English
Dr.Cravenhadbeenwaitingsometimeatthehousewhentheyreturnedtoit.
Hehadindeedbeguntowonderifitmightnotbewisetosendsomeoneouttoexplorethegardenpaths.
WhenColinwasbroughtbacktohisroomthepoormanlookedhimoverseriously.
“Youshouldnothavestayedsolong,”hesaid.“Youmustnotoverexertyourself.”
“Iamnottiredatall,”saidColin.“Ithasmademewell.TomorrowIamgoingoutinthemorningaswellasintheafternoon.”
“IamnotsurethatIcanallowit,”answeredDr.Craven.“Iamafraiditwouldnotbewise.”
“Itwouldnotbewisetotrytostopme,”saidColinquiteseriously.“Iamgoing.”
EvenMaryhadfoundoutthatoneofColin’schiefpeculiaritieswasthathedidnotknowintheleastwhatarudelittlebrutehewaswithhiswayoforderingpeopleabout.
Hehadlivedonasortofdesertislandallhislifeandashehadbeenthekingofithehadmadehisownmannersandhadhadnoonetocomparehimselfwith.
MaryhadindeedbeenratherlikehimherselfandsinceshehadbeenatMisselthwaitehadgraduallydiscoveredthatherownmannershadnotbeenofthekindwhichisusualorpopular.
HavingmadethisdiscoveryshenaturallythoughtitofenoughinteresttocommunicatetoColin.
SoshesatandlookedathimcuriouslyforafewminutesafterDr.Cravenhadgone.
Shewantedtomakehimaskherwhyshewasdoingitandofcourseshedid.
“Whatareyoulookingatmefor?”hesaid.
“I’mthinkingthatIamrathersorryforDr.Craven.”
“SoamI,”saidColincalmly,butnotwithoutanairofsomesatisfaction.“Hewon’tgetMisselthwaiteatallnowI’mnotgoingtodie.”
“I’msorryforhimbecauseofthat,ofcourse,”saidMary,“butIwasthinkingjustthenthatitmusthavebeenveryhorridtohavehadtobepolitefortenyearstoaboywhowasalwaysrude.Iwouldneverhavedoneit.”
“AmIrude?”Colininquiredundisturbedly.
“Ifyouhadbeenhisownboyandhehadbeenaslappingsortofman,”saidMary,“hewouldhaveslappedyou.”
“Buthedaren’t,”saidColin.
“No,hedaren’t,”answeredMistressMary,thinkingthethingoutquitewithoutprejudice.
“Nobodyeverdaredtodoanythingyoudidn’tlike—becauseyouweregoingtodieandthingslikethat.Youweresuchapoorthing.”
“But,”announcedColinstubbornly,“Iamnotgoingtobeapoorthing.Iwon’tletpeoplethinkI’mone.Istoodonmyfeetthisafternoon.”
“Itisalwayshavingyourownwaythathasmadeyousoqueer,”Marywenton,thinkingaloud.
Colinturnedhishead,frowning.
“AmIqueer?”hedemanded.
“Yes,”answeredMary,“very.Butyouneedn’tbecross,”sheaddedimpartially,“becausesoamIqueer—andsoisBenWeatherstaff.
ButIamnotasqueerasIwasbeforeIbegantolikepeopleandbeforeIfoundthegarden.”
“Idon’twanttobequeer,”saidColin.“Iamnotgoingtobe,”andhefrownedagainwithdetermination.
Hewasaveryproudboy.HelaythinkingforawhileandthenMarysawhisbeautifulsmilebeginandgraduallychangehiswholeface.
“Ishallstopbeingqueer,”hesaid,“ifIgoeverydaytothegarden.ThereisMagicinthere—goodMagic,youknow,Mary.Iamsurethereis.”“SoamI,”saidMary.
“Evenifitisn’trealMagic,”Colinsaid,“wecanpretenditis.Somethingisthere—something!”
“It’sMagic,”saidMary,“butnotblack.It’saswhiteassnow.”
TheyalwayscalleditMagicandindeeditseemedlikeitinthemonthsthatfollowed—thewonderfulmonths—theradiantmonths—theamazingones.Oh!
Thethingswhichhappenedinthatgarden!
Ifyouhaveneverhadagardenyoucannotunderstand,andifyouhavehadagardenyouwillknowthatitwouldtakeawholebooktodescribeallthatcametopassthere.
Atfirstitseemedthatgreenthingswouldneverceasepushingtheirwaythroughtheearth,inthegrass,inthebeds,eveninthecrevicesofthewalls.
Thenthegreenthingsbegantoshowbudsandthebudsbegantounfurlandshowcolor,everyshadeofblue,everyshadeofpurple,everytintandhueofcrimson.
Initshappydaysflowershadbeentuckedawayintoeveryinchandholeandcorner.
BenWeatherstaffhadseenitdoneandhadhimselfscrapedoutmortarfrombetweenthebricksofthewallandmadepocketsofearthforlovelyclingingthingstogrowon.
Irisandwhiteliliesroseoutofthegrassinsheaves,andthegreenalcovesfilledthemselveswithamazingarmiesoftheblueandwhiteflowerlancesoftalldelphiniumsorcolumbinesorcampanulas.
“Shewasmainfondo’them—shewas,”BenWeatherstaffsaid.
“Shelikedthemthingsaswasalluspointin’uptoth’bluesky,sheusedtotell.
Notasshewasoneo’themaslookeddownonth’earth—nother.
Shejustloveditbutshesaidasth’blueskyalluslookedsojoyful.”
TheseedsDickonandMaryhadplantedgrewasiffairieshadtendedthem.
Satinypoppiesofalltintsdancedinthebreezebythescore,gailydefyingflowerswhichhadlivedinthegardenforyearsandwhichitmightbeconfessedseemedrathertowonderhowsuchnewpeoplehadgotthere.Andtheroses—theroses!
Risingoutofthegrass,tangledroundthesun-dial,wreathingthetreetrunksandhangingfromtheirbranches,climbingupthewallsandspreadingoverthemwithlonggarlandsfallingincascades—theycamealivedaybyday,hourbyhour.
Fairfreshleaves,andbuds—andbuds—tinyatfirstbutswellingandworkingMagicuntiltheyburstanduncurledintocupsofscentdelicatelyspillingthemselvesovertheirbrimsandfillingthegardenair.
Colinsawitall,watchingeachchangeasittookplace.
Everymorninghewasbroughtoutandeveryhourofeachdaywhenitdidn’trainhespentinthegarden.Evengraydayspleasedhim.
Hewouldlieonthegrass“watchingthingsgrowing,”hesaid.
Ifyouwatchedlongenough,hedeclared,youcouldseebudsunsheaththemselves.
Alsoyoucouldmaketheacquaintanceofstrangebusyinsectthingsrunningaboutonvariousbutevidentlyseriouserrands,sometimescarryingtinyscrapsofstraworfeatherorfood,orclimbingbladesofgrassasiftheyweretreesfromwhosetopsonecouldlookouttoexplorethecountry.
Amolethrowingupitsmoundattheendofitsburrowandmakingitswayoutatlastwiththelong-nailedpawswhichlookedsolikeelfishhands,hadabsorbedhimonewholemorning.
Ants’ways,beetles’ways,bees’ways,frogs’ways,birds’ways,plants’ways,gavehimanewworldtoexploreandwhenDickonrevealedthemallandaddedfoxes’ways,otters’ways,ferrets’ways,squirrels’ways,andtrout’andwater-rats’andbadgers’ways,therewasnoendtothethingstotalkaboutandthinkover.
AndthiswasnotthehalfoftheMagic.ThefactthathehadreallyoncestoodonhisfeethadsetColinthinkingtremendouslyandwhenMarytoldhimofthespellshehadworkedhewasexcitedandapprovedofitgreatly.Hetalkedofitconstantly.
“OfcoursetheremustbelotsofMagicintheworld,”hesaidwiselyoneday,“butpeopledon’tknowwhatitislikeorhowtomakeit.
Perhapsthebeginningisjusttosaynicethingsaregoingtohappenuntilyoumakethemhappen.Iamgoingtotryandexperiment”
ThenextmorningwhentheywenttothesecretgardenhesentatonceforBenWeatherstaff.
BencameasquicklyashecouldandfoundtheRajahstandingonhisfeetunderatreeandlookingverygrandbutalsoverybeautifullysmiling.
“Goodmorning,BenWeatherstaff,”hesaid.“IwantyouandDickonandMissMarytostandinarowandlistentomebecauseIamgoingtotellyousomethingveryimportant.”
“Aye,aye,sir!”answeredBenWeatherstaff,touchinghisforehead.
(OneofthelongconcealedcharmsofBenWeatherstaffwasthatinhisboyhoodhehadoncerunawaytoseaandhadmadevoyages.Sohecouldreplylikeasailor.)
“Iamgoingtotryascientificexperiment,”explainedtheRajah.“WhenIgrowupIamgoingtomakegreatscientificdiscoveriesandIamgoingtobeginnowwiththisexperiment”
“Aye,aye,sir!”saidBenWeatherstaffpromptly,thoughthiswasthefirsttimehehadheardofgreatscientificdiscoveries.
ItwasthefirsttimeMaryhadheardofthem,either,butevenatthisstageshehadbeguntorealizethat,queerashewas,Colinhadreadaboutagreatmanysingularthingsandwassomehowaveryconvincingsortofboy.
Whenhehelduphisheadandfixedhisstrangeeyesonyouitseemedasifyoubelievedhimalmostinspiteofyourselfthoughhewasonlytenyearsold—goingoneleven.
Atthismomenthewasespeciallyconvincingbecausehesuddenlyfeltthefascinationofactuallymakingasortofspeechlikeagrown-upperson.
“ThegreatscientificdiscoveriesIamgoingtomake,”hewenton,“willbeaboutMagic.
Magicisagreatthingandscarcelyanyoneknowsanythingaboutitexceptafewpeopleinoldbooks—andMaryalittle,becauseshewasborninIndiawheretherearefakirs.
IbelieveDickonknowssomeMagic,butperhapshedoesn’tknowheknowsit.Hecharmsanimalsandpeople.
Iwouldneverhavelethimcometoseemeifhehadnotbeenananimalcharmer—whichisaboycharmer,too,becauseaboyisananimal.
IamsurethereisMagicineverything,onlywehavenotsenseenoughtogetholdofitandmakeitdothingsforus—likeelectricityandhorsesandsteam.”
ThissoundedsoimposingthatBenWeatherstaffbecamequiteexcitedandreallycouldnotkeepstill.“Aye,aye,sir,”hesaidandhebegantostandupquitestraight.
“WhenMaryfoundthisgardenitlookedquitedead,”theoratorproceeded.
“Thensomethingbeganpushingthingsupoutofthesoilandmakingthingsoutofnothing.
Onedaythingsweren’tthereandanothertheywere.
Ihadneverwatchedthingsbeforeanditmademefeelverycurious.
ScientificpeoplearealwayscuriousandIamgoingtobescientific.Ikeepsayingtomyself,‘Whatisit?Whatisit?’It’ssomething.Itcan’tbenothing!
Idon’tknowitsnamesoIcallitMagic.
IhaveneverseenthesunrisebutMaryandDickonhaveandfromwhattheytellmeIamsurethatisMagictoo.Somethingpushesitupanddrawsit.
SometimessinceI’vebeeninthegardenI’velookedupthroughthetreesattheskyandIhavehadastrangefeelingofbeinghappyasifsomethingwerepushinganddrawinginmychestandmakingmebreathefast.
Magicisalwayspushinganddrawingandmakingthingsoutofnothing.
EverythingismadeoutofMagic,leavesandtrees,flowersandbirds,badgersandfoxesandsquirrelsandpeople.Soitmustbeallaroundus.Inthisgarden—inalltheplaces.
TheMagicinthisgardenhasmademestandupandknowIamgoingtolivetobeaman.
Iamgoingtomakethescientificexperimentoftryingtogetsomeandputitinmyselfandmakeitpushanddrawmeandmakemestrong.
Idon’tknowhowtodoitbutIthinkthatifyoukeepthinkingaboutitandcallingitperhapsitwillcome.
Perhapsthatisthefirstbabywaytogetit.
WhenIwasgoingtotrytostandthatfirsttimeMarykeptsayingtoherselfasfastasshecould,‘Youcandoit!Youcandoit!’andIdid.
Ihadtotrymyselfatthesametime,ofcourse,butherMagichelpedme—andsodidDickon’s.
EverymorningandeveningandasofteninthedaytimeasIcanrememberIamgoingtosay,‘Magicisinme!Magicismakingmewell!
IamgoingtobeasstrongasDickon,asstrongasDickon!’Andyoumustalldoit,too.
ThatismyexperimentWillyouhelp,BenWeatherstaff?”
“Aye,aye,sir!”saidBenWeatherstaff.“Aye,aye!”
“Ifyoukeepdoingiteverydayasregularlyassoldiersgothroughdrillweshallseewhatwillhappenandfindoutiftheexperimentsucceeds.
YoulearnthingsbysayingthemoverandoverandthinkingaboutthemuntiltheystayinyourmindforeverandIthinkitwillbethesamewithMagic.
Ifyoukeepcallingittocometoyouandhelpyouitwillgettobepartofyouanditwillstayanddothings.”
“IonceheardanofficerinIndiatellmymotherthattherewerefakirswhosaidwordsoverandoverthousandsoftimes,”saidMary.
“I’veheardJemFettleworth’swifesayth’samethingoverthousandso’times—callin’Jemadrunkenbrute,”saidBenWeatherstaffdryly.
“Summatalluscomeo’that,sureenough.
Hegaveheragoodhidin’an’wenttoth’BlueLionan’gotasdrunkasalord.”
Colindrewhisbrowstogetherandthoughtafewminutes.Thenhecheeredup.
“Well,”hesaid,“youseesomethingdidcomeofit.
SheusedthewrongMagicuntilshemadehimbeather.
Ifshe’dusedtherightMagicandhadsaidsomethingniceperhapshewouldn’thavegotasdrunkasalordandperhaps—perhapshemighthaveboughtheranewbonnet.”
BenWeatherstaffchuckledandtherewasshrewdadmirationinhislittleoldeyes.
“Tha’rtacleverladaswellasastraight-leggedone,MesterColin,”hesaid.
“NexttimeIseeBessFettleworthI’llgiveherabitofahinto’whatMagicwilldoforher.
She’dberarean’pleasedifth’sinetifik‘sperimentworked—an’so‘udJem.”
Dickonhadstoodlisteningtothelecture,hisroundeyesshiningwithcuriousdelight.
NutandShellwereonhisshouldersandheheldalong-earedwhiterabbitinhisarmandstrokedandstrokeditsoftlywhileitlaiditsearsalongitsbackandenjoyeditself.
“Doyouthinktheexperimentwillwork?”
Colinaskedhim,wonderingwhathewasthinking.
HesooftenwonderedwhatDickonwasthinkingwhenhesawhimlookingathimoratoneofhis“creatures”withhishappywidesmile.
Hesmilednowandhissmilewaswiderthanusual.
“Aye,”heanswered,“thatIdo.It’llworksameasth’seedsdowhenth’sunshineson‘em.It’llworkforsure.Shallusbeginitnow?”
ColinwasdelightedandsowasMary.FiredbyrecollectionsoffakirsanddevoteesinillustrationsColinsuggestedthattheyshouldallsitcross-leggedunderthetreewhichmadeacanopy.
“Itwillbelikesittinginasortoftemple,”saidColin.“I’mrathertiredandIwanttositdown.”
“Eh!”saidDickon,“tha’mustn’tbeginbysayin’tha’rttired.Tha’mightspoilth’Magic.”
Colinturnedandlookedathim—intohisinnocentroundeyes.
“That’strue,”hesaidslowly.“ImustonlythinkoftheMagic.”
Itallseemedmostmajesticandmysteriouswhentheysatdownintheircircle.
BenWeatherstafffeltasifhehadsomehowbeenledintoappearingataprayer-meeting.
Ordinarilyhewasveryfixedinbeingwhathecalled“agen’prayer-meetin’s”butthisbeingtheRajah’saffairhedidnotresentitandwasindeedinclinedtobegratifiedatbeingcalledupontoassist.MistressMaryfeltsolemnlyenraptured.
Dickonheldhisrabbitinhisarm,andperhapshemadesomecharmer’ssignalnooneheard,forwhenhesatdown,cross-leggedliketherest,thecrow,thefox,thesquirrelsandthelambslowlydrewnearandmadepartofthecircle,settlingeachintoaplaceofrestasifoftheirowndesire.
“The‘creatures’havecome,”saidColingravely.“Theywanttohelpus.”
Colinreallylookedquitebeautiful,Marythought.
Heheldhisheadhighasifhefeltlikeasortofpriestandhisstrangeeyeshadawonderfullookinthem.
Thelightshoneonhimthroughthetreecanopy.
“Nowwewillbegin,”hesaid.“Shallweswaybackwardandforward,Mary,asifweweredervishes?”
“Icanna’donoswayin’back’ardandfor’ard,”saidBenWeatherstaff.“I’vegotth’rheumatics.”
“TheMagicwilltakethemaway,”saidColininaHighPriesttone,“butwewon’tswayuntilithasdoneit.Wewillonlychant.”
“Icanna’donochantin’”saidBenWeatherstaffatrifletestily.“Theyturnedmeouto’th’churchchoirth’onlytimeIevertriedit.”
Noonesmiled.Theywerealltoomuchinearnest.Colin’sfacewasnotevencrossedbyashadow.HewasthinkingonlyoftheMagic.
“ThenIwillchant,”hesaid.Andhebegan,lookinglikeastrangeboyspirit.“Thesunisshining—thesunisshining.ThatistheMagic.
Theflowersaregrowing—therootsarestirring.ThatistheMagic.
BeingaliveistheMagic—beingstrongistheMagic.TheMagicisinme—theMagicisinme.Itisinme—itisinme.It’sineveryoneofus.It’sinBenWeatherstaff’sback.Magic!Magic!Comeandhelp!”
Hesaiditagreatmanytimes—notathousandtimesbutquiteagoodlynumber.Marylistenedentranced.
Shefeltasifitwereatoncequeerandbeautifulandshewantedhimtogoonandon.
BenWeatherstaffbegantofeelsoothedintoasortofdreamwhichwasquiteagreeable.
Thehummingofthebeesintheblossomsmingledwiththechantingvoiceanddrowsilymeltedintoadoze.
Dickonsatcross-leggedwithhisrabbitasleeponhisarmandahandrestingonthelamb’sback.
Soothadpushedawayasquirrelandhuddledclosetohimonhisshoulder,thegrayfilmdroppedoverhiseyes.AtlastColinstopped.
“NowIamgoingtowalkroundthegarden,”heannounced.
BenWeatherstaff’sheadhadjustdroppedforwardandhelifteditwithajerk.
“Youhavebeenasleep,”saidColin.
“Nowto’th’sort,”mumbledBen.“Th’sermonwasgoodenow—butI’mboundtogetoutaforeth’collection.”
Hewasnotquiteawakeyet.
“You’renotinchurch,”saidColin.
“Notme,”saidBen,straighteninghimself.“WhosaidIwere?Iheardeverybitofit.Yousaidth’Magicwasinmyback.Th’doctorcallsitrheumatics.”
TheRajahwavedhishand.
“ThatwasthewrongMagic,”hesaid.“Youwillgetbetter.Youhavemypermissiontogotoyourwork.Butcomebacktomorrow.”
“I’dliketoseetheewalkroundthegarden,”gruntedBen.
Itwasnotanunfriendlygrunt,butitwasagrunt.
Infact,beingastubbornoldpartyandnothavingentirefaithinMagichehadmadeuphismindthatifheweresentawayhewouldclimbhisladderandlookoverthewallsothathemightbereadytohobblebackiftherewereanystumbling.
TheRajahdidnotobjecttohisstayingandsotheprocessionwasformed.Itreallydidlooklikeaprocession.
ColinwasatitsheadwithDickonononesideandMaryontheother.
BenWeatherstaffwalkedbehind,andthe“creatures”trailedafterthem,thelambandthefoxcubkeepingclosetoDickon,thewhiterabbithoppingalongorstoppingtonibbleandSootfollowingwiththesolemnityofapersonwhofelthimselfincharge.
Itwasaprocessionwhichmovedslowlybutwithdignity.Everyfewyardsitstoppedtorest.
ColinleanedonDickon’sarmandprivatelyBenWeatherstaffkeptasharplookout,butnowandthenColintookhishandfromitssupportandwalkedafewstepsalone.
Hisheadwasheldupallthetimeandhelookedverygrand.
“TheMagicisinme!”hekeptsaying.“TheMagicismakingmestrong!Icanfeelit!Icanfeelit!”
Itseemedverycertainthatsomethingwasupholdingandupliftinghim.
Hesatontheseatsinthealcoves,andonceortwicehesatdownonthegrassandseveraltimeshepausedinthepathandleanedonDickon,buthewouldnotgiveupuntilhehadgoneallroundthegarden.
Whenhereturnedtothecanopytreehischeekswereflushedandhelookedtriumphant.
“Ididit!TheMagicworked!”hecried.“Thatismyfirstscientificdiscovery.”.
“WhatwillDr.Cravensay?”brokeoutMary.
“Hewon’tsayanything,”Colinanswered,“becausehewillnotbetold.
Thisistobethebiggestsecretofall.
NooneistoknowanythingaboutituntilIhavegrownsostrongthatIcanwalkandrunlikeanyotherboy.
IshallcomehereeverydayinmychairandIshallbetakenbackinit.
Iwon’thavepeoplewhisperingandaskingquestionsandIwon’tletmyfatherhearaboutituntiltheexperimenthasquitesucceeded.
ThensometimewhenhecomesbacktoMisselthwaiteIshalljustwalkintohisstudyandsay‘HereIam;Iamlikeanyotherboy.
IamquitewellandIshalllivetobeaman.
Ithasbeendonebyascientificexperiment.’”
“Hewillthinkheisinadream,”criedMary.“Hewon’tbelievehiseyes.”
Colinflushedtriumphantly.Hehadmadehimselfbelievethathewasgoingtogetwell,whichwasreallymorethanhalfthebattle,ifhehadbeenawareofit.
Andthethoughtwhichstimulatedhimmorethananyotherwasthisimaginingwhathisfatherwouldlooklikewhenhesawthathehadasonwhowasasstraightandstrongasotherfathers’sons.
Oneofhisdarkestmiseriesintheunhealthymorbidpastdayshadbeenhishatredofbeingasicklyweak-backedboywhosefatherwasafraidtolookathim.
“He’llbeobligedtobelievethem,”hesaid.“OneofthethingsIamgoingtodo,aftertheMagicworksandbeforeIbegintomakescientificdiscoveries,istobeanathlete.”
“Weshallhavetheetakin’toboxin’inaweekorso,”saidBenWeatherstaff.“Tha’ltendwi’winnin’th’Beltan’bein’championprize-fighterofallEngland.”
Colinfixedhiseyesonhimsternly.
“Weatherstaff,”hesaid,“thatisdisrespectful.
Youmustnottakelibertiesbecauseyouareinthesecret.
HowevermuchtheMagicworksIshallnotbeaprize-fighter.IshallbeaScientificDiscoverer.”
“Axpardon—axpardon,sir,”answeredBen,touchinghisforeheadinsalute.
“Ioughttohaveseeditwasn’tajokin’matter,”buthiseyestwinkledandsecretlyhewasimmenselypleased.
Hereallydidnotmindbeingsnubbedsincethesnubbingmeantthattheladwasgainingstrengthandspirit.
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