English
Maryspentnearlyaweekworkinginthesecretgarden.Eachdayshefoundnewshootscomingoutoftheground.
Soon,therewouldbeflowerseverywhere-thousandsofthem.Itwasanexcitinggametoher.Whenshewasinsidethosebeautifuloldwalls,nooneknewwhereshewas.
DuringthatweekshebecamemorefriendlywithBen,whowasoftendigginginoneofthevegetablegardens.
‘Whatareyourfavoriteflowers,Ben?’sheaskedhimoneday.
‘Roses.Iusedtoworkforayoungladywholovedroses,yousee,andshehadalotinhergarden.Thatwastenyearsago.Butshedied.Verysad,itwas.’
‘Whathappenedtotheroses?’askedMary.
‘Theywereleftthere,inthegarden.’
‘Ifrosebrancheslookdryandgrey,aretheystillalive?’askedMary.Itwassoimportanttoknow!
‘Inthespringthey’llshowgreenshoots,andthen–Butwhyareyousointerestedinroses?’heasked.
Mary’sfacewentred.‘Ijust...wantedtopretendI’vegotagarden.Ihaven’tgotanyonetoplaywith.’
‘Well,that’strue,’saidBen.Heseemedtofeelsorryforher.MarydecidedshelikedoldBen,althoughhewassometimesbad-tempered.
Sheskippedalongandintothewoodattheendofthegardens.Suddenlysheheardastrangenoise,andthereinfrontofherwasaboy.
Hewassittingunderatree,playingonawoodenpipe.Hewasabouttwelve,withahealthyredfaceandbrightblueeyes.Therewasasquirrelandacrowinthetree,andtworabbitssittingonthegrassnearhim.
‘They’relisteningtothemusic!’thoughtMary.‘Imustn’tfrightenthem!’Shestoodverystill.
Theboystoppedplaying.‘That’sright,’hesaid.‘Animalsdon’tlikeitifyoumovesuddenly.I’mDickonandyoumustbeMissMary.I’vebroughtyouthespadeandtheseeds.’
Hespokeinaneasy,friendlyway.Marylikedhimatonce.Astheywerelookingattheseedpacketstogether,therobinhoppedontoabranchnearthem.Dickonlistenedcarefullytotherobin’ssong.
‘He’ssayinghe’syourfriend,’hetoldMary.
‘Really?Oh,Iampleasedhelikesme.Canyouunderstandeverythingthatbirdssay?’
‘IthinkIdo,andtheythinkIdo.I’velivedonthemoorwiththemforsolong.SometimesIthinkIamabirdorananimal,notaboyatall!’Hissmilewasthewidestshehadeverseen.
Heexplainedhowtoplanttheseeds.Suddenlyhesaid,‘Icanhelpyouplantthem!Where’syourgarden?’
Marywentred,thenwhite.Shehadneverthoughtofthis.Whatwasshegoingtosay?
‘Couldyoukeepasecret?It’sagreatsecret.Ifanyonediscoversit,I’ll..die!’
‘Ikeepsecretsforallthewildbirdsandanimalsonthemoor.SoIcankeepyourstoo,’hereplied.
‘I’vestolenagarden,’shesaidveryfast.‘Nobodygoesintoit,nobodywantsit.Iloveitandnobodytakescareofit!They’relettingitdie!’Andshethrewherarmsoverherfaceandstartedcrying.
‘Don’tcry,’saidDickongently.‘Whereisit?’
‘ComewithmeandI’llshowyou,’saidMissMary.
Theywenttothesecretgardenandenteredittogether.Dickonwalkedround,lookingateverything.
‘Marthatoldmeaboutthisplace,butIneverthoughtI’dseeit,’hesaid.‘It’swonderful!’
‘Whatabouttheroses?’askedMaryworriedly.‘Aretheystillalive?Whatdoyouthink?’
‘Lookattheseshootsonthebranches.Mostofthemarealiveailright.’Hetookouthisknifeandcutawaysomeofthedeadwoodfromtherosetrees.Maryshowedhimtheworkshehaddoneinthegarden,andtheytalkedastheycutandcleared.
‘Dickon,’saidMarysuddenly,‘Ilikeyou.IneverthoughtI’dlikeasmanyasfivepeople!’
‘Onlyfive!’laughedDickon.
Hedidlookfunnywhenhelaughed,thoughtMary.
‘Yes,yourmother,Martha,therobin,Ben,andyou.’ThensheaskedhimaquestioninYorkshiredialect,becausethatwashislanguage.
‘Doesthat’likeme?’washerquestion.
‘Ofcourse!Iliketheewonderful!’repliedDickon,abigsmileonhisroundface.Maryhadneverbeensohappy.
Whenshewentbacktothehouseforherlunch,shetoldMarthaaboutDickon’svisit.
‘I’vegotnewsforyoutoo,’saidMartha.‘MrCraven’scomehome,andwantstoseeyou!He’sgoingawayagaintomorrow,forseveralmonths.’
‘Oh!’saidMary.Thatwasgoodnews.Shewouldhaveallsummerinthesecretgardenbeforehecameback.Burshemustbecareful.Hemustn’tguesshersecretnow.
JustthenMrs.Medlockarrived,inherbestblackdress,totakeMarydowntoMrCraven’sroom.
Mary’sunclehadblackhairwithsomewhiteinit,andhigh,crookedshoulders.Hisfacewasnotugly,butverysad.Duringtheirconversationhewatchedherinaworriedway.Perhapshewasthinkingofotherthingsatthesametime.
Helookedatthethinchild.‘Areyouwell?’heasked.Marytriedtokeephervoicecalmasshereplied,‘I’mgettingstrongerandhealthier.’
‘Whatdoyouwanttodo,inthisbigemptyhouse?’
‘I…Ijustwanttoplayoutside–Ienjoythat.’
‘Yes,Martha’smother,SusanSowerby,spoketometheotherday.She’sasensiblewoman–andshesaidyouneededfreshair.Butwheredoyouplay?’
‘Everywhere!Ijustskipandrun–andlookforgreenshoots.Idon’tdamageanything!’
‘Don’tlooksofrightened!Ofcourseachildlikeyoucouldn’tdamageanything.Playwhereyoulike.Isthereanythingthatyouwant?’
Marycameastepnearertohim,andhervoiceshookalittleasshespoke.‘CouldI–couldIhaveabitofgarden?’
Mr.Cravenlookedverysurprised.
‘Toplantseedsin…tomakethemcomealive!’Marywentonbravely.‘ItwastoohotinIndia,soIwasalwaysillandtiredthere.Buthereit’sdifferent.I…Ilovethegarden!’
Hepassedahandquicklyoverhiseyes.ThenhelookedkindlyatMary.‘Iknewsomeoneoncewholovedgrowingthings,likeyou.Yes,child,takeasmuchofthegardenasyouwant.’Hesmiledgentlyather.‘Nowleaveme.I’mverytired.’
Maryranallthewaybacktoherroom.
‘Martha!’sheshouted.‘MrCraven’sreallyaniceman,buthelooksveryunhappy,HesaidIcanhavemyowngarden!’
ShewasplanningtoworkinthegardenwithDickoneveryday,tomakeitbeautifulforthesummer.
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