyone,butshe’sachild,an’childrenneedschildren.’
Wewenttoschooltogether,SusanSowerbyandme.”
“She’sthebestsicknurseIknow,”saidDr.Craven.“WhenIfindherinacottageIknowthechancesarethatIshallsavemypatient.”
Mrs.Medlocksmiled.ShewasfondofSusanSowerby.
“She’sgotawaywithher,hasSusan,”shewentonquitevolubly.
“I’vebeenthinkingallmorningofonethingshesaidyesterday.
Shesays,‘OncewhenIwasgivin’th’childrenabitofapreachafterthey’dbeenfightin’Isesto‘emall,“WhenIwasatschoolmyjographytoldasth’worldwasshapedlikeaorangean’IfoundoutbeforeIwastenthatth’wholeorangedoesn’tbelongtonobody.
Nooneownsmorethanhisbitofaquarteran’there’stimesitseemslikethere’snotenowquarterstogoround.
Butdon’tyou—noneo’you—thinkasyouownth’wholeorangeoryou’llfindoutyou’remistaken,an’youwon’tfinditoutwithouthardknocks.”
‘Whatchildrenlearnsfromchildren,’shesays,‘isthatthere’snosenseingrabbin’atth’wholeorange—peelan’all.
Ifyoudoyou’lllikelynotgeteventh’pips,an’them’stoobittertoeat.’”
“She’sashrewdwoman,”saidDr.Craven,puttingonhiscoat.
“Well,she’sgotawayofsayingthings,”endedMrs.Medlock,muchpleased.“SometimesI’vesaidtoher,‘Eh!
Susan,ifyouwasadifferentwomanan’didn’ttalksuchbroadYorkshireI’veseenthetimeswhenIshouldhavesaidyouwasclever.’”
ThatnightColinsleptwithoutonceawakeningandwhenheopenedhiseyesinthemorninghelaystillandsmiledwithoutknowingit—smiledbecausehefeltsocuriouslycomfortable.
Itwasactuallynicetobeawake,andheturnedoverandstretchedhislimbsluxuriously.
Hefeltasiftightstringswhichhadheldhimhadloosenedthemselvesandlethimgo.
HedidnotknowthatDr.Cravenwouldhavesaidthathisnerveshadrelaxedandrestedthemselves.
Insteadoflyingandstaringatthewallandwishinghehadnotawakened,hismindwasfulloftheplansheandMaryhadmadeyesterday,ofpicturesofthegardenandofDickonandhiswildcreatures.
Itwassonicetohavethingstothinkabout.
AndhehadnotbeenawakemorethantenminuteswhenheheardfeetrunningalongthecorridorandMarywasatthedoor.
Thenextminuteshewasintheroomandhadrunacrosstohisbed,bringingwithherawaftoffreshairfullofthescentofthemorning.
“You’vebeenout!You’vebeenout!There’sthatnicesmellofleaves!”hecried.
Shehadbeenrunningandherhairwaslooseandblownandshewasbrightwiththeairandpink-cheeked,thoughhecouldnotseeit.
“It’ssobeautiful!”shesaid,alittlebreathlesswithherspeed.“Youneversawanythingsobeautiful!Ithascome!
Ithoughtithadcomethatothermorning,butitwasonlycoming.Itisherenow!Ithascome,theSpring!Dickonsaysso!”
“Hasit?”criedColin,andthoughhereallyknewnothingaboutithefelthisheartbeat.Heactuallysatupinbed.
“Openthewindow!”headded,laughinghalfwithjoyfulexcitementandhalfathisownfancy.“Perhapswemayheargoldentrumpets!”
Andthoughhelaughed,Marywasatthewindowinamomentandinamomentmoreitwasopenedwideandfreshnessandsoftnessandscentsandbirds’songswerepouringthrough.
“That’sfreshair,”shesaid.“Lieonyourbackanddrawinlongbreathsofit.
That’swhatDickondoeswhenhe’slyingonthemoor.
Hesayshefeelsitinhisveinsanditmakeshimstrongandhefeelsasifhecouldliveforeverandever.Breatheitandbreatheit.”
ShewasonlyrepeatingwhatDickonhadtoldher,butshecaughtColin’sfancy.
“‘Foreverandever’!Doesitmakehimfeellikethat?”
hesaid,andhedidasshetoldhim,drawinginlongdeepbreathsoverandoveragainuntilhefeltthatsomethingquitenewanddelightfulwashappeningtohim.
Marywasathisbedsideagain.
“Thingsarecrowdingupoutoftheearth,”sheranoninahurry.
“Andthereareflowersuncurlingandbudsoneverythingandthegreenveilhascoverednearlyallthegrayandthebirdsareinsuchahurryabouttheirnestsforfeartheymaybetoolatethatsomeofthemareevenfightingforplacesinthesecretgarden.
Andtherose-busheslookaswickaswickcanbe,andthereareprimrosesinthelanesandwoods,andtheseedsweplantedareup,andDickonhasbroughtthefoxandthecrowandthesquirrelsandanew-bornlamb.”
Andthenshepausedforbreath.Thenew-bornlambDickonhadfoundthreedaysbeforelyingbyitsdeadmotheramongthegorsebushesonthemoor.
Itwasnotthefirstmotherlesslambhehadfoundandheknewwhattodowithit.
Hehadtakenittothecottagewrappedinhisjacketandhehadletitlienearthefireandhadfeditwithwarmmilk.
Itwasasoftthingwithadarlingsillybabyfaceandlegsratherlongforitsbody.
Dickonhadcarrieditoverthemoorinhisarmsanditsfeedingbottlewasinhispocketwithasquirrel,andwhenMaryhadsatunderatreewithitslimpwarmnesshuddledonherlapshehadfeltasifsheweretoofullofstrangejoytospeak.Alamb—alamb!
Alivinglambwholayonyourlaplikeababy!
ShewasdescribingitwithgreatjoyandColinwaslisteninganddrawinginlongbreathsofairwhenthenurseentered.
Shestartedalittleatthesightoftheopenwindow.
Shehadsatstiflingintheroommanyawarmdaybecauseherpatientwassurethatopenwindowsgavepeoplecold.
“Areyousureyouarenotchilly,MasterColin?”sheinquired.
“No,”wastheanswer.“Iambreathinglongbreathsoffreshair.Itmakesyoustrong.Iamgoingtogetuptothesofaforbreakfast.Mycousinwillhavebreakfastwithme.”
Thenursewentaway,concealingasmile,togivetheorderfortwobreakfasts.
Shefoundtheservants’hallamoreamusingplacethantheinvalid’schamberandjustnoweverybodywantedtohearthenewsfromupstairs.
Therewasagreatdealofjokingabouttheunpopularyoungreclusewho,asthecooksaid,“hadfoundhismaster,andgoodforhim.”
Theservants’hallhadbeenverytiredofthetantrums,andthebutler,whowasamanwithafamily,hadmorethanonceexpressedhisopinionthattheinvalidwouldbeallthebetter“foragoodhiding.”
WhenColinwasonhissofaandthebreakfastfortwowasputuponthetablehemadeanannouncementtothenurseinhismostRajah-likemanner.
“Aboy,andafox,andacrow,andtwosquirrels,andanew-bornlamb,arecomingtoseemethismorning.
Iwantthembroughtupstairsassoonastheycome,”hesaid.
“Youarenottobeginplayingwiththeanimalsintheservants’hallandkeepthemthere.Iwantthemhere.”
Thenursegaveaslightgaspandtriedtoconcealitwithacough.
“Yes,sir,”sheanswered.
“I’lltellyouwhatyoucando,”addedColin,wavinghishand.“YoucantellMarthatobringthemhere.TheboyisMartha’sbrother.HisnameisDickonandheisananimalcharmer.”
“Ihopetheanimalswon’tbite,MasterColin,”saidthenurse.
“Itoldyouhewasacharmer,”saidColinausterely.“Charmers’animalsneverbite.”
“Therearesnake-charmersinIndia,”saidMary.“andtheycanputtheirsnakes’headsintheirmouths.”
“Goodness!”shudderedthenurse.
Theyatetheirbreakfastwiththemorningairpouringinuponthem.Colin’sbreakfastwasaverygoodoneandMarywatchedhimwithseriousinterest.
“YouwillbegintogetfatterjustasIdid,”shesaid.“IneverwantedmybreakfastwhenIwasinIndiaandnowIalwayswantit.”
“Iwantedminethismorning,”saidColin.“Perhapsitwasthefreshair.WhendoyouthinkDickonwillcome?”
Hewasnotlongincoming.InabouttenminutesMaryheldupherhand.
“Listen!”shesaid.“Didyouhearacaw?”
Colinlistenedandheardit,theoddestsoundintheworldtohearinsideahouse,ahoarse“caw-caw.”
“Yes,”heanswered.
“That’sSoot,”saidMary.“Listenagain.Doyouhearableat—atinyone?”
“Oh,yes!”criedColin,quiteflushing.
“That’sthenew-bornlamb,”saidMary.“He’scoming.”
Dickon’smoorlandbootswerethickandclumsyandthoughhetriedtowalkquietlytheymadeaclumpingsoundashewalkedthroughthelongcorridors.
MaryandColinheardhimmarching—marching,untilhepassedthroughthetapestrydoorontothesoftcarpetofColin’sownpassage.
“Ifyouplease,sir,”announcedMartha,openingthedoor,“ifyouplease,sir,here’sDickonan’hiscreatures.”
Dickoncameinsmilinghisnicestwidesmile.
Thenew-bornlambwasinhisarmsandthelittleredfoxtrottedbyhisside.
NutsatonhisleftshoulderandSootonhisrightandShell’sheadandpawspeepedoutofhiscoatpocket.
Colinslowlysatupandstaredandstared—ashehadstaredwhenhefirstsawMary;butthiswasastareofwonderanddelight.
Thetruthwasthatinspiteofallhehadheardhehadnotintheleastunderstoodwhatthisboywouldbelikeandthathisfoxandhiscrowandhissquirrelsandhislambweresoneartohimandhisfriendlinessthattheyseemedalmosttobepartofhimself.
Colinhadnevertalkedtoaboyinhislifeandhewassooverwhelmedbyhisownpleasureandcuriositythathedidnoteventhinkofspeaking.
ButDickondidnotfeeltheleastshyorawkward.
Hehadnotfeltembarrassedbecausethecrowhadnotknownhislanguageandhadonlystaredandhadnotspokentohimthefirsttimetheymet.
Creatureswerealwayslikethatuntiltheyfoundoutaboutyou.
HewalkedovertoColin’ssofaandputthenew-bornlambquietlyonhislap,andimmediatelythelittlecreatureturnedtothewarmvelvetdressing-gownandbegantonuzzleandnuzzleintoitsfoldsandbuttitstight-curledheadwithsoftimpatienceagainsthisside.
Ofcoursenoboycouldhavehelpedspeakingthen.
“Whatisitdoing?”criedColin.“Whatdoesitwant?”
“Itwantsitsmother,”saidDickon,smilingmoreandmore.“IbroughtittotheeabithungrybecauseIknowedtha’dliketoseeitfeed.”
Hekneltdownbythesofaandtookafeeding-bottlefromhispocket.
“Comeon,little‘un,”hesaid,turningthesmallwoollywhiteheadwithagentlebrownhand.“Thisiswhattha’safter.
Tha’llgetmoreouto’thisthantha’willouto’silkvelvetcoats.
Therenow,”andhepushedtherubbertipofthebottleintothenuzzlingmouthandthelambbegantosuckitwithravenousecstasy.
Afterthattherewasnowonderingwhattosay.
BythetimethelambfellasleepquestionspouredforthandDickonansweredthemall.
Hetoldthemhowhehadfoundthelambjustasthesunwasrisingthreemorningsago.
Hehadbeenstandingonthemoorlisteningtoaskylarkandwatchinghimswinghigherandhigherintotheskyuntilhewasonlyaspeckintheheightsofblue.
“I’dalmostlosthimbutforhissongan’Iwaswonderin’howachapcouldhearitwhenitseemedasifhe’dgetouto’th’worldinaminute—an’justthenIheardsomethin’elsefaroffamongth’gorsebushes.
Itwasaweakbleatin’an’Iknoweditwasanewlambaswashungryan’Iknoweditwouldn’tbehungryifithadn’tlostitsmothersomehow,soIsetoffsearchin’.Eh!Ididhavealookforit.
Iwentinan’outamongth’gorsebushesan’roundan’roundan’Ialwaysseemedtotaketh’wrongturnin’.
ButatlastIseedabito’whitebyarockontopo’th’mooran’Iclimbedupan’foundth’little‘unhalfdeadwi’coldan’clemmin’.”
Whilehetalked,SootflewsolemnlyinandoutoftheopenwindowandcawedremarksaboutthescenerywhileNutandShellmadeexcursionsintothebigtreesoutsideandranupanddowntrunksandexploredbranches.
CaptaincurledupnearDickon,whosatonthehearth-rugfrompreference.
TheylookedatthepicturesinthegardeningbooksandDickonknewalltheflowersbytheircountrynamesandknewexactlywhichoneswerealreadygrowinginthesecretgarden.
“Icouldna’saythattherename,”hesaid,pointingtooneunderwhichwaswritten“Aquilegia,”“butuscallsthatacolumbine,an’thatthereoneit’sasnapdragonandtheybothgrowwildinhedges,buttheseisgardenonesan’they’rebiggeran’grander.
There’ssomebigclumpso’columbineinth’garden.
They’lllooklikeabedo’bluean’whitebutterfliesflutterin’whenthey’reout.”
“I’mgoingtoseethem,”criedColin.“Iamgoingtoseethem!”
“Aye,thattha’mun,”saidMaryquiteseriously.“An’tha’munnotlosenotimeaboutit.”
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