English
ThesecretgardenwasnottheonlyoneDickonworkedin.
Roundthecottageonthemoortherewasapieceofgroundenclosedbyalowwallofroughstones.
EarlyinthemorningandlateinthefadingtwilightandonallthedaysColinandMarydidnotseehim,Dickonworkedthereplantingortendingpotatoesandcabbages,turnipsandcarrotsandherbsforhismother.
Inthecompanyofhis“creatures”hedidwondersthereandwasnevertiredofdoingthem,itseemed.
WhilehedugorweededhewhistledorsangbitsofYorkshiremoorsongsortalkedtoSootorCaptainorthebrothersandsistershehadtaughttohelphim.
“We’dnevergetonascomfortableaswedo,”Mrs.Sowerbysaid,“ifitwasn’tforDickon’sgarden.Anything’llgrowforhim.
His‘tatersandcabbagesistwiceth’sizeofanyoneelse’san’they’vegotaflavorwith‘emasnobody’shas.”
Whenshefoundamomenttospareshelikedtogooutandtalktohim.
Aftersuppertherewasstillalongcleartwilighttoworkinandthatwasherquiettime.
Shecouldsituponthelowroughwallandlookonandhearstoriesoftheday.Shelovedthistime.
Therewerenotonlyvegetablesinthisgarden.
Dickonhadboughtpennypackagesofflowerseedsnowandthenandsownbrightsweet-scentedthingsamonggooseberrybushesandevencabbagesandhegrewbordersofmignonetteandpinksandpansiesandthingswhoseseedshecouldsaveyearafteryearorwhoserootswouldbloomeachspringandspreadintimeintofineclumps.
ThelowwallwasoneoftheprettiestthingsinYorkshirebecausehehadtuckedmoorlandfoxgloveandfernsandrock-cressandhedgerowflowersintoeverycreviceuntilonlyhereandthereglimpsesofthestonesweretobeseen.
“Allachap’sgottodotomake‘emthrive,mother,”hewouldsay,“istobefriendswith‘emforsure.They’rejustliketh’‘creatures.’
Ifthey’rethirstygive‘emdrinkandifthey’rehungrygive‘emabito’food.Theywanttolivesameaswedo.
IftheydiedIshouldfeelasifI’dbeenabadladandsomehowtreatedthemheartless.”
ItwasinthesetwilighthoursthatMrs.SowerbyheardofallthathappenedatMisselthwaiteManor.
Atfirstshewasonlytoldthat“MesterColin”hadtakenafancytogoingoutintothegroundswithMissMaryandthatitwasdoinghimgood.
ButitwasnotlongbeforeitwasagreedbetweenthetwochildrenthatDickon’smothermight“comeintothesecret.”
Somehowitwasnotdoubtedthatshewas“safeforsure.”
SoonebeautifulstilleveningDickontoldthewholestory,withallthethrillingdetailsoftheburiedkeyandtherobinandthegrayhazewhichhadseemedlikedeadnessandthesecretMistressMaryhadplannednevertoreveal.
ThecomingofDickonandhowithadbeentoldtohim,thedoubtofMesterColinandthefinaldramaofhisintroductiontothehiddendomain,combinedwiththeincidentofBenWeatherstaff’sangryfacepeeringoverthewallandMesterColin’ssuddenindignantstrength,madeMrs.Sowerby’snice-lookingfacequitechangecolorseveraltimes.
“Myword!”shesaid.
“Itwasagoodthingthatlittlelasscametoth’Manor.
It’sbeenth’makin’o’heran’th’savin,o’him.Standin’onhisfeet!
An’usallthinkin’hewasapoorhalf-wittedladwithnotastraightboneinhim.”
Sheaskedagreatmanyquestionsandherblueeyeswerefullofdeepthinking.
“Whatdotheymakeofitatth’Manor—himbeingsowellan’cheerfulan’nevercomplainin’?”sheinquired.
“Theydon’tknowwhattomakeofit,”answeredDickon.
“Everydayascomesroundhisfacelooksdifferent.
It’sfillin’outanddoesn’tlooksosharpan’th’waxycolorisgoin’.
Buthehastodohisbito’complainin’,”withahighlyentertainedgrin.
“Whatfor,i’Mercy’sname?”askedMrs.Sowerby.
Dickonchuckled.
“Hedoesittokeepthemfromguessin’what’shappened.
Ifthedoctorknewhe’dfoundouthecouldstandonhisfeethe’dlikelywriteandtellMesterCraven.
MesterColin’ssavin’th’secrettotellhimself.
He’sgoin’topractisehisMagiconhislegseverydaytillhisfathercomesbackan’thenhe’sgoin’tomarchintohisrooman’showhimhe’sasstraightasotherlads.
Buthiman’MissMarythinksit’sbestplantodoabito’groanin’an’frettin’nowan’thentothrowfolkoffth’scent.”
Mrs.Sowerbywaslaughingalowcomfortablelaughlongbeforehehadfinishedhislastsentence.
“Eh!”shesaid,“thatpair’senjoyin’their-selvesI’llwarrant.
They’llgetagoodbito’actin’outofitan’there’snothin’childrenlikesasmuchasplayactin’.Let’shearwhattheydo,Dickonlad.”
Dickonstoppedweedingandsatuponhisheelstotellher.Hiseyesweretwinklingwithfun.
“MesterColiniscarrieddowntohischaireverytimehegoesout,”heexplained.
“An’hefliesoutatJohn,th’footman,fornotcarryin’himcarefulenough.
Hemakeshimselfashelplesslookin’ashecanan’neverliftshisheaduntilwe’reouto’sighto’th’house.
An’hegruntsan’fretsagoodbitwhenhe’sbein’settledintohischair.
Himan’MissMary’sbothgottoenjoyin’itan’whenhegroansan’complainsshe’llsay,‘PoorColin!Doesithurtyousomuch?Areyousoweakasthat,poorColin?’
—butth’troubleisthatsometimestheycanscarcekeepfromburstin’outlaughin’.
Whenwegetsafeintothegardentheylaughtillthey’venobreathlefttolaughwith.
An’theyhavetostufftheirfacesintoMesterColin’scushionstokeepthegardenersfromhearin’,ifanyof,‘em’sabout.”
“Th’moretheylaughth’betterfor‘em!”saidMrs.Sowerby,stilllaughingherself.“Goodhealthychildlaughin’sbetterthanpillsanydayo’th’year.Thatpair’llplumpupforsure.”
“Theyareplumpin’up,”saidDickon.“They’rethathungrytheydon’tknowhowtogetenoughtoeatwithoutmakin’talk.
MesterColinsaysifhekeepssendin’formorefoodtheywon’tbelievehe’saninvalidatall.
MissMarysaysshe’lllethimeathershare,buthesaysthatifshegoeshungryshe’llgetthinan’theymunbothgetfatatonce.”
Mrs.Sowerbylaughedsoheartilyattherevelationofthisdifficultythatshequiterockedbackwardandforwardinherbluecloak,andDickonlaughedwithher.
“I’lltelltheewhat,lad,”Mrs.Sowerbysaidwhenshecouldspeak.“I’vethoughtofawaytohelp‘em.
Whentha’goesto‘eminth’mornin’stha’shalltakeapailo’goodnewmilkan’I’llbake‘emacrustycottageloaforsomebunswi’currantsin‘em,sameasyouchildrenlike.
Nothin’ssogoodasfreshmilkan’bread.
Thentheycouldtakeoffth’edgeo’theirhungerwhiletheywereintheirgardenan’th,finefoodtheygetindoors‘udpolishoffth’corners.”
“Eh!mother!”
saidDickonadmiringly,“whatawondertha’art!Tha’alwaysseesawayouto’things.Theywasquiteinapotheryesterday.
Theydidn’tseehowtheywastomanagewithoutorderin’upmorefood—theyfeltthatemptyinside.”
“They’retwoyoung‘unsgrowin’fast,an’health’scomin’backtobothof‘em.
Childrenlikethatfeelslikeyoungwolvesan’food’sfleshan’bloodto‘em,”saidMrs.Sowerby.
ThenshesmiledDickon’sowncurvingsmile.“Eh!
butthey’reenjoyin’theirselvesforsure,”shesaid.
Shewasquiteright,thecomfortablewonderfulmothercreature—andshehadneverbeenmoresothanwhenshesaidtheir“playactin’”wouldbetheirjoy.
ColinandMaryfounditoneoftheirmostthrillingsourcesofentertainment.
TheideaofprotectingthemselvesfromsuspicionhadbeenunconsciouslysuggestedtothemfirstbythepuzzlednurseandthenbyDr.Cravenhimself.
“Yourappetite.Isimprovingverymuch,MasterColin,”thenursehadsaidoneday.“Youusedtoeatnothing,andsomanythingsdisagreedwithyou.”
“Nothingdisagreeswithmenow”repliedColin,andthenseeingthenurselookingathimcuriouslyhesuddenlyrememberedthatperhapsheoughtnottoappeartoowelljustyet.
“Atleastthingsdon’tsooftendisagreewithme.It’sthefreshair.”
“Perhapsitis,”saidthenurse,stilllookingathimwithamystifiedexpression.“ButImusttalktoDr.Cravenaboutit.”
“Howshestaredatyou!”saidMarywhenshewentaway.“Asifshethoughttheremustbesomethingtofindout.”
“Iwon’thaveherfindingoutthings,”saidColin.“Noonemustbegintofindoutyet.”
WhenDr.Cravencamethatmorningheseemedpuzzled,also.Heaskedanumberofquestions,toColin’sgreatannoyance.
“Youstayoutinthegardenagreatdeal,”hesuggested.“Wheredoyougo?”
Colinputonhisfavoriteairofdignifiedindifferencetoopinion.
“IwillnotletanyoneknowwhereIgo,”heanswered.“IgotoaplaceIlike.Everyonehasorderstokeepoutoftheway.Iwon’tbewatchedandstaredat.Youknowthat!”
“YouseemtobeoutalldaybutIdonotthinkithasdoneyouharm—Idonotthinkso.Thenursesaysthatyoueatmuchmorethanyouhaveeverdonebefore.”
“Perhaps,”saidColin,promptedbyasuddeninspiration,“perhapsitisanunnaturalappetite.”
“Idonotthinkso,asyourfoodseemstoagreewithyou,”saidDr.Craven.“Youaregainingfleshrapidlyandyourcolorisbetter.”
“Perhaps—perhapsIambloatedandfeverish,”saidColin,assumingadiscouragingairofgloom.
“Peoplewhoarenotgoingtoliveareoften—different.”Dr.Cravenshookhishead.
HewasholdingColin’swristandhepusheduphissleeveandfelthisarm.
“Youarenotfeverish,”hesaidthoughtfully,“andsuchfleshasyouhavegainedishealthy.
Ifyoucankeepthisup,myboy,weneednottalkofdying.
Yourfatherwillbehappytohearofthisremarkableimprovement.”
“Iwon’thavehimtold!”Colinbrokeforthfiercely.
“ItwillonlydisappointhimifIgetworseagain—andImaygetworsethisverynight.Imighthavearagingfever.
IfeelasifImightbebeginningtohaveonenow.
Iwon’thaveletterswrittentomyfather—Iwon’t—Iwon’t!
Youaremakingmeangryandyouknowthatisbadforme.Ifeelhotalready.
IhatebeingwrittenaboutandbeingtalkedoverasmuchasIhatebeingstaredat!”
“Hush-h!Myboy,”Dr.Cravensoothedhim.“Nothingshallbewrittenwithoutyourpermission.Youaretoosensitiveaboutthings.Youmustnotundothegoodwhichhasbeendone.”
HesaidnomoreaboutwritingtoMr.Cravenandwhenhesawthenurseheprivatelywarnedherthatsuchapossibilitymustnotbementionedtothepatient.
“Theboyisextraordinarilybetter,”hesaid.“Hisadvanceseemsalmostabnormal.
Butofcourseheisdoingnowofhisownfreewillwhatwecouldnotmakehimdobefore.
Still,heexciteshimselfveryeasilyandnothingmustbesaidtoirritatehim.”
MaryandColinweremuchalarmedandtalkedtogetheranxiously.
Fromthistimedatedtheirplanof“playactin’.”
“Imaybeobligedtohaveatantrum,”saidColinregretfully.
“Idon’twanttohaveoneandI’mnotmiserableenoughnowtoworkmyselfintoabigone.PerhapsIcouldn’thaveoneatall.
Thatlumpdoesn’tcomeinmythroatnowandIkeepthinkingofnicethingsinsteadofhorribleones.
ButiftheytalkaboutwritingtomyfatherIshallhavetodosomething.”
Hemadeuphismindtoeatless,butunfortunatelyitwasnotpossibletocarryoutthisbrilliantideawhenhewakenedeachmorningwithanamazingappetiteandthetablenearhissofawassetwithabreakfastofhome-madebreadandfreshbutter,snow-whiteeggs,raspberryjamandclottedcream.
Maryalwaysbreakfastedwithhimandwhentheyfoundthemselvesatthetable—particularlyifthereweredelicateslicesofsizzlinghamsendingforthtemptingodorsfromunderahotsilvercover—theywouldlookintoeachother’seyesindesperation.
“Ithinkweshallhavetoeatitallthismorning,Mary,”Colinalwaysendedbysaying.“Wecansendawaysomeofthelunchandagreatdealofthedinner.”
Buttheyneverfoundtheycouldsendawayanythingandthehighlypolishedconditionoftheemptyplatesreturnedtothepantryawakenedmuchcomment.
“Idowish,”Colinwouldsayalso,“Idowishtheslicesofhamwerethicker,andonemuffineachisnotenoughforanyone.”
“It’senoughforapersonwhoisgoingtodie,”answeredMarywhenfirstsheheardthis,“butit’snotenoughforapersonwhoisgoingtolive.
IsometimesfeelasifIcouldeatthreewhenthosenicefreshheatherandgorsesmellsfromthemoorcomepouringinattheopenwindow.”
ThemorningthatDickon—aftertheyhadbeenenjoyingthemselvesinthegardenforabouttwohours—wentbehindabigrosebushandbroughtforthtwotinpailsandrevealedthatonewasfullofrichnewmilkwithcreamonthetopofit,andthattheotherheldcottage-madecurrantbunsfoldedinacleanblueandwhitenapkin,bunssocarefullytuckedinthattheywerestillhot,therewasariotofsurprisedjoyfulness.
WhatawonderfulthingforMrs.Sowerbytothinkof!Whatakind,cleverwomanshemustbe!Howgoodthebunswere!Andwhatdeliciousfreshmilk!
“MagicisinherjustasitisinDickon,”saidColin.
“Itmakesherthinkofwaystodothings—nicethings.SheisaMagicperson.
Tellherwearegrateful,Dickon—extremelygrateful.”
Hewasgiventousingrathergrown-upphrasesattimes.Heenjoyedthem.
Helikedthissomuchthatheimproveduponit.
“Tellhershehasbeenmostbounteousandourgratitudeisextreme.”
Andthenforgettinghisgrandeurhefelltoandstuffedhimselfwithbunsanddrankmilkoutofthepailincopiousdraughtsinthemannerofanyhungrylittleboywhohadbeentakingunusualexerciseandbreathinginmoorlandairandwhosebreakfastwasmorethantwohoursbehindhim.
Thiswasthebeginningofmanyagreeableincidentsofthesamekind.
TheyactuallyawoketothefactthatasMrs.Sowerbyhadfourteenpeopletoprovidefoodforshemightnothaveenoughtosatisfytwoextraappetiteseveryday.
Sotheyaskedhertoletthemsendsomeoftheirshillingstobuythings.
DickonmadethestimulatingdiscoverythatinthewoodintheparkoutsidethegardenwhereMaryhadfirstfoundhimpipingtothewildcreaturestherewasadeeplittlehollowwhereyoucouldbuildasortoftinyovenwithstonesandroastpotatoesandeggsinit.
Roastedeggswereapreviouslyluxuryandveryhotpotatoeswithsaltandfreshbutterinthemwerefitforawoodlandking—besidesbeingdeliciouslysatisfying.
Youcouldbuybothpotatoesandeggsandeatasmanyasyoulikedwithoutfeelingasifyouweretakingfoodoutofthemouthsoffourteenpeople.
EverybeautifulmorningtheMagicwasworkedbythemysticcircleundertheplum-treewhichprovidedacanopyofthickeninggreenleavesafteritsbriefblossom-timewasended.
AftertheceremonyColinalwaystookhiswalkingexerciseandthroughoutthedayheexercisedhisnewlyfoundpoweratintervals.
Eachdayhegrewstrongerandcouldwalkmoresteadilyandcovermoreground.
AndeachdayhisbeliefintheMagicgrewstronger—aswellitmight.
HetriedoneexperimentafteranotherashefelthimselfgainingstrengthanditwasDickonwhoshowedhimthebestthingsofall.
“Yesterday,”hesaidonemorningafteranabsence,“IwenttoThwaiteformotheran’nearth’BlueCowInnIseedBobHaworth.He’sthestrongestchaponth’moor.
He’sthechampionwrestleran’hecanjumphigherthananyotherchapan’throwth’hammerfarther.
He’sgoneallth’waytoScotlandforth’sportssomeyears.
He’sknowedmeeversinceIwasalittle‘unan’he’safriendlysortan’Iaxedhimsomequestions.
Th’gentrycallshimaathleteandIthoughto’thee,MesterColin,andIsays,‘Howdidtha’maketha’musclesstickoutthatway,Bob?
Didtha’doanythin’extratomakethysel’sostrong?’An’hesays‘Well,yes,lad,Idid.
AstrongmaninashowthatcametoThwaiteonceshowedmehowtoexercisemyarmsan’legsan’everymuscleinmybody.
An’Isays,‘Couldadelicatechapmakehimselfstrongerwith‘em,Bob?’
an’helaughedan’says,‘Arttha’th’delicatechap?’
an’Isays,‘No,butIknowsayounggentlemanthat’sgettin’wellofalongillnessan’IwishIknowedsomeo’themtrickstotellhimabout.’
Ididn’tsaynonamesan,hedidn’tasknone.
He’sfriendlysameasIsaidan’hestoodupan’showedmegood-naturedlike,an’IimitatedwhathedidtillIknoweditbyheart.”
Colinhadbeenlisteningexcitedly.
“Canyoushowme?”hecried.“Willyou?”
“Aye,tobesure,”Dickonanswered,gettingup.“Buthesaystha’mundo‘emgentleatfirstan’becarefulnottotirethysel’.Restinbetweentimesan’takedeepbreathsan’don’toverdo.”
“I’llbecareful,”saidColin.“Showme!Showme!Dickon,youarethemostMagicboyintheworld!”
Dickonstooduponthegrassandslowlywentthroughacarefullypracticalbutsimpleseriesofmuscleexercises.Colinwatchedthemwithwideningeyes.
Hecoulddoafewwhilehewassittingdown.
Presentlyhedidafewgentlywhilehestooduponhisalreadysteadiedfeet.Marybegantodothemalso.
Soot,whowaswatchingtheperformance,becamemuchdisturbedandlefthisbranchandhoppedaboutrestlesslybecausehecouldnotdothemtoo.
Fromthattimetheexerciseswerepartoftheday’sdutiesasmuchastheMagicwas.
ItbecamepossibleforbothColinandMarytodomoreofthemeachtimetheytried,andsuchappetitesweretheresultsthatbutforthebasketDickonputdownbehindthebusheachmorningwhenhearrivedtheywouldhavebeenlost.
ButthelittleoveninthehollowandMrs.Sowerby’sbountiesweresosatisfyingthatMrs.MedlockandthenurseandDr.Cravenbecamemystifiedagain.
Youcantriflewithyourbreakfastandseemtodisdainyourdinnerifyouarefulltothebrimwithroastedeggsandpotatoesandrichlyfrothednewmilkandoatcakesandbunsandheatherhoneyandclottedcream.
“Theyareeatingnexttonothing,”saidthenurse.“They’lldieofstarvationiftheycan’tbepersuadedtotakesomenourishment.Andyetseehowtheylook.”
“Look!”exclaimedMrs.Medlockindignantly.“Eh!I’mmoitheredtodeathwiththem.They’reapairofyoungSatans.
BurstingtheirjacketsonedayandthenextturninguptheirnosesatthebestmealsCookcantemptthemwith.
Notamouthfulofthatlovelyyoungfowlandbreadsaucedidtheysetaforkintoyesterday—andthepoorwomanfairinventedapuddingforthem—andbackit’ssent.Shealmostcried.
She’safraidshe’llbeblamediftheystarvethemselvesintotheirgraves.”
Dr.CravencameandlookedatColinlongandcarefully,Heworeanextremelyworriedexpressionwhenthenursetalkedwithhimandshowedhimthealmostuntouchedtrayofbreakfastshehadsavedforhimtolookat—butitwasevenmoreworriedwhenhesatdownbyColin’ssofaandexaminedhim.
HehadbeencalledtoLondononbusinessandhadnotseentheboyfornearlytwoweeks.
Whenyoungthingsbegintogainhealththeygainitrapidly.
Thewaxentingehadleft,Colinsskinandawarmroseshowedthroughit;hisbeautifuleyeswereclearandthehollowsunderthemandinhischeeksandtempleshadfilledout.
Hisoncedark,heavylockshadbeguntolookasiftheyspranghealthilyfromhisforeheadandweresoftandwarmwithlife.
Hislipswerefullerandofanormalcolor.
Infactasanimitationofaboywhowasaconfirmedinvalidhewasadisgracefulsight.
Dr.Cravenheldhischininhishandandthoughthimover.
“Iamsorrytohearthatyoudonoteatanything,”hesaid.“Thatwillnotdo.Youwillloseallyouhavegained—andyouhavegainedamazingly.Youatesowellashorttimeago.”
“Itoldyouitwasanunnaturalappetite,”answeredColin.
Marywassittingonherstoolnearbyandshesuddenlymadeaveryqueersoundwhichshetriedsoviolentlytorepressthatsheendedbyalmostchoking.
“Whatisthematter?”saidDr.Craven,turningtolookather.
Marybecamequitesevereinhermanner.
“Itwassomethingbetweenasneezeandacough,”sherepliedwithreproachfuldignity,“anditgotintomythroat.”
“But,”shesaidafterwardtoColin,“Icouldn’tstopmyself.
ItjustburstoutbecauseallatonceIcouldn’thelprememberingthatlastbigpotatoyouateandthewayyourmouthstretchedwhenyoubitthroughthatthicklovelycrustwithjamandclottedcreamonit.”
“Isthereanywayinwhichthosechildrencangetfoodsecretly?”Dr.CraveninquiredofMrs.Medlock.
“There’snowayunlesstheydigitoutoftheearthorpickitoffthetrees,”Mrs.Medlockanswered.
“Theystayoutinthegroundsalldayandseenoonebuteachother.
Andiftheywantanythingdifferenttoeatfromwhat’ssentuptothemtheyneedonlyaskforit.”
“Well,”saidDr.Craven,“solongasgoingwithoutfoodagreeswiththemweneednotdisturbourselves.Theboyisanewcreature.”
“Soisthegirl,”saidMrs.Medlock.“She’sbeguntobedownrightprettysinceshe’sfilledoutandlostheruglylittlesourlook.
Herhair’sgrownthickandhealthylookingandshe’sgotabrightcolor.
Theglummest,ill-naturedlittlethingsheusedtobeandnowherandMasterColinlaughtogetherlikeapairofcrazyyoungones.Perhapsthey’regrowingfatonthat.”
“Perhapstheyare,”saidDr.Craven.“Letthemlaugh.”
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