English
TheirbeliefintheMagicwasanabidingthing.Afterthemorning’sincantationsColinsometimesgavethemMagiclectures.
“Iliketodoit,”heexplained,“becausewhenIgrowupandmakegreatscientificdiscoveriesIshallbeobligedtolectureaboutthemandsothisispractise.
IcanonlygiveshortlecturesnowbecauseIamveryyoung,andbesidesBenWeatherstaffwouldfeelasifhewereinchurchandhewouldgotosleep.”
“Th’bestthingaboutlecturin’,”saidBen,“isthatachapcangetupan’sayaughthepleasesan’nootherchapcananswerhimback.Iwouldn’tbeagen’lecturin’abitmysel’sometimes.”
ButwhenColinheldforthunderhistreeoldBenfixeddevouringeyesonhimandkeptthemthere.
Helookedhimoverwithcriticalaffection.
Itwasnotsomuchthelecturewhichinterestedhimasthelegswhichlookedstraighterandstrongereachday,theboyishheadwhichhelditselfupsowell,theoncesharpchinandhollowcheekswhichhadfilledandroundedoutandtheeyeswhichhadbeguntoholdthelightherememberedinanotherpair.
SometimeswhenColinfeltBen’searnestgazemeantthathewasmuchimpressedhewonderedwhathewasreflectingonandoncewhenhehadseemedquiteentrancedhequestionedhim.
“Whatareyouthinkingabout,BenWeatherstaff?”heasked.
“Iwasthinkin’”answeredBen,“asI’dwarranttha’s,goneupthreeorfourpoundthisweek.Iwaslookin’attha’calvesan’tha’shoulders.I’dliketogettheeonapairo’scales.”
“It’stheMagicand—andMrs.Sowerby’sbunsandmilkandthings,”saidColin.“Youseethescientificexperimenthassucceeded.”
ThatmorningDickonwastoolatetohearthelecture.
Whenhecamehewasruddywithrunningandhisfunnyfacelookedmoretwinklingthanusual.
Astheyhadagooddealofweedingtodoaftertherainstheyfelltowork.
Theyalwayshadplentytodoafterawarmdeepsinkingrain.
Themoisturewhichwasgoodfortheflowerswasalsogoodfortheweedswhichthrustuptinybladesofgrassandpointsofleaveswhichmustbepulledupbeforetheirrootstooktoofirmhold.
Colinwasasgoodatweedingasanyoneinthesedaysandhecouldlecturewhilehewasdoingit.
“TheMagicworksbestwhenyouwork,yourself,”hesaidthismorning.
“Youcanfeelitinyourbonesandmuscles.
Iamgoingtoreadbooksaboutbonesandmuscles,butIamgoingtowriteabookaboutMagic.Iammakingitupnow.Ikeepfindingoutthings.”
Itwasnotverylongafterhehadsaidthisthathelaiddownhistrowelandstooduponhisfeet.
Hehadbeensilentforseveralminutesandtheyhadseenthathewasthinkingoutlectures,asheoftendid.
WhenhedroppedhistrowelandstooduprightitseemedtoMaryandDickonasifasuddenstrongthoughthadmadehimdoit.
Hestretchedhimselfouttohistallestheightandhethrewouthisarmsexultantly.
Colorglowedinhisfaceandhisstrangeeyeswidenedwithjoyfulness.
Allatoncehehadrealizedsomethingtothefull.
“Mary!Dickon!”hecried.“Justlookatme!”
Theystoppedtheirweedingandlookedathim.
“Doyourememberthatfirstmorningyoubroughtmeinhere?”hedemanded.
Dickonwaslookingathimveryhard.Beingananimalcharmerhecouldseemorethingsthanmostpeoplecouldandmanyofthemwerethingshenevertalkedabout.Hesawsomeofthemnowinthisboy.“Aye,thatwedo,”heanswered.
Marylookedhardtoo,butshesaidnothing.
“Justthisminute,”saidColin,“allatonceIremembereditmyself—whenIlookedatmyhanddiggingwiththetrowel—andIhadtostanduponmyfeettoseeifitwasreal.Anditisreal!I’mwell—I’mwell!”
“Aye,thatth’art!”saidDickon.
“I’mwell!I’mwell!”saidColinagain,andhisfacewentquiteredallover.
Hehadknownitbeforeinaway,hehadhopeditandfeltitandthoughtaboutit,butjustatthatminutesomethinghadrushedallthroughhim—asortofrapturousbeliefandrealizationandithadbeensostrongthathecouldnothelpcallingout.
“Ishallliveforeverandeverandever!”hecriedgrandly.
“Ishallfindoutthousandsandthousandsofthings.
Ishallfindoutaboutpeopleandcreaturesandeverythingthatgrows—likeDickon—andIshallneverstopmakingMagic.I’mwell!I’mwell!
Ifeel—IfeelasifIwanttoshoutoutsomething—somethingthankful,joyful!”
BenWeatherstaff,whohadbeenworkingneararose-bush,glancedroundathim.
“Tha’mightsingth’Doxology,”hesuggestedinhisdryestgrunt.HehadnoopinionoftheDoxologyandhedidnotmakethesuggestionwithanyparticularreverence.
ButColinwasofanexploringmindandheknewnothingabouttheDoxology.
“Whatisthat?”heinquired.
“Dickoncansingitforthee,I’llwarrant,”repliedBenWeatherstaff.
Dickonansweredwithhisall-perceivinganimalcharmer’ssmile.
“Theysingiti’church,”hesaid.“Mothersaysshebelievesth’skylarkssingsitwhentheygetsupi’th’mornin’.”
“Ifshesaysthat,itmustbeanicesong,”Colinanswered.“I’veneverbeeninachurchmyself.Iwasalwaystooill.Singit,Dickon.Iwanttohearit.”
Dickonwasquitesimpleandunaffectedaboutit.
HeunderstoodwhatColinfeltbetterthanColindidhimself.
Heunderstoodbyasortofinstinctsonaturalthathedidnotknowitwasunderstanding.
Hepulledoffhiscapandlookedroundstillsmiling.
“Tha’musttakeofftha’cap,”hesaidtoColin,“an’somuntha’,Ben—an’tha’munstandup,tha’knows.”
ColintookoffhiscapandthesunshoneonandwarmedhisthickhairashewatchedDickonintently.
BenWeatherstaffscrambledupfromhiskneesandbaredhisheadtoowithasortofpuzzledhalf-resentfullookonhisoldfaceasifhedidn’tknowexactlywhyhewasdoingthisremarkablething.
Dickonstoodoutamongthetreesandrose-bushesandbegantosinginquiteasimplematter-of-factwayandinanicestrongboyvoice:
“PraiseGodfromwhomallblessingsflow,
PraiseHimallcreaturesherebelow,
PraiseHimaboveyeHeavenlyHost,
PraiseFather,Son,andHolyGhost.
Amen.”
Whenhehadfinished,BenWeatherstaffwasstandingquitestillwithhisjawssetobstinatelybutwithadisturbedlookinhiseyesfixedonColin.Colin’sfacewasthoughtfulandappreciative.
“Itisaverynicesong,”hesaid.“Ilikeit.
PerhapsitmeansjustwhatImeanwhenIwanttoshoutoutthatIamthankfultotheMagic.”
Hestoppedandthoughtinapuzzledway.“Perhapstheyareboththesamething.
Howcanweknowtheexactnamesofeverything?Singitagain,Dickon.Letustry,Mary.Iwanttosingit,too.It’smysong.Howdoesitbegin?
‘PraiseGodfromwhomallblessingsflow’?”
Andtheysangitagain,andMaryandColinliftedtheirvoicesasmusicallyastheycouldandDickon’sswelledquiteloudandbeautiful—andatthesecondlineBenWeatherstaffraspinglyclearedhisthroatandatthethirdlinehejoinedinwithsuchvigorthatitseemedalmostsavageandwhenthe“Amen”cametoanendMaryobservedthattheverysamethinghadhappenedtohimwhichhadhappenedwhenhefoundoutthatColinwasnotacripple—hischinwastwitchingandhewasstaringandwinkingandhisleatheryoldcheekswerewet.
“Ineverseednosenseinth’Doxologyafore,”hesaidhoarsely,“butImaychangemymindi’time.Ishouldsaytha’dgoneupfivepoundthisweekMesterColin—fiveon‘em!”
Colinwaslookingacrossthegardenatsomethingattractinghisattentionandhisexpressionhadbecomeastartledone.
“Whoiscominginhere?”hesaidquickly.“Whoisit?”
Thedoorintheiviedwallhadbeenpushedgentlyopenandawomanhadentered.
Shehadcomeinwiththelastlineoftheirsongandshehadstoodstilllisteningandlookingatthem.
Withtheivybehindher,thesunlightdriftingthroughthetreesanddapplingherlongbluecloak,andhernicefreshfacesmilingacrossthegreeneryshewasratherlikeasoftlycoloredillustrationinoneofColin’sbooks.
Shehadwonderfulaffectionateeyeswhichseemedtotakeeverythingin—allofthem,evenBenWeatherstaffandthe“creatures”andeveryflowerthatwasinbloom.
Unexpectedlyasshehadappeared,notoneofthemfeltthatshewasanintruderatall.Dickon’seyeslightedlikelamps.
“It’smother—that’swhoitis!”hecriedandwentacrossthegrassatarun.
Colinbegantomovetowardher,too,andMarywentwithhim.Theybothfelttheirpulsesbeatfaster.
“It’smother!”Dickonsaidagainwhentheymethalfway.“Iknowedtha’wantedtoseeheran’Itoldherwhereth’doorwashid.”
Colinheldouthishandwithasortofflushedroyalshynessbuthiseyesquitedevouredherface.
“EvenwhenIwasillIwantedtoseeyou,”hesaid,“youandDickonandthesecretgarden.I’dneverwantedtoseeanyoneoranythingbefore.”
Thesightofhisupliftedfacebroughtaboutasuddenchangeinherown.Sheflushedandthecornersofhermouthshookandamistseemedtosweepoverhereyes.
“Eh!Dearlad!”shebrokeouttremulously.“Eh!Dearlad!”
asifshehadnotknownsheweregoingtosayit.
Shedidnotsay,“MesterColin,”butjust“dearlad”quitesuddenly.
ShemighthavesaidittoDickoninthesamewayifshehadseensomethinginhisfacewhichtouchedher.Colinlikedit.
“AreyousurprisedbecauseIamsowell?”heasked.Sheputherhandonhisshoulderandsmiledthemistoutofhereyes.
“Aye,thatIam!”shesaid;“buttha’rtsolikethymothertha’mademyheartjump.”
“Doyouthink,”saidColinalittleawkwardly,“thatwillmakemyfatherlikeme?”
“Aye,forsure,dearlad,”sheansweredandshegavehisshoulderasoftquickpat.“Hemuncomehome—hemuncomehome.”
“SusanSowerby,”saidBenWeatherstaff,gettingclosetoher.“Lookatth’lad’slegs,wilttha’?
Theywaslikedrumsticksi’stockin’twomonth’ago—an’Iheardfolktellastheywasbandyan’knock-kneedbothatth’sametime.Lookat‘emnow!”
SusanSowerbylaughedacomfortablelaugh.
“They’regoin’tobefinestronglad’slegsinabit,”shesaid.
“Lethimgoonplayin’an’workin’inthegardenan’eatin’heartyan’drinkin’plentyo’goodsweetmilkan’there’llnotbeafinerpairi’Yorkshire,thankGodforit.”
SheputbothhandsonMistressMary’sshouldersandlookedherlittlefaceoverinamotherlyfashion.
“An’thee,too!”shesaid.
“Tha’rtgrownnearasheartyasour‘LisabethEllen.
I’llwarranttha’rtlikethymothertoo.
OurMarthatoldmeasMrs.Medlockheardshewasaprettywoman.
Tha’ltbelikeablushrosewhentha’growsup,mylittlelass,blessthee.”
ShedidnotmentionthatwhenMarthacamehomeonher“dayout”anddescribedtheplainsallowchildshehadsaidthatshehadnoconfidencewhateverinwhatMrs.Medlockhadheard.
“Itdoesn’tstandtoreasonthataprettywomancouldbeth’mothero’suchafou’littlelass,”shehadaddedobstinately.
Maryhadnothadtimetopaymuchattentiontoherchangingface.
Shehadonlyknownthatshelooked“different”andseemedtohaveagreatdealmorehairandthatitwasgrowingveryfast.
ButrememberingherpleasureinlookingattheMemSahibinthepastshewasgladtohearthatshemightsomedaylooklikeher.
SusanSowerbywentroundtheirgardenwiththemandwastoldthewholestoryofitandshowneverybushandtreewhichhadcomealive.
ColinwalkedononesideofherandMaryontheother.
Eachofthemkeptlookingupathercomfortablerosyface,secretlycuriousaboutthedelightfulfeelingshegavethem—asortofwarm,supportedfeeling.
ItseemedasifsheunderstoodthemasDickonunderstoodhis“creatures.”
Shestoopedovertheflowersandtalkedaboutthemasiftheywerechildren.
SootfollowedherandonceortwicecawedatherandflewuponhershoulderasifitwereDickon’s.
Whentheytoldherabouttherobinandthefirstflightoftheyoungonesshelaughedamotherlylittlemellowlaughinherthroat.
“Isupposelearnin’‘emtoflyislikelearnin’childrentowalk,butI’mfearedIshouldbeallinaworritifminehadwingsinsteado’legs,”shesaid.
ItwasbecausesheseemedsuchawonderfulwomaninhernicemoorlandcottagewaythatatlastshewastoldabouttheMagic.
“DoyoubelieveinMagic?”askedColinafterhehadexplainedaboutIndianfakirs.“Idohopeyoudo.”
“ThatIdo,lad,”sheanswered.“Ineverknoweditbythatnamebutwhatdoesth’namematter?
Iwarranttheycallitadifferentnamei’Francean’adifferentonei’Germany.
Th’samethingassetth’seedsswellin’an’th’sunshinin’madetheeawellladan’it’sth’GoodThing.
Itisn’tlikeuspoorfoolsasthinkitmattersifusiscalledoutofournames.
Th’BigGoodThingdoesn’tstoptoworrit,blessthee.
Itgoesonmakin’worldsbyth’million—worldslikeus.
Nevertheestopbelievin’inth’BigGoodThingan’knowin’th’world’sfullofit—an’callitwhattha’likes.
Tha’wertsingin’toitwhenIcomeintoth’garden.”
“Ifeltsojoyful,”saidColin,openinghisbeautifulstrangeeyesather.
“SuddenlyIfelthowdifferentIwas—howstrongmyarmsandlegswere,youknow—andhowIcoulddigandstand—andIjumpedupandwantedtoshoutoutsomethingtoanythingthatwouldlisten.”
“Th’Magiclistenedwhentha’sungth’Doxology.
Itwouldha’listenedtoanythingtha’dsung.Itwasth’joythatmattered.Eh!
Lad,lad—what’snamestoth’JoyMaker,”andshegavehisshouldersaquicksoftpatagain.
Shehadpackedabasketwhichheldaregularfeastthismorning,andwhenthehungryhourcameandDickonbroughtitoutfromitshidingplace,shesatdownwiththemundertheirtreeandwatchedthemdevourtheirfood,laughingandquitegloatingovertheirappetites.
Shewasfulloffunandmadethemlaughatallsortsofoddthings.
ShetoldthemstoriesinbroadYorkshireandtaughtthemnewwords.
ShelaughedasifshecouldnothelpitwhentheytoldheroftheincreasingdifficultytherewasinpretendingthatColinwasstillafretfulinvalid.
“Youseewecan’thelplaughingnearlyallthetimewhenwearetogether,”explainedColin.“Anditdoesn’tsoundillatall.
Wetrytochokeitbackbutitwillburstoutandthatsoundsworsethanever.”
“There’sonethingthatcomesintomymindsooften,”saidMary,“andIcanscarcelyeverholdinwhenIthinkofitsuddenly.
IkeepthinkingsupposeColin’sfaceshouldgettolooklikeafullmoon.
Itisn’tlikeoneyetbuthegetsatinybitfattereveryday—andsupposesomemorningitshouldlooklikeone—whatshouldwedo!”
“Blessusall,Icanseetha’hasagoodbito’playactin’todo,”saidSusanSowerby.“Buttha’won’thavetokeepitupmuchlonger.MesterCraven’llcomehome.”
“Doyouthinkhewill?”askedColin.“Why?”
SusanSowerbychuckledsoftly.
“Isupposeit‘udnighbreakthyheartifhefoundoutbeforetha’toldhimintha’ownway,”shesaid.“Tha’slaidawakenightsplannin’it.”
“Icouldn’tbearanyoneelsetotellhim,”saidColin.“Ithinkaboutdifferentwayseveryday,IthinknowIjustwanttorunintohisroom.”
“That’dbeafinestartforhim,”saidSusanSowerby.“I’dliketoseehisface,lad.Iwouldthat!Hemuncomeback—thathemun.”
Oneofthethingstheytalkedofwasthevisittheyweretomaketohercottage.Theyplanneditall.
Theyweretodriveoverthemoorandlunchoutofdoorsamongtheheather.
TheywouldseeallthetwelvechildrenandDickon’sgardenandwouldnotcomebackuntiltheyweretired.
SusanSowerbygotupatlasttoreturntothehouseandMrs.Medlock.
ItwastimeforColintobewheeledbackalso.
ButbeforehegotintohischairhestoodquiteclosetoSusanandfixedhiseyesonherwithakindofbewilderedadorationandhesuddenlycaughtholdofthefoldofherbluecloakandhelditfast.
“YouarejustwhatI—whatIwanted,”hesaid.“Iwishyouweremymother—aswellasDickon’s!”
AllatonceSusanSowerbybentdownanddrewhimwithherwarmarmscloseagainstthebosomunderthebluecloak—asifhehadbeenDickon’sbrother.Thequickmistsweptoverhereyes.
“Eh!Dearlad!”shesaid.“Thyownmother’sinthis‘ereverygarden,Idobelieve.Shecouldna’keepoutofit.Thyfathermuncomebacktothee—hemun!”
Share this article to
FINISH