English
Oneofthestrangethingsaboutlivingintheworldisthatitisonlynowandthenoneisquitesureoneisgoingtoliveforeverandeverandever.
Oneknowsitsometimeswhenonegetsupatthetendersolemndawn-timeandgoesoutandstandsaloneandthrowsone’sheadfarbackandlooksupandupandwatchesthepaleskyslowlychangingandflushingandmarvelousthingshappeninguntiltheEastalmostmakesonecryoutandone’sheartstandsstillatthestrangeunchangingmajestyoftherisingofthesun—whichhasbeenhappeningeverymorningforthousandsandthousandsandthousandsofyears.
Oneknowsitthenforamomentorso.
Andoneknowsitsometimeswhenonestandsbyoneselfinawoodatsunsetandthemysteriousdeepgoldstillnessslantingthroughandunderthebranchesseemstobesayingslowlyagainandagainsomethingonecannotquitehear,howevermuchonetries.
Thensometimestheimmensequietofthedarkblueatnightwithmillionsofstarswaitingandwatchingmakesonesure;andsometimesasoundoffar-offmusicmakesittrue;andsometimesalookinsomeone’seyes.
AnditwaslikethatwithColinwhenhefirstsawandheardandfelttheSpringtimeinsidethefourhighwallsofahiddengarden.
Thatafternoonthewholeworldseemedtodevoteitselftobeingperfectandradiantlybeautifulandkindtooneboy.
Perhapsoutofpureheavenlygoodnessthespringcameandcrownedeverythingitpossiblycouldintothatoneplace.
MorethanonceDickonpausedinwhathewasdoingandstoodstillwithasortofgrowingwonderinhiseyes,shakinghisheadsoftly.
“Eh!Itisgraidely,”hesaid.“I’mtwelvegoin’onthirteenan’there’saloto’afternoonsinthirteenyears,butseemstomelikeIneverseedoneasgraidelyasthis‘ere.”
“Aye,itisagraidelyone,”saidMary,andshesighedformerejoy.“I’llwarrantit’sthegraidelestoneaseverwasinthisworld.”
“Doestha’think,”saidColinwithdreamycarefulness,“ashappenitwasmadeloikethis‘ereallo’purposeforme?”
“Myword!”criedMaryadmiringly,“thatthereisabito’goodYorkshire.Tha’rtshapin’first-rate—thattha’art.”
Anddelightreigned.Theydrewthechairundertheplum-tree,whichwassnow-whitewithblossomsandmusicalwithbees.
Itwaslikeaking’scanopy,afairyking’s.
Therewerefloweringcherry-treesnearandapple-treeswhosebudswerepinkandwhite,andhereandthereonehadburstopenwide.
Betweentheblossomingbranchesofthecanopybitsofblueskylookeddownlikewonderfuleyes.
MaryandDickonworkedalitlehereandthereandColinwatchedthem.
Theybroughthimthingstolookat—budswhichwereopening,budswhichweretightclosed,bitsoftwigwhoseleaveswerejustshowinggreen,thefeatherofawoodpeckerwhichhaddroppedonthegrass,theemptyshellofsomebirdearlyhatched.
Dickonpushedthechairslowlyroundandroundthegarden,stoppingeveryothermomenttolethimlookatwondersspringingoutoftheearthortrailingdownfromtrees.
Itwaslikebeingtakeninstateroundthecountryofamagickingandqueenandshownallthemysteriousrichesitcontained.
“Iwonderifweshallseetherobin?”saidColin.
“Tha’llseehimoftenenowafterabit,”answeredDickon.
“Whenth’eggshatchesoutth’littlechaphe’llbekep’sobusyit’llmakehisheadswim.
Tha’llseehimflyin’backwardan’for’ardcarryin’wormsnighasbigashimsel’an’thatmuchnoisegoin’oninth’nestwhenhegetsthereasfairflustershimsoashescarceknowswhichbigmouthtodropth’firstpiecein.
An’gapin’beaksan’squawksoneveryside.
Mothersaysaswhensheseesth’workarobinhastokeepthemgapin’beaksfilled,shefeelslikeshewasaladywithnothin’todo.
Shesaysshe’sseenth’littlechapswhenitseemedliketh’sweatmustbedroppin’off‘em,thoughfolkcan’tseeit.”
Thismadethemgigglesodelightedlythattheywereobligedtocovertheirmouthswiththeirhands,rememberingthattheymustnotbeheard.
Colinhadbeeninstructedastothelawofwhispersandlowvoicesseveraldaysbefore.
Helikedthemysteriousnessofitanddidhisbest,butinthemidstofexcitedenjoymentitisratherdifficultnevertolaughaboveawhisper.
Everymomentoftheafternoonwasfullofnewthingsandeveryhourthesunshinegrewmoregolden.
ThewheeledchairhadbeendrawnbackunderthecanopyandDickonhadsatdownonthegrassandhadjustdrawnouthispipewhenColinsawsomethinghehadnothadtimetonoticebefore.
“That’saveryoldtreeoverthere,isn’tit?”hesaid.DickonlookedacrossthegrassatthetreeandMarylookedandtherewasabriefmomentofstillness.
“Yes,”answeredDickon,afterit,andhislowvoicehadaverygentlesound.
Marygazedatthetreeandthought.
“Thebranchesarequitegrayandthere’snotasingleleafanywhere,”Colinwenton.“It’squitedead,isn’tit?”
“Aye,”admittedDickon.“Butthemrosesashasclimbedalloveritwillnearhideeverybito’th’deadwoodwhenthey’refullo’leavesan’flowers.Itwon’tlookdeadthen.It’llbeth’prettiestofall.”
Marystillgazedatthetreeandthought.
“Itlooksasifabigbranchhadbeenbrokenoff,”saidColin.“Iwonderhowitwasdone.”
“It’sbeendonemanyayear,”answeredDickon.“Eh!”withasuddenrelievedstartandlayinghishandonColin.“Lookatthatrobin!Thereheis!He’sbeenforagin’forhismate.”
Colinwasalmosttoolatebuthejustcaughtsightofhim,theflashofred-breastedbirdwithsomethinginhisbeak.
Hedartedthroughthegreennessandintotheclose-growncornerandwasoutofsight.
Colinleanedbackonhiscushionagain,laughingalittle.“He’stakingherteatoher.Perhapsit’sfiveo’clock.IthinkI’dlikesometeamyself.”
Andsotheyweresafe.
“ItwasMagicwhichsenttherobin,”saidMarysecretlytoDickonafterward.“IknowitwasMagic.”
ForbothsheandDickonhadbeenafraidColinmightasksomethingaboutthetreewhosebranchhadbrokenofftenyearsagoandtheyhadtalkeditovertogetherandDickonhadstoodandrubbedhisheadinatroubledway.
“Wemunlookasifitwasn’tnodifferentfromth’othertrees,”hehadsaid.“Wecouldn’tnevertellhimhowitbroke,poorlad.Ifhesaysanythingaboutitwemun—wemuntrytolookcheerful.”
“Aye,thatwemun,”hadansweredMary.
Butshehadnotfeltasifshelookedcheerfulwhenshegazedatthetree.
ShewonderedandwonderedinthosefewmomentsiftherewasanyrealityinthatotherthingDickonhadsaid.
Hehadgoneonrubbinghisrust-redhairinapuzzledway,butanicecomfortedlookhadbeguntogrowinhisblueeyes.
“Mrs.Cravenwasaverylovelyyounglady,”hehadgoneonratherhesitatingly.
“An’mothershethinksmaybeshe’saboutMisselthwaitemanyatimelookin’afterMesterColin,sameasallmothersdowhenthey’retookouto’th’world.Theyhavetocomeback,tha’sees.
Happenshe’sbeeninthegardenan’happenitwashersetustowork,an’toldustobringhimhere.”
MaryhadthoughthemeantsomethingaboutMagic.ShewasagreatbelieverinMagic.
SecretlyshequitebelievedthatDickonworkedMagic,ofcoursegoodMagic,oneverythingnearhimandthatwaswhypeoplelikedhimsomuchandwildcreaturesknewhewastheirfriend.
Shewondered,indeed,ifitwerenotpossiblethathisgifthadbroughttherobinjustattherightmomentwhenColinaskedthatdangerousquestion.
ShefeltthathisMagicwasworkingalltheafternoonandmakingColinlooklikeanentirelydifferentboy.
Itdidnotseempossiblethathecouldbethecrazycreaturewhohadscreamedandbeatenandbittenhispillow.
Evenhisivorywhitenessseemedtochange.
Thefaintglowofcolorwhichhadshownonhisfaceandneckandhandswhenhefirstgotinsidethegardenreallyneverquitediedaway.
Helookedasifheweremadeoffleshinsteadofivoryorwax.
Theysawtherobincarryfoodtohismatetwoorthreetimes,anditwassosuggestiveofafternoonteathatColinfelttheymusthavesome.
“Goandmakeoneofthemenservantsbringsomeinabaskettotherhododendronwalk,”hesaid.“AndthenyouandDickoncanbringithere.”
Itwasanagreeableidea,easilycarriedout,andwhenthewhiteclothwasspreaduponthegrass,withhotteaandbutteredtoastandcrumpets,adelightfullyhungrymealwaseaten,andseveralbirdsondomesticerrandspausedtoinquirewhatwasgoingonandwereledintoinvestigatingcrumbswithgreatactivity.
NutandShellwhiskeduptreeswithpiecesofcakeandSoottooktheentirehalfofabutteredcrumpetintoacornerandpeckedatandexaminedandturneditoverandmadehoarseremarksaboutituntilhedecidedtoswallowitalljoyfullyinonegulp.
Theafternoonwasdraggingtowardsitsmellowhour.
Thesunwasdeepeningthegoldofitslances,thebeesweregoinghomeandthebirdswereflyingpastlessoften.
DickonandMaryweresittingonthegrass,thetea-basketwasrepackedreadytobetakenbacktothehouse,andColinwaslyingagainsthiscushionswithhisheavylockspushedbackfromhisforeheadandhisfacelookingquiteanaturalcolor.
“Idon’twantthisafternoontogo,”hesaid;“butIshallcomebacktomorrow,andthedayafter,andthedayafter,andthedayafter.”
“You’llgetplentyoffreshair,won’tyou?”saidMary.
“I’mgoingtogetnothingelse,”heanswered.
“I’veseenthespringnowandI’mgoingtoseethesummer.I’mgoingtoseeeverythinggrowhere.I’mgoingtogrowheremyself.”
“Thattha’will,”saidDickon.“Us’llhavetheewalkin’aboutherean’diggin’sameasotherfolkaforelong.”
Colinflushedtremendously.
“Walk!”hesaid.“Dig!ShallI?”
Dickon’sglanceathimwasdelicatelycautious.NeitherhenorMaryhadeveraskedifanythingwasthematterwithhislegs.
“Forsuretha’will,”hesaidstoutly.“Tha—tha’sgotlegso’thineown,sameasotherfolks!”
MarywasratherfrighteneduntilsheheardColin’sanswer.
“Nothingreallyailsthem,”hesaid,“buttheyaresothinandweak.TheyshakesothatI’mafraidtotrytostandonthem.”
BothMaryandDickondrewarelievedbreath.
“Whentha’stopsbein’afraidtha’ltstandon‘em,”Dickonsaidwithrenewedcheer.“An’tha’ltstopbein’afraidinabit.”
“Ishall?”saidColin,andhelaystillasifhewerewonderingaboutthings.
Theywerereallyveryquietforalittlewhile.Thesunwasdroppinglower.
Itwasthathourwheneverythingstillsitself,andtheyreallyhadhadabusyandexcitingafternoon.
Colinlookedasifhewererestingluxuriously.
Eventhecreatureshadceasedmovingaboutandhaddrawntogetherandwererestingnearthem.
Soothadperchedonalowbranchanddrawnuponeleganddroppedthegrayfilmdrowsilyoverhiseyes.
Maryprivatelythoughthelookedasifhemightsnoreinaminute.
InthemidstofthisstillnessitwasratherstartlingwhenColinhalfliftedhisheadandexclaimedinaloudsuddenlyalarmedwhisper:
“Whoisthatman?”DickonandMaryscrambledtotheirfeet.
“Man!”theybothcriedinlowquickvoices.
Colinpointedtothehighwall.“Look!”hewhisperedexcitedly.“Justlook!”
MaryandDickonwheeledaboutandlooked.TherewasBenWeatherstaff’sindignantfaceglaringatthemoverthewallfromthetopofaladder!HeactuallyshookhisfistatMary.
“IfIwasn’tabachelder,an’tha’wasawencho’mine,”hecried,“I’dgivetheeahidin’!”
Hemountedanotherstepthreateninglyasifitwerehisenergeticintentiontojumpdownanddealwithher;butasshecametowardhimheevidentlythoughtbetterofitandstoodonthetopstepofhisladdershakinghisfistdownather.
“Ineverthowtmucho’thee!”heharangued.
“Icouldna’abidetheeth’firsttimeIseteyesonthee.
Ascrawnybuttermilk-facedyoungbesom,allusaskin’questionsan’pokin’tha’nosewhereitwasna,wanted.
Ineverknowedhowtha’gotsothickwi’me.
Ifithadna’beenforth’robin—drathim—”
“BenWeatherstaff,”calledoutMary,findingherbreath.Shestoodbelowhimandcalleduptohimwithasortofgasp.“BenWeatherstaff,itwastherobinwhoshowedmetheway!”
ThenitdidseemasifBenreallywouldscrambledownonhersideofthewall,hewassooutraged.
“Tha’youngbad‘un!”hecalleddownather.
“Layin’tha’badnessonarobin—notbutwhathe’simpidintenowforanythin’.Himshowin’theeth’way!Him!Eh!
Tha’youngnowt”—shecouldseehisnextwordsburstoutbecausehewasoverpoweredbycuriosity—“howeveri’thisworlddidtha’getin?”
“Itwastherobinwhoshowedmetheway,”sheprotestedobstinately.“Hedidn’tknowhewasdoingitbuthedid.AndIcan’ttellyoufromherewhileyou’reshakingyourfistatme.”
Hestoppedshakinghisfistverysuddenlyatthatverymomentandhisjawactuallydroppedashestaredoverherheadatsomethinghesawcomingoverthegrasstowardhim.
AtthefirstsoundofhistorrentofwordsColinhadbeensosurprisedthathehadonlysatupandlistenedasifhewerespellbound.
ButinthemidstofithehadrecoveredhimselfandbeckonedimperiouslytoDickon.
“Wheelmeoverthere!”hecommanded.“Wheelmequitecloseandstoprightinfrontofhim!”
Andthis,ifyouplease,thisiswhatBenWeatherstaffbeheldandwhichmadehisjawdrop.
AwheeledchairwithluxuriouscushionsandrobeswhichcametowardhimlookingratherlikesomesortofStateCoachbecauseayoungRajahleanedbackinitwithroyalcommandinhisgreatblack-rimmedeyesandathinwhitehandextendedhaughtilytowardhim.
AnditstoppedrightunderBenWeatherstaff’snose.
Itwasreallynowonderhismouthdroppedopen.
“DoyouknowwhoIam?”demandedtheRajah.
HowBenWeatherstaffstared!Hisredoldeyesfixedthemselvesonwhatwasbeforehimasifhewereseeingaghost.Hegazedandgazedandgulpedalumpdownhisthroatanddidnotsayaword.
“DoyouknowwhoIam?”demandedColinstillmoreimperiously.“Answer!”
BenWeatherstaffputhisgnarledhandupandpasseditoverhiseyesandoverhisforeheadandthenhedidanswerinaqueershakyvoice.
“Whotha’art?”hesaid.“Aye,thatIdo—wi’tha’mother’seyesstarin’atmeouto’tha’face.Lordknowshowtha’comehere.Buttha’rtth’poorcripple.”
Colinforgotthathehadeverhadaback.Hisfaceflushedscarletandhesatboltupright.
“I’mnotacripple!”hecriedoutfuriously.“I’mnot!”
“He’snot!”criedMary,almostshoutingupthewallinherfierceindignation.“He’snotgotalumpasbigasapin!Ilookedandtherewasnonethere—notone!”
BenWeatherstaffpassedhishandoverhisforeheadagainandgazedasifhecouldnevergazeenough.
Hishandshookandhismouthshookandhisvoiceshook.
Hewasanignorantoldmanandatactlessoldmanandhecouldonlyrememberthethingshehadheard.
“Tha’—tha’hasn’tgotacrookedback?”hesaidhoarsely.
“No!”shoutedColin.
“Tha’—tha’hasn’tgotcrookedlegs?”quaveredBenmorehoarselyyet.
Itwastoomuch.ThestrengthwhichColinusuallythrewintohistantrumsrushedthroughhimnowinanewway.
Neveryethadhebeenaccusedofcrookedlegs—eveninwhispers—andtheperfectlysimplebeliefintheirexistencewhichwasrevealedbyBenWeatherstaff’svoicewasmorethanRajahfleshandbloodcouldendure.
Hisangerandinsultedpridemadehimforgeteverythingbutthisonemomentandfilledhimwithapowerhehadneverknownbefore,analmostunnaturalstrength.
“Comehere!”heshoutedtoDickon,andheactuallybegantotearthecoveringsoffhislowerlimbsanddisentanglehimself.“Comehere!Comehere!Thisminute!”
Dickonwasbyhissideinasecond.Marycaughtherbreathinashortgaspandfeltherselfturnpale.
“Hecandoit!Hecandoit!Hecandoit!Hecan!”shegabbledovertoherselfunderherbreathasfastasevershecould.
Therewasabrieffiercescramble,therugsweretossedontheground,DickonheldColin’sarm,thethinlegswereout,thethinfeetwereonthegrass.
Colinwasstandingupright—upright—asstraightasanarrowandlookingstrangelytall—hisheadthrownbackandhisstrangeeyesflashinglightning.“Lookatme!”heflungupatBenWeatherstaff.“Justlookatme—you!Justlookatme!”
“He’sasstraightasIam!”criedDickon.“He’sasstraightasanyladi’Yorkshire!”
WhatBenWeatherstaffdidMarythoughtqueerbeyondmeasure.Hechokedandgulpedandsuddenlytearsrandownhisweather-wrinkledcheeksashestruckhisoldhandstogether.
“Eh!”heburstforth,“th’liesfolktells!Tha’rtasthinasalathan’aswhiteasawraith,butthere’snotaknobonthee.Tha’ltmakeamonyet.Godblessthee!”
DickonheldColin’sarmstronglybuttheboyhadnotbeguntofalter.HestoodstraighterandstraighterandlookedBenWeatherstaffintheface.
“I’myourmaster,”hesaid,“whenmyfatherisaway.Andyouaretoobeyme.Thisismygarden.Don’tdaretosayawordaboutit!
YougetdownfromthatladderandgoouttotheLongWalkandMissMarywillmeetyouandbringyouhere.Iwanttotalktoyou.
Wedidnotwantyou,butnowyouwillhavetobeinthesecret.Bequick!”
BenWeatherstaff’scrabbedoldfacewasstillwetwiththatonequeerrushoftears.ItseemedasifhecouldnottakehiseyesfromthinstraightColinstandingonhisfeetwithhisheadthrownback.
“Eh!Lad,”healmostwhispered.“Eh!Mylad!”
Andthenrememberinghimselfhesuddenlytouchedhishatgardenerfashionandsaid,“Yes,sir!Yes,sir!”
andobedientlydisappearedashedescendedtheladder.
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