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When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen.

Her father had held a position under the English Government and had always been busy and ill himself, and her mother had been a great beauty who cared only to go to parties and amuse herself with gay people.

She had not wanted a little girl at all, and when Mary was born she handed her over to the care of an Ayah, who was made to understand that if she wished to please the Mem Sahib she must keep the child out of sight as much as possible.

She never remembered seeing familiarly anything but the dark faces of her Ayah and the other native servants, and as they always obeyed her and gave her her own way in everything, because the Mem Sahib would be angry if she was disturbed by her crying, by the time she was six years old she was as tyrannical and selfish a little pig as ever lived.

She never remembered seeing familiarly anything but the dark faces of her Ayah and the other native servants, and as they always obeyed her and gave her her own way in everything, because the Mem Sahib would be angry if she was disturbed by her crying, by the time she was six years old she was as tyrannical and selfish a little pig as ever lived.

She never remembered seeing familiarly anything but the dark faces of her Ayah and the other native servants, and as they always obeyed her and gave her her own way in everything, because the Mem Sahib would be angry if she was disturbed by her crying, by the time she was six years old she was as tyrannical and selfish a little pig as ever lived.

She never remembered seeing familiarly anything but the dark faces of her Ayah and the other native servants, and as they always obeyed her and gave her her own way in everything, because the Mem Sahib would be angry if she was disturbed by her crying, by the time she was six years old she was as tyrannical and selfish a little pig as ever lived.

She never remembered seeing familiarly anything but the dark faces of her Ayah and the other native servants, and as they always obeyed her and gave her her own way in everything, because the Mem Sahib would be angry if she was disturbed by her crying, by the time she was six years old she was as tyrannical and selfish a little pig as ever lived.

The young English governess who came to teach her to read and write disliked her so much that she gave up her place in three months, and when other governesses came to try to fill it they always went away in a shorter time than the first one.

So if Mary had not chosen to really want to know how to read books she would never have learned her letters at all.

The woman looked frightened, but she only stammered that the Ayah could not come and when Mary threw herself into a passion and beat and kicked her, she looked only more frightened and repeated that it was not possible for the Ayah to come to Missie Sahib.

The woman looked frightened, but she only stammered that the Ayah could not come and when Mary threw herself into a passion and beat and kicked her, she looked only more frightened and repeated that it was not possible for the Ayah to come to Missie Sahib.

There was something mysterious in the air that morning.

Nothing was done in its regular order and several of the native servants seemed missing, while those whom Mary saw slunk or hurried about with ashy and scared faces.

She was actually left alone as the morning went on, and at last she wandered out into the garden and began to play by herself under a tree near the veranda.

She was actually left alone as the morning went on, and at last she wandered out into the garden and began to play by herself under a tree near the veranda.

She was actually left alone as the morning went on, and at last she wandered out into the garden and began to play by herself under a tree near the veranda.

She pretended that she was making a flower-bed, and she stuck big scarlet hibiscus blossoms into little heaps of earth, all the time growing more and more angry and muttering to herself the things she would say and the names she would call Saidie when she returned.

She pretended that she was making a flower-bed, and she stuck big scarlet hibiscus blossoms into little heaps of earth, all the time growing more and more angry and muttering to herself the things she would say and the names she would call Saidie when she returned.

Daughter of Pigs!" she said, because to call a native a pig is the worst insult of all.

The child stared at him, but she stared most at her mother.

Her hair was like curly silk and she had a delicate little nose which seemed to be disdaining things, and she had large laughing eyes.

Her hair was like curly silk and she had a delicate little nose which seemed to be disdaining things, and she had large laughing eyes.

All her clothes were thin and floating, and Mary said they were "full of lace."

They were large and scared and lifted imploringly to the fair boy officer's face.

At that very moment such a loud sound of wailing broke out from the servants' quarters that she clutched the young man's arm, and Mary stood shivering from head to foot.

After that, appalling things happened, and the mysteriousness of the morning was explained to Mary.

After that, appalling things happened, and the mysteriousness of the morning was explained to Mary.

The cholera had broken out in its most fatal form and people were dying like flies.

The Ayah had been taken ill in the night, and it was because she had just died that the servants had wailed in the huts.

Before the next day three other servants were dead and others had run away in terror.

There was panic on every side, and dying people in all the bungalows.

There was panic on every side, and dying people in all the bungalows.

During the confusion and bewilderment of the second day Mary hid herself in the nursery and was forgotten by everyone.

During the confusion and bewilderment of the second day Mary hid herself in the nursery and was forgotten by everyone.

During the confusion and bewilderment of the second day Mary hid herself in the nursery and was forgotten by everyone.

Once she crept into the dining-room and found it empty, though a partly finished meal was on the table and chairs and plates looked as if they had been hastily pushed back when the diners rose suddenly for some reason.

Once she crept into the dining-room and found it empty, though a partly finished meal was on the table and chairs and plates looked as if they had been hastily pushed back when the diners rose suddenly for some reason.

Once she crept into the dining-room and found it empty, though a partly finished meal was on the table and chairs and plates looked as if they had been hastily pushed back when the diners rose suddenly for some reason.

Very soon it made her intensely drowsy, and she went back to her nursery and shut herself in again, frightened by cries she heard in the huts and by the hurrying sound of feet.

The wine made her so sleepy that she could scarcely keep her eyes open and she lay down on her bed and knew nothing more for a long time.

Mary had been rather tired of the old ones.

She was not an affectionate child and had never cared much for any one.

Everyone was too panic-stricken to think of a little girl no one was fond of.

Everyone was too panic-stricken to think of a little girl no one was fond of.

Almost the next minute she heard footsteps in the compound, and then on the veranda.

"What desolation!" she heard one voice say.

She looked an ugly, cross little thing and was frowning because she was beginning to be hungry and feel disgracefully neglected.

She looked an ugly, cross little thing and was frowning because she was beginning to be hungry and feel disgracefully neglected.

Mercy on us, who is she!"

She thought the man was very rude to call her father's bungalow "A place like this!"

"It is the child no one ever saw!" exclaimed the man, turning to his companions.

"It is the child no one ever saw!" exclaimed the man, turning to his companions.

MISTRESS MARY QUITE CONTRARY

She did not miss her at all, in fact, and as she was a self-absorbed child she gave her entire thought to herself, as she had always done.

She did not miss her at all, in fact, and as she was a self-absorbed child she gave her entire thought to herself, as she had always done.

If she had been older she would no doubt have been very anxious at being left alone in the world, but she was very young, and as she had always been taken care of, she supposed she always would be.

If she had been older she would no doubt have been very anxious at being left alone in the world, but she was very young, and as she had always been taken care of, she supposed she always would be.

What she thought was that she would like to know if she was going to nice people, who would be polite to her and give her her own way as her Ayah and the other native servants had done.

The English clergyman was poor and he had five children nearly all the same age and they wore shabby clothes and were always quarreling and snatching toys from each other.

The English clergyman was poor and he had five children nearly all the same age and they wore shabby clothes and were always quarreling and snatching toys from each other.

By the second day they had given her a nickname which made her furious.

Basil was a little boy with impudent blue eyes and a turned-up nose, and Mary hated him.

Presently he got rather interested and suddenly made a suggestion.

For a moment Basil looked angry, and then he began to tease.

"She doesn't know where home is!" said Basil, with seven-year-old scorn.

His name is Mr. Archibald Craven."

He lives in a great, big, desolate old house in the country and no one goes near him.

They tried to be kind to her, but she only turned her face away when Mrs. Crawford attempted to kiss her, and held herself stiffly when Mr. Crawford patted her shoulder.

"And her mother was such a pretty creature.

The children call her 'Mistress Mary Quite Contrary,' and though it's naughty of them, one can't help understanding it."

The children call her 'Mistress Mary Quite Contrary,' and though it's naughty of them, one can't help understanding it."

Think of the servants running away and leaving her all alone in that deserted bungalow.

Colonel McGrew said he nearly jumped out of his skin when he opened the door and found her standing by herself in the middle of the room."

Mary made the long voyage to England under the care of an officer's wife, who was taking her children to leave them in a boarding-school.

She was a stout woman, with very red cheeks and sharp black eyes.

She wore a very purple dress, a black silk mantle with jet fringe on it and a black bonnet with purple velvet flowers which stuck up and trembled when she moved her head.

Mary did not like her at all, but as she very seldom liked people there was nothing remarkable in that; besides which it was very evident Mrs. Medlock did not think much of her.

Mary did not like her at all, but as she very seldom liked people there was nothing remarkable in that; besides which it was very evident Mrs. Medlock did not think much of her.

Mary did not like her at all, but as she very seldom liked people there was nothing remarkable in that; besides which it was very evident Mrs. Medlock did not think much of her.

"Perhaps she will improve as she grows older," the officer's wife said good-naturedly.

"If she were not so sallow and had a nicer expression, her features are rather good.

"If she were not so sallow and had a nicer expression, her features are rather good.

Children alter so much."

"And, there's nothing likely to improve children at Misselthwaite—if you ask me!"

They thought Mary was not listening because she was standing a little apart from them at the window of the private hotel they had gone to.

She was watching the passing buses and cabs and people, but she heard quite well and was made very curious about her uncle and the place he lived in.

She had had servants, and food and clothes, but no one had taken any notice of her.

When the next day they set out on their journey to Yorkshire, she walked through the station to the railway carriage with her head up and trying to keep as far away from her as she could, because she did not want to seem to belong to her.

It would have made her angry to think people imagined she was her little girl.

She was the kind of woman who would "stand no nonsense from young ones."

She had not wanted to go to London just when her sister Maria's daughter was going to be married, but she had a comfortable, well paid place as housekeeper at Misselthwaite Manor and the only way in which she could keep it was to do at once what Mr. Archibald Craven told her to do.

"Captain Lennox was my wife's brother and I am their daughter's guardian.

So she packed her small trunk and made the journey.

Mary sat in her corner of the railway carriage and looked plain and fretful.

She had nothing to read or to look at, and she had folded her thin little black-gloved hands in her lap.

Her black dress made her look yellower than ever, and her limp light hair straggled from under her black crepe hat.

"A more marred-looking young one I never saw in my life," Mrs. Medlock thought.

(Marred is a Yorkshire word and means spoiled and pettish.)

She had never seen a child who sat so still without doing anything; and at last she got tired of watching her and began to talk in a brisk, hard voice.

She frowned because she remembered that her father and mother had never talked to her about anything in particular.

Certainly they had never told her things.

"Humph," muttered Mrs. Medlock, staring at her queer, unresponsive little face.

"I suppose you might as well be told something—to prepare you.

Mary said nothing at all, and Mrs. Medlock looked rather discomfited by her apparent indifference, but, after taking a breath, she went on.

Mary said nothing at all, and Mrs. Medlock looked rather discomfited by her apparent indifference, but, after taking a breath, she went on.

Mary said nothing at all, and Mrs. Medlock looked rather discomfited by her apparent indifference, but, after taking a breath, she went on.

"Not but that it's a grand big place in a gloomy way, and Mr. Craven's proud of it in his way—and that's gloomy enough, too.

The house is six hundred years old and it's on the edge of the moor, and there's near a hundred rooms in it, though most of them's shut up and locked.

The house is six hundred years old and it's on the edge of the moor, and there's near a hundred rooms in it, though most of them's shut up and locked.

And there's pictures and fine old furniture and things that's been there for ages, and there's a big park round it and gardens and trees with branches trailing to the ground—some of them."

She paused and took another breath.

Mary had begun to listen in spite of herself.

It all sounded so unlike India, and anything new rather attracted her.

But she did not intend to look as if she were interested.

"He's got a crooked back," she said.

Mary's eyes turned toward her in spite of her intention not to seem to care.

She had never thought of the hunchback's being married and she was a trifle surprised.

She had never thought of the hunchback's being married and she was a trifle surprised.

Mary gave a little involuntary jump.

"Oh! did she die!" she exclaimed, quite without meaning to.

A house with a hundred rooms, nearly all shut up and with their doors locked—a house on the edge of a moor—whatsoever a moor was—sounded dreary.

She stared out of the window with her lips pinched together, and it seemed quite natural that the rain should have begun to pour down in gray slanting lines and splash and stream down the window-panes.

But when you're in the house don't go wandering and poking about.

"I shall not want to go poking about," said sour little Mary and just as suddenly as she had begun to be rather sorry for Mr. Archibald Craven she began to cease to be sorry and to think he was unpleasant enough to deserve all that had happened to him.

"I shall not want to go poking about," said sour little Mary and just as suddenly as she had begun to be rather sorry for Mr. Archibald Craven she began to cease to be sorry and to think he was unpleasant enough to deserve all that had happened to him.

And she turned her face toward the streaming panes of the window of the railway carriage and gazed out at the gray rain-storm which looked as if it would go on forever and ever.

The rain seemed to be streaming down more heavily than ever and everybody in the station wore wet and glistening waterproofs.

The guard lighted the lamps in the carriage, and Mrs. Medlock cheered up very much over her tea and chicken and beef.

The guard lighted the lamps in the carriage, and Mrs. Medlock cheered up very much over her tea and chicken and beef.

She ate a great deal and afterward fell asleep herself, and Mary sat and stared at her and watched her fine bonnet slip on one side until she herself fell asleep once more in the corner of the carriage, lulled by the splashing of the rain against the windows.

Mary stood up and tried to keep her eyes open while Mrs. Medlock collected her parcels.

Mary stood up and tried to keep her eyes open while Mrs. Medlock collected her parcels.

The little girl did not offer to help her, because in India native servants always picked up or carried things and it seemed quite proper that other people should wait on one.

The station-master spoke to Mrs. Medlock in a rough, good-natured way, pronouncing his words in a queer broad fashion which Mary found out afterward was Yorkshire.

The station-master spoke to Mrs. Medlock in a rough, good-natured way, pronouncing his words in a queer broad fashion which Mary found out afterward was Yorkshire.

The station-master spoke to Mrs. Medlock in a rough, good-natured way, pronouncing his words in a queer broad fashion which Mary found out afterward was Yorkshire.

"Aye, that's her," answered Mrs. Medlock, speaking with a Yorkshire accent herself and jerking her head over her shoulder toward Mary.

A brougham stood on the road before the little outside platform.

His long waterproof coat and the waterproof covering of his hat were shining and dripping with rain as everything was, the burly station-master included.

His long waterproof coat and the waterproof covering of his hat were shining and dripping with rain as everything was, the burly station-master included.

When he shut the door, mounted the box with the coachman, and they drove off, the little girl found herself seated in a comfortably cushioned corner, but she was not inclined to go to sleep again.

When he shut the door, mounted the box with the coachman, and they drove off, the little girl found herself seated in a comfortably cushioned corner, but she was not inclined to go to sleep again.

She was not at all a timid child and she was not exactly frightened, but she felt that there was no knowing what might happen in a house with a hundred rooms nearly all shut up—a house standing on the edge of a moor.

The carriage lamps cast rays of light a little distance ahead of them and she caught glimpses of the things they passed.

After they had left the station they had driven through a tiny village and she had seen whitewashed cottages and the lights of a public house.

Then they were on the highroad and she saw hedges and trees.

She could see nothing, in fact, but a dense darkness on either side.

The carriage lamps shed a yellow light on a rough-looking road which seemed to be cut through bushes and low-growing things which ended in the great expanse of dark apparently spread out before and around them.

The carriage lamps shed a yellow light on a rough-looking road which seemed to be cut through bushes and low-growing things which ended in the great expanse of dark apparently spread out before and around them.

A wind was rising and making a singular, wild, low, rushing sound.

"It's a wild, dreary enough place to my mind, though there's plenty that likes it—particularly when the heather's in bloom."

"It's a wild, dreary enough place to my mind, though there's plenty that likes it—particularly when the heather's in bloom."

On and on they drove through the darkness, and though the rain stopped, the wind rushed by and whistled and made strange sounds.

Mary felt as if the drive would never come to an end and that the wide, bleak moor was a wide expanse of black ocean through which she was passing on a strip of dry land.

Mary felt as if the drive would never come to an end and that the wide, bleak moor was a wide expanse of black ocean through which she was passing on a strip of dry land.

Mrs. Medlock saw it as soon as she did and drew a long sigh of relief.

"Eh, I am glad to see that bit o' light twinkling," she exclaimed.

We shall get a good cup of tea after a bit, at all events."

They drove out of the vault into a clear space and stopped before an immensely long but low-built house which seemed to ramble round a stone court.

They drove out of the vault into a clear space and stopped before an immensely long but low-built house which seemed to ramble round a stone court.

They drove out of the vault into a clear space and stopped before an immensely long but low-built house which seemed to ramble round a stone court.

At first Mary thought that there were no lights at all in the windows, but as she got out of the carriage she saw that one room in a corner upstairs showed a dull glow.

The entrance door was a huge one made of massive, curiously shaped panels of oak studded with big iron nails and bound with great iron bars.

The entrance door was a huge one made of massive, curiously shaped panels of oak studded with big iron nails and bound with great iron bars.

The entrance door was a huge one made of massive, curiously shaped panels of oak studded with big iron nails and bound with great iron bars.

The entrance door was a huge one made of massive, curiously shaped panels of oak studded with big iron nails and bound with great iron bars.

The entrance door was a huge one made of massive, curiously shaped panels of oak studded with big iron nails and bound with great iron bars.

It opened into an enormous hall, which was so dimly lighted that the faces in the portraits on the walls and the figures in the suits of armor made Mary feel that she did not want to look at them.

It opened into an enormous hall, which was so dimly lighted that the faces in the portraits on the walls and the figures in the suits of armor made Mary feel that she did not want to look at them.

It opened into an enormous hall, which was so dimly lighted that the faces in the portraits on the walls and the figures in the suits of armor made Mary feel that she did not want to look at them.

"So long as I know what's expected of me, I can manage."

And then Mary Lennox was led up a broad staircase and down a long corridor and up a short flight of steps and through another corridor and another, until a door opened in a wall and she found herself in a room with a fire in it and a supper on a table.

It was in this way Mistress Mary arrived at Misselthwaite Manor and she had perhaps never felt quite so contrary in all her life.

The walls were covered with tapestry with a forest scene embroidered on it.

The walls were covered with tapestry with a forest scene embroidered on it.

There were fantastically dressed people under the trees and in the distance there was a glimpse of the turrets of a castle.

Out of a deep window she could see a great climbing stretch of land which seemed to have no trees on it, and to look rather like an endless, dull, purplish sea.

"Aye, that I do," answered Martha, cheerfully polishing away at the grate.

It smells o' honey an' there's such a lot o' fresh air—an' th' sky looks so high an' th' bees an' skylarks makes such a nice noise hummin' an' singin'.

Mary listened to her with a grave, puzzled expression.

They were obsequious and servile and did not presume to talk to their masters as if they were their equals.

They were obsequious and servile and did not presume to talk to their masters as if they were their equals.

They were obsequious and servile and did not presume to talk to their masters as if they were their equals.

They were obsequious and servile and did not presume to talk to their masters as if they were their equals.

She was a round, rosy, good-natured-looking creature, but she had a sturdy way which made Mistress Mary wonder if she might not even slap back—if the person who slapped her was only a little girl.

Martha sat up on her heels, with her blacking-brush in her hand, and laughed, without seeming the least out of temper.

Mary asked, still in her imperious little Indian way.

"Who is going to dress me?" demanded Mary.

"Mrs. Medlock told me I'd have to be careful or you wouldn't know what I was sayin'.

"No," answered Mary, quite indignantly.

"Well," said Martha, evidently not in the least aware that she was impudent, "it's time tha' should learn.

But Martha was not at all crushed.

"You needn't be so vexed.

When you read about 'em in tracts they're always very religious.

When you read about 'em in tracts they're always very religious.

Mary did not even try to control her rage and humiliation.

Mary did not even try to control her rage and humiliation.

Mary did not even try to control her rage and humiliation.

She was in such a rage and felt so helpless before the girl's simple stare, and somehow she suddenly felt so horribly lonely and far away from everything she understood and which understood her, that she threw herself face downward on the pillows and burst into passionate sobbing.

She was in such a rage and felt so helpless before the girl's simple stare, and somehow she suddenly felt so horribly lonely and far away from everything she understood and which understood her, that she threw herself face downward on the pillows and burst into passionate sobbing.

She was in such a rage and felt so helpless before the girl's simple stare, and somehow she suddenly felt so horribly lonely and far away from everything she understood and which understood her, that she threw herself face downward on the pillows and burst into passionate sobbing.

She was in such a rage and felt so helpless before the girl's simple stare, and somehow she suddenly felt so horribly lonely and far away from everything she understood and which understood her, that she threw herself face downward on the pillows and burst into passionate sobbing.

I beg your pardon, Miss. Do stop cryin'."

There was something comforting and really friendly in her queer Yorkshire speech and sturdy way which had a good effect on Mary.

There was something comforting and really friendly in her queer Yorkshire speech and sturdy way which had a good effect on Mary.

Martha looked relieved.

If th' buttons are at th' back tha' cannot button them up tha'self."

She looked the thick white wool coat and dress over, and added with cool approval:

The dressing process was one which taught them both something.

If one told them to do a thing their ancestors had not done for a thousand years they gazed at one mildly and said, "It is not the custom" and one knew that was the end of the matter.

It had not been the custom that Mistress Mary should do anything but stand and allow herself to be dressed like a doll, but before she was ready for breakfast she began to suspect that her life at Misselthwaite Manor would end by teaching her a number of things quite new to her—things such as putting on her own shoes and stockings, and picking up things she let fall.

It had not been the custom that Mistress Mary should do anything but stand and allow herself to be dressed like a doll, but before she was ready for breakfast she began to suspect that her life at Misselthwaite Manor would end by teaching her a number of things quite new to her—things such as putting on her own shoes and stockings, and picking up things she let fall.

If Martha had been a well-trained fine young lady's maid she would have been more subservient and respectful and would have known that it was her business to brush hair, and button boots, and pick things up and lay them away.

If Martha had been a well-trained fine young lady's maid she would have been more subservient and respectful and would have known that it was her business to brush hair, and button boots, and pick things up and lay them away.

She was, however, only an untrained Yorkshire rustic who had been brought up in a moorland cottage with a swarm of little brothers and sisters who had never dreamed of doing anything but waiting on themselves and on the younger ones who were either babies in arms or just learning to totter about and tumble over things.

She was, however, only an untrained Yorkshire rustic who had been brought up in a moorland cottage with a swarm of little brothers and sisters who had never dreamed of doing anything but waiting on themselves and on the younger ones who were either babies in arms or just learning to totter about and tumble over things.

She was, however, only an untrained Yorkshire rustic who had been brought up in a moorland cottage with a swarm of little brothers and sisters who had never dreamed of doing anything but waiting on themselves and on the younger ones who were either babies in arms or just learning to totter about and tumble over things.

If Mary Lennox had been a child who was ready to be amused she would perhaps have laughed at Martha's readiness to talk, but Mary only listened to her coldly and wondered at her freedom of manner.

At first she was not at all interested, but gradually, as the girl rattled on in her good-tempered, homely way, Mary began to notice what she was saying.

"He found it on th' moor with its mother when it was a little one an' he began to make friends with it an' give it bits o' bread an' pluck young grass for it.

Mary had never possessed an animal pet of her own and had always thought she should like one.

So she began to feel a slight interest in Dickon, and as she had never before been interested in any one but herself, it was the dawning of a healthy sentiment.

So she began to feel a slight interest in Dickon, and as she had never before been interested in any one but herself, it was the dawning of a healthy sentiment.

So she began to feel a slight interest in Dickon, and as she had never before been interested in any one but herself, it was the dawning of a healthy sentiment.

So she began to feel a slight interest in Dickon, and as she had never before been interested in any one but herself, it was the dawning of a healthy sentiment.

A table in the center was set with a good substantial breakfast.

A table in the center was set with a good substantial breakfast.

But she had always had a very small appetite, and she looked with something more than indifference at the first plate Martha set before her.

Martha exclaimed incredulously.

"I can't abide to see good victuals go to waste.

"I can't abide to see good victuals go to waste.

"Because they scarce ever had their stomachs full in their lives.

"I don't know what it is to be hungry," said Mary, with the indifference of ignorance.

Martha looked indignant.

"I've no patience with folk as sits an' just stares at good bread an' meat.

"Why don't you take it to them?" suggested Mary.

Mary glanced about her.

However little there is to eat, he always saves a bit o' his bread to coax his pets."

It was really this mention of Dickon which made Mary decide to go out, though she was not aware of it.

She seemed to hesitate a second before she added, "One of th' gardens is locked up.

When she had passed through the shrubbery gate she found herself in great gardens, with wide lawns and winding walks with clipped borders.

She saw another open green door, revealing bushes and pathways between beds containing winter vegetables.

She saw another open green door, revealing bushes and pathways between beds containing winter vegetables.

He had a surly old face, and did not seem at all pleased to see her—but then she was displeased with his garden and wore her "quite contrary" expression, and certainly did not seem at all pleased to see him.

"There's another on t'other side o' th' wall an' there's th' orchard t'other side o' that."

Mary made no response.

As she was not at all a timid child and always did what she wanted to do, Mary went to the green door and turned the handle.

Mary looked for it, and yet when she had entered the upper end of the garden she had noticed that the wall did not seem to end with the orchard but to extend beyond it as if it enclosed a place at the other side.

She thought of the robin and of the way he seemed to sing his song at her, and as she remembered the tree-top he perched on she stopped rather suddenly on the path.

"There was nothin' to prevent thee," he answered crustily.

To her surprise the surly old weather-beaten face actually changed its expression.

Almost the next moment a wonderful thing happened.

She heard a soft little rushing flight through the air—and it was the bird with the red breast flying to them, and he actually alighted on the big clod of earth quite near to the gardener's foot.

"Here he is," chuckled the old man, and then he spoke to the bird as if he were speaking to a child.

"Where has tha' been, tha' cheeky little beggar?" he said.

He hopped about and pecked the earth briskly, looking for seeds and insects.

He had a tiny plump body and a delicate beak, and slender delicate legs.

"Will he always come when you call him?" she asked almost in a whisper.

I've knowed him ever since he was a fledgling.

"He's a conceited one," he chuckled.

An' curious—bless me, there never was his like for curiosity an' meddlin'.

The robin hopped about busily pecking the soil and now and then stopped and looked at them a little.

The queer feeling in her heart increased.

The old ones turn 'em out o' their nest an' make 'em fly an' they're scattered before you know it.

He began to dig again, driving his spade deep into the rich black garden soil while the robin hopped about very busily employed.

It is a Yorkshire habit to say what you think with blunt frankness, and old Ben Weatherstaff was a Yorkshire moor man.

It is a Yorkshire habit to say what you think with blunt frankness, and old Ben Weatherstaff was a Yorkshire moor man.

We've got the same nasty tempers, both of us, I'll warrant."

Native servants always salaamed and submitted to you, whatever you did.

She felt uncomfortable.

"Dang me if he hasn't took a fancy to thee."

And she did not say it either in her hard little voice or in her imperious Indian voice, but in a tone so soft and eager and coaxing that Ben Weatherstaff was as surprised as she had been when she heard him whistle.

And she did not say it either in her hard little voice or in her imperious Indian voice, but in a tone so soft and eager and coaxing that Ben Weatherstaff was as surprised as she had been when she heard him whistle.

Don't you be a meddlesome wench an' poke your nose where it's no cause to go.

Every morning she awoke in her tapestried room and found Martha kneeling upon the hearth building her fire; every morning she ate her breakfast in the nursery which had nothing amusing in it; and after each breakfast she gazed out of the window across to the huge moor which seemed to spread out on all sides and climb up to the sky, and after she had stared for a while she realized that if she did not go out she would have to stay in and do nothing—and so she went out.

Every morning she awoke in her tapestried room and found Martha kneeling upon the hearth building her fire; every morning she ate her breakfast in the nursery which had nothing amusing in it; and after each breakfast she gazed out of the window across to the huge moor which seemed to spread out on all sides and climb up to the sky, and after she had stared for a while she realized that if she did not go out she would have to stay in and do nothing—and so she went out.

Once when she was walking toward him he picked up his spade and turned away as if he did it on purpose.

She had just paused and was looking up at a long spray of ivy swinging in the wind when she saw a gleam of scarlet and heard a brilliant chirp, and there, on the top of the wall, forward perched Ben Weatherstaff's robin redbreast, tilting forward to look at her with his small head on one side.

She had just paused and was looking up at a long spray of ivy swinging in the wind when she saw a gleam of scarlet and heard a brilliant chirp, and there, on the top of the wall, forward perched Ben Weatherstaff's robin redbreast, tilting forward to look at her with his small head on one side.

She had just paused and was looking up at a long spray of ivy swinging in the wind when she saw a gleam of scarlet and heard a brilliant chirp, and there, on the top of the wall, forward perched Ben Weatherstaff's robin redbreast, tilting forward to look at her with his small head on one side.

But the robin seemed to be quite satisfied and chirped and whistled back at her.

That reminded Mary of the first time she had seen him.

Then she ran down the path through the other door and then into the orchard, and when she stood and looked up there was the tree on the other side of the wall, and there was the robin just finishing his song and, beginning to preen his feathers with his beak.

In India she had always felt hot and too languid to care much about anything.

The fact was that the fresh wind from the moor had begun to blow the cobwebs out of her young brain and to waken her up a little.

She had made Martha stay with her and Martha had not objected at all.

She was very young, and used to a crowded cottage full of brothers and sisters, and she found it dull in the great servants' hall downstairs where the footman and upper-housemaids made fun of her Yorkshire speech and looked upon her as a common little thing, and sat and whispered among themselves.

Martha liked to talk, and the strange child who had lived in India, and been waited upon by "blacks," was novelty enough to attract her.

Mary persisted.

It must mean that hollow shuddering sort of roar which rushed round and round the house as if the giant no one could see were buffeting it and beating at the walls and windows to try to break in.

It must mean that hollow shuddering sort of roar which rushed round and round the house as if the giant no one could see were buffeting it and beating at the walls and windows to try to break in.

It must mean that hollow shuddering sort of roar which rushed round and round the house as if the giant no one could see were buffeting it and beating at the walls and windows to try to break in.

Then Martha gave up her store of knowledge.

Then Martha gave up her store of knowledge.

She did not know what it was, because at first she could scarcely distinguish it from the wind itself.

Martha suddenly looked confused.

And at that very moment a door must have been opened somewhere downstairs; for a great rushing draft blew along the passage and the door of the room they sat in was blown open with a crash, and as they both jumped to their feet the light was blown out and the crying sound was swept down the far corridor so that it was to be heard more plainly than ever.

And at that very moment a door must have been opened somewhere downstairs; for a great rushing draft blew along the passage and the door of the room they sat in was blown open with a crash, and as they both jumped to their feet the light was blown out and the crying sound was swept down the far corridor so that it was to be heard more plainly than ever.

And at that very moment a door must have been opened somewhere downstairs; for a great rushing draft blew along the passage and the door of the room they sat in was blown open with a crash, and as they both jumped to their feet the light was blown out and the crying sound was swept down the far corridor so that it was to be heard more plainly than ever.

But something troubled and awkward in her manner made Mistress Mary stare very hard at her.

The next day the rain poured down in torrents again, and when Mary looked out of her window the moor was almost hidden by gray mist and cloud.

He once found a little fox cub half drowned in its hole and he brought it home in th' bosom of his shirt to keep it warm.

Its mother had been killed nearby an' th' hole was swum out an' th' rest o' th' litter was dead.

He found a half-drowned young crow another time an' he brought it home, too, an' tamed it.

The time had come when Mary had forgotten to resent Martha's familiar talk.

Martha looked perplexed.

"Can tha' knit?" she asked.

"That's a pity," said Martha.

Mary did not ask where the library was, because she was suddenly inspired by a new idea.

In fact, there was no one to see but the servants, and when their master was away they lived a luxurious life below stairs, where there was a huge kitchen hung about with shining brass and pewter, and a large servants' hall where there were four or five abundant meals eaten every day, and where a great deal of lively romping went on when Mrs. Medlock was out of the way.

In fact, there was no one to see but the servants, and when their master was away they lived a luxurious life below stairs, where there was a huge kitchen hung about with shining brass and pewter, and a large servants' hall where there were four or five abundant meals eaten every day, and where a great deal of lively romping went on when Mrs. Medlock was out of the way.

In fact, there was no one to see but the servants, and when their master was away they lived a luxurious life below stairs, where there was a huge kitchen hung about with shining brass and pewter, and a large servants' hall where there were four or five abundant meals eaten every day, and where a great deal of lively romping went on when Mrs. Medlock was out of the way.

In India she had always been attended by her Ayah, who had followed her about and waited on her, hand and foot.

Mary had worn her contrary scowl for an hour after that, but it made her think several entirely new things.

She had never been taught to ask permission to do things, and she knew nothing at all about authority, so she would not have thought it necessary to ask Mrs. Medlock if she might walk about the house, even if she had seen her.

Sometimes they were pictures of dark, curious landscapes, but oftenest they were portraits of men and women in queer, grand costumes made of satin and velvet.

Sometimes they were pictures of dark, curious landscapes, but oftenest they were portraits of men and women in queer, grand costumes made of satin and velvet.

She wore a green brocade dress and held a green parrot on her finger.

It seemed as if there was no one in all the huge rambling house but her own small self, wandering about upstairs and down, through narrow passages and wide ones, where it seemed to her that no one but herself had ever walked.

Six baby mice were cuddled up asleep near her.

Two or three times she lost her way by turning down the wrong corridor and was obliged to ramble up and down until she found the right one; but at last she reached her own floor again, though she was some distance from her own room and did not know exactly where she was.

It was another cry, but not quite like the one she had heard last night; it was only a short one, a fretful childish whine muffled by passing through walls.

She put her hand accidentally upon the tapestry near her, and then sprang back, feeling quite startled.

Two days after this, when Mary opened her eyes she sat upright in bed immediately, and called to Martha.

The wind itself had ceased and a brilliant, deep blue sky arched high over the moorland.

In India skies were hot and blazing; this was of a deep cool blue which almost seemed to sparkle like the waters of some lovely bottomless lake, and here and there, high, high in the arched blueness floated small clouds of snow-white fleece.

In India skies were hot and blazing; this was of a deep cool blue which almost seemed to sparkle like the waters of some lovely bottomless lake, and here and there, high, high in the arched blueness floated small clouds of snow-white fleece.

In India the natives spoke different dialects which only a few people understood, so she was not surprised when Martha used words she did not know.

"Could I ever get there?" asked Mary wistfully, looking through her window at the far-off blue.

Martha looked reflective again.

"She was at her wash-tub an' I was in a bad temper an' talkin' ill of folk, an' she turns round on me an' says: 'Tha' young vixen, tha'!

She was going to walk five miles across the moor to the cottage, and she was going to help her mother with the washing and do the week's baking and enjoy herself thoroughly.

She was going to walk five miles across the moor to the cottage, and she was going to help her mother with the washing and do the week's baking and enjoy herself thoroughly.

He spoke to her of his own accord.

Mary sniffed and thought she could.

He was very pert and lively, and hopped about so close to her feet, and put his head on one side and looked at her so slyly that she asked Ben Weatherstaff a question.

"Ask him," said Ben Weatherstaff, hunching his shoulders toward the robin.

She heard a chirp and a twitter, and when she looked at the bare flower-bed at her left side there he was hopping about and pretending to peck things out of the earth to persuade her that he had not followed her.

But she knew he had followed her and the surprise so filled her with delight that she almost trembled a little.

She chirped, and talked, and coaxed and he hopped, and flirted his tail and twittered.

It was bare of flowers because the perennial plants had been cut down for their winter rest, but there were tall shrubs and low ones which grew together at the back of the bed, and as the robin hopped about under them she saw him hop over a small pile of freshly turned up earth.

It was bare of flowers because the perennial plants had been cut down for their winter rest, but there were tall shrubs and low ones which grew together at the back of the bed, and as the robin hopped about under them she saw him hop over a small pile of freshly turned up earth.

The earth had been turned up because a dog had been trying to dig up a mole and he had scratched quite a deep hole.

It was something like a ring of rusty iron or brass and when the robin flew up into a tree nearby she put out her hand and picked the ring up.

As I have said before, she was not a child who had been trained to ask permission or consult her elders about things.

As I have said before, she was not a child who had been trained to ask permission or consult her elders about things.

Living as it were, all by herself in a house with a hundred mysteriously closed rooms and having nothing whatever to do to amuse herself, had set her inactive brain to working and was actually awakening her imagination.

The ivy was the baffling thing.

Howsoever carefully she looked she could see nothing but thickly growing, glossy, dark green leaves.

She was very much disappointed.

An' th' cottage all smelt o' nice, clean hot bakin' an' there was a good fire, an' they just shouted for joy.

In the evening they had all sat round the fire, and Martha and her mother had sewed patches on torn clothes and mended stockings and Martha had told them about the little girl who had come from India and who had been waited on all her life by what Martha called "blacks" until she didn't know how to put on her own stockings.

Mary reflected a little.

"My word!" cried delighted Martha.

Mary gave her a long, steady look.

He had pots an' pans an' odds an' ends, but mother had no money to buy anythin'.

He had pots an' pans an' odds an' ends, but mother had no money to buy anythin'.

She brought it out from under her apron and exhibited it quite proudly.

She gazed at it with a mystified expression.

And she ran into the middle of the room and, taking a handle in each hand, began to skip, and skip, and skip, while Mary turned in her chair to stare at her, and the queer faces in the old portraits seemed to stare at her, too, and wonder what on earth this common little cottager had the impudence to be doing under their very noses.

"I've skipped as much as five hundred when I was twelve, but I wasn't as fat then as I am now, an' I was in practice."

"You just try it," urged Martha, handing her the skipping-rope.

She was not very clever at it, but she liked it so much that she did not want to stop.

Martha gave her hand a clumsy little shake, as if she was not accustomed to this sort of thing either.

Martha gave her hand a clumsy little shake, as if she was not accustomed to this sort of thing either.

The sun was shining and a little wind was blowing—not a rough wind, but one which came in delightful little gusts and brought a fresh scent of newly turned earth with it.

The sun was shining and a little wind was blowing—not a rough wind, but one which came in delightful little gusts and brought a fresh scent of newly turned earth with it.

P'raps tha' art a young 'un, after all, an' p'raps tha's got child's blood in thy veins instead of sour buttermilk.

"Tha' shapes well enough at it for a young 'un that's lived with heathen.

At length she went to her own special walk and made up her mind to try if she could skip the whole length of it.

She stopped with a little laugh of pleasure, and there, lo and behold, was the robin swaying on a long branch of ivy.

The robin flew from his swinging spray of ivy on to the top of the wall and he opened his beak and sang a loud, lovely trill, merely to show off.

All the ground was covered with grass of a wintry brown and out of it grew clumps of bushes which were surely rosebushes if they were alive.

There were numbers of standard roses which had so spread their branches that they were like little trees.

There were neither leaves nor roses on them now and Mary did not know whether they were dead or alive, but their thin gray or brown branches and sprays looked like a sort of hazy mantle spreading over everything, walls, and trees, and even brown grass, where they had fallen from their fastenings and run along the ground.

It was this hazy tangle from tree to tree which made it all look so mysterious.

He did not even flutter his wings; he sat without stirring, and looked at Mary.

If she had been Ben Weatherstaff she could have told whether the wood was alive by looking at it, but she could only see that there were only gray or brown sprays and branches and none showed any signs of even a tiny leaf-bud anywhere.

There seemed to have been grass paths here and there, and in one or two corners there were alcoves of evergreen with stone seats or tall moss-covered flower urns in them.

She searched about until she found a rather sharp piece of wood and knelt down and dug and weeded out the weeds and grass until she made nice little clear places around them.

The exercise made her so warm that she first threw her coat off, and then her hat, and without knowing it she was smiling down on to the grass and the pale green points all the time.

He was very much pleased to see gardening begun on his own estate.

Mistress Mary worked in her garden until it was time to go to her midday dinner.

She had been actually happy all the time; and dozens and dozens of the tiny, pale green points were to be seen in cleared places, looking twice as cheerful as they had looked before when the grass and weeds had been smothering them.

"Does Dickon know all about them?" asked Mary, a new idea taking possession of her.

"That's why poor folk can afford to have 'em.

She had finished her dinner and gone to her favorite seat on the hearth-rug.

Mary looked at the fire and pondered a little.

I never did many things in India, but there were more people to look at—natives and soldiers marching by—and sometimes bands playing, and my Ayah told me stories.

Th' rent of our cottage is only one an' threepence an' it's like pullin' eye-teeth to get it.

She ran out of the room, and Mary stood by the fire and twisted her thin little hands together with sheer pleasure.

Then it was a serious piece of work to write to Dickon.

"We'll put the money in th' envelope an' I'll get th' butcher boy to take it in his cart.

She knows what a tidy woman mother is and how clean she keeps the cottage."

Her work in the garden and the excitement of the afternoon ended by making her feel quiet and thoughtful.

The bulbs in the secret garden must have been much astonished.

Mary was an odd, determined little person, and now she had something interesting to be determined about, she was very much absorbed, indeed.

It seemed to her like a fascinating sort of play.

She found many more of the sprouting pale green points than she had ever hoped to find.

They seemed to be starting up everywhere and each day she was sure she found tiny new ones, some so tiny that they barely peeped above the earth.

During that week of sunshine, she became more intimate with Ben Weatherstaff.

Perhaps he was secretly rather flattered by her evident desire for his elderly company.

Perhaps he was secretly rather flattered by her evident desire for his elderly company.

Then, also, she was more civil than she had been.

"Makin' up to th' women folk just for vanity an' flightiness.

Mary was not vain and as she had never thought much of her looks she was not greatly disturbed.

His red waistcoat was as glossy as satin and he flirted his wings and tail and tilted his head and hopped about with all sorts of lively graces.

He seemed determined to make Ben Weatherstaff admire him.

But Ben was sarcastic.

Tha's courtin' some bold young madam somewhere tellin' thy lies to her about bein' th' finest cock robin on Missel Moor an' ready to fight all th' rest of 'em."

The robin was evidently in a fascinating, bold mood.

Tha's fair unearthly, tha's so knowin'."

Do roses quite die when they are left to themselves?" she ventured.

"Well, I'd got to like 'em—an' I liked her—an' she liked 'em," Ben Weatherstaff admitted reluctantly.

"Well, I'd got to like 'em—an' I liked her—an' she liked 'em," Ben Weatherstaff admitted reluctantly.

"Once or twice a year I'd go an' work at 'em a bit—prune 'em an' dig about th' roots.

"Look along th' twigs an' branches an' if tha' see a bit of a brown lump swelling here an' there, watch it after th' warm rain an' see what happens."

She enjoyed the skipping very much and when she reached the little gate she opened it and went through because she heard a low, peculiar whistling sound and wanted to find out what it was.

And on the trunk of the tree he leaned against, a brown squirrel was clinging and watching him, and from behind a bush nearby a cock pheasant was delicately stretching his neck to peep out, and quite near him were two rabbits sitting up and sniffing with tremulous noses—and actually it appeared as if they were all drawing near to watch him and listen to the strange low little call his pipe seemed to make.

He moved so slowly that it scarcely seemed as though he were moving at all, but at last he stood on his feet and then the squirrel scampered back up into the branches of his tree, the pheasant withdrew his head and the rabbits dropped on all fours and began to hop away, though not at all as if they were frightened.

He moved so slowly that it scarcely seemed as though he were moving at all, but at last he stood on his feet and then the squirrel scampered back up into the branches of his tree, the pheasant withdrew his head and the rabbits dropped on all fours and began to hop away, though not at all as if they were frightened.

Who else could have been charming rabbits and pheasants as the natives charm snakes in India?

A body 'as to move gentle an' speak low when wild things is about."

He stooped to pick up something which had been lying on the ground beside him when he piped.

The robin listened a few seconds, intently, and then answered quite as if he were replying to a question.

"Birds is rare choosers an' a robin can flout a body worse than a man.

She felt miserable.

She said the last sentence quite fiercely.

"If I couldn't keep secrets from th' other lads, secrets about foxes' cubs, an' birds' nests, an' wild things' holes, there'd be naught safe on th' moor.

She knew she felt contrary again, and obstinate, and she did not care at all.

There was a door and Mary pushed it slowly open and they passed in together, and then Mary stood and waved her hand round defiantly.

"Did you know about the garden?" she asked again when she had recovered herself.

He stepped over to the nearest tree—an old, old one with gray lichen all over its bark, but upholding a curtain of tangled sprays and branches.

He stepped over to the nearest tree—an old, old one with gray lichen all over its bark, but upholding a curtain of tangled sprays and branches.

He stepped over to the nearest tree—an old, old one with gray lichen all over its bark, but upholding a curtain of tangled sprays and branches.

Mary touched it herself in an eager, reverent way.

"They've run wild," he said, "but th' strongest ones has fair thrived on it.

He was very strong and clever with his knife and knew how to cut the dry and dead wood away, and could tell when an unpromising bough or twig had still green life in it.

They were working industriously round one of the biggest standard roses when he caught sight of something which made him utter an exclamation of surprise.

My nose end fair quivers like a rabbit's, mother says."

"I wouldn't want to make it look like a gardener's garden, all clipped an' spick an' span, would you?" he said.

He was examining a branch of a standard rose and he shook his head.

"Aye! how could it!" he murmured.

"Lilies o' th' valley does," he answered, digging away with the trowel, "an' there's Canterbury bells, an' campanulas."

They'll have growed too close an' we'll have to separate 'em, but there's plenty.

She frowned a little and gave her trowel a rather spiteful dig into the earth.

Dickon laughed so that he was obliged to stifle the sound by putting his arm over his mouth.

He picked up his coat from the grass and brought out of a pocket a lumpy little bundle tied up in a quite clean, coarse, blue and white handkerchief.

His poppy-colored cheeks were distended with his first big bite of bread and bacon, but he managed to smile encouragingly.

"Well," she said, "he's th' best lad as ever was born, but us never thought he was handsome.

Mary was afraid that she might begin to ask difficult questions, but she did not.

"If I was you, I'd ask Ben Weatherstaff," advised Martha.

"He's not half as bad as he looks, for all he's so crabbed.

He mayn't come back till autumn or winter.

She had on her best black dress and cap, and her collar was fastened with a large brooch with a picture of a man's face on it.

It was a colored photograph of Mr. Medlock who had died years ago, and she always wore it when she was dressed up.

She looked nervous and excited.

She could see that the man in the chair was not so much a hunchback as a man with high, rather crooked shoulders, and he had black hair streaked with white.

He looked as if the sight of her worried and fretted him and as if he did not know what in the world to do with her.

He looked as if the sight of her worried and fretted him and as if he did not know what in the world to do with her.

Then Mary gathered a scrap of courage.

Then Mary gathered a scrap of courage.

He seemed to rouse himself.

I cannot give you time or attention.

I am too ill, and wretched and distracted; but I wish you to be happy and comfortable.

I am too ill, and wretched and distracted; but I wish you to be happy and comfortable.

"To plant seeds in—to make things grow—to see them come alive," Mary faltered.

She needs liberty and fresh air and romping about.

I'd always take Susan Sowerby's advice about children myself.

Martha had, in fact, hurried back after she had removed the dinner service.

Martha had, in fact, hurried back after she had removed the dinner service.

"Martha," said Mary solemnly, "he is really a nice man, only his face is so miserable and his forehead is all drawn together."

Then Mary knew Dickon had meant the picture to be a message.

It was pouring down in torrents and the wind was "wuthering" round the corners and in the chimneys of the huge old house.

The mournful sound kept her awake because she felt mournful herself.

If she had felt happy it would probably have lulled her to sleep.

The door of her room was ajar and the sound came down the corridor, a far-off faint sound of fretful crying.

Perhaps the fact that she was in a rebellious mood made her bold.

She could see a glimmer of light coming from beneath it.

It was a big room with ancient, handsome furniture in it.

Then she crept across the room, and, as she drew nearer, the light attracted the boy's attention and he turned his head on his pillow and stared at her, his gray eyes opening so wide that they seemed immense.

He was still fingering the fold of her wrapper, but he began to look a little more as if he believed in her reality.

I used to wear an iron thing to keep my back straight, but a grand doctor came from London to see me and said it was stupid.

She found out that because he had been an invalid he had not learned things as other children had.

One of his nurses had taught him to read when he was quite little and he was always reading and looking at pictures in splendid books.

"Is it dead?" he interrupted her.

"If you won't make them take you to the garden," pleaded Mary, "perhaps—I feel almost sure I can find out how to get in sometime.

She felt almost sure that if she kept on talking and could make him see the garden in his mind as she had seen it he would like it so much that he could not bear to think that everybody might tramp in to it when they chose.

He lay quite still and listened while she went on talking about the roses which might have clambered from tree to tree and hung down—about the many birds which might have built their nests there because it was so safe.

I will pat your hand and stroke it and sing something quite low."

Martha was so busy that Mary had no opportunity of talking to her, but in the afternoon she asked her to come and sit with her in the nursery.

She came bringing the stocking she was always knitting when she was doing nothing else.

Tha' doesn't know what he's like when anything vexes him.

"I can scarcely believe thee!" she protested.

"It's as if tha'd walked straight into a lion's den.

If he'd been like he is most times he'd have throwed himself into one of his tantrums and roused th' house.

"I don't know what to do!" cried agitated Martha.

He just raved and said it'd be another hunchback like him and it'd better die."

Once they made him wear a brace but he fretted so he was downright ill.

He said there'd been too much medicine and too much lettin' him have his own way."

The book was a beautiful one with superb colored illustrations and he turned to one of them.

The book was a beautiful one with superb colored illustrations and he turned to one of them.

"Thousands of lovely things grow on it and there are thousands of little creatures all busy building nests and making holes and burrows and chippering or singing or squeaking to each other.

I thought it was hideous.

"I couldn't go on the moor," he said in a resentful tone.

She did not feel very sympathetic.

She felt rather as if he almost boasted about it.

She felt as if she would like this thing to be settled one way or the other.

And they laughed so that in the end they were making as much noise as if they had been two ordinary healthy natural ten-year-old creatures—instead of a hard, little, unloving girl and a sickly boy who believed that he was going to die.

Dr. Craven started in actual alarm and Mrs. Medlock almost fell back because he had accidentally bumped against her.

Colin answered as if neither the doctor's alarm nor Mrs. Medlock's terror were of the slightest consequence.

Mary saw that Dr. Craven did not look pleased, but it was quite plain that he dare not oppose his patient.

Mary saw that Dr. Craven did not look pleased, but it was quite plain that he dare not oppose his patient.

He sat down by Colin and felt his pulse.

She had become a stiff, silent child again as soon as he entered and he could not see what the attraction was.

"You are a sly young one to listen and get out of your bed to go following things up like you did that night," Mrs. Medlock said once.

In her talks with Colin, Mary had tried to be very cautious about the secret garden.

In the first place, as she began to like to be with him, she wanted to discover whether he was the kind of boy you could tell a secret to.

He was not in the least like Dickon, but he was evidently so pleased with the idea of a garden no one knew anything about that she thought perhaps he could be trusted.

"Tha'rt not nigh so yeller and tha'rt not nigh so scrawny.

There were tender little fluting sounds here and there and everywhere, as if scores of birds were beginning to tune up for a concert.

"It will make the green points push up and up and up, and it will make the bulbs and roots work and struggle with all their might under the earth."

I don't even hear the stable boys."

She clasped her hands for pure joy and looked up in the sky and it was so blue and pink and pearly and white and flooded with springtime light that she felt as if she must flute and sing aloud herself and knew that thrushes and robins and skylarks could not possibly help it.

She clasped her hands for pure joy and looked up in the sky and it was so blue and pink and pearly and white and flooded with springtime light that she felt as if she must flute and sing aloud herself and knew that thrushes and robins and skylarks could not possibly help it.

Six months before Mistress Mary would not have seen how the world was waking up, but now she missed nothing.

She had never seen a crow so close before and he made her a little nervous, but the next moment he spread his wings and flapped away across the garden.

An' it's workin' an' hummin' an' scratchin' an' pipin' an' nest-buildin' an' breathin' out scents, till you've got to be out on it 'stead o' lyin' on your back.

They put their eager young noses close to the earth and sniffed its warmed springtime breathing; they dug and pulled and laughed low with rapture until Mistress Mary's hair was as tumbled as Dickon's and her cheeks were almost as poppy red as his.

"He'd be out with us for good if he got th' notion us was interferin' now.

They've got their way o' thinkin' and doin' things an' a body had better not meddle.

Mary told him her story about the midnight wuthering of the wind which had wakened her and about the faint far-off sounds of the complaining voice which had led her down the dark corridors with her candle and had ended with her opening of the door of the dimly lighted room with the carven four-posted bed in the corner.

When she described the small ivory-white face and the strange black-rimmed eyes Dickon shook his head.

Look round now and tell me if tha' doesn't see a difference."

"Ben Weatherstaff scolds him and makes fun of him, and he hops about and looks as if he understood every word, and I know he likes it.

And though the robin did not answer, because his beak was occupied, Mary knew that when he flew away with his twig to his own corner of the garden the darkness of his dew-bright eye meant that he would not tell their secret for the world.

And though the robin did not answer, because his beak was occupied, Mary knew that when he flew away with his twig to his own corner of the garden the darkness of his dew-bright eye meant that he would not tell their secret for the world.

But Mary was not as afraid of him as other people were and she was not a self-sacrificing person.

Dickon had brought a spade of his own and he had taught Mary to use all her tools, so that by this time it was plain that though the lovely wild place was not likely to become a "gardener's garden" it would be a wilderness of growing things before the springtime was over.

The little fox and the rook were as happy and busy as they were, and the robin and his mate flew backward and forward like tiny streaks of lightning.

Sometimes the rook flapped his black wings and soared away over the tree-tops in the park.

Each time he came back and perched near Dickon and cawed several times as if he were relating his adventures, and Dickon talked to him just as he had talked to the robin.

Each time he came back and perched near Dickon and cawed several times as if he were relating his adventures, and Dickon talked to him just as he had talked to the robin.

Once when Dickon was so busy that he did not answer him at first, Soot flew on to his shoulders and gently tweaked his ear with his large beak.

So it was not very pleasant when she opened the door of her room, to see Martha standing waiting for her with a doleful face.

So it was not very pleasant when she opened the door of her room, to see Martha standing waiting for her with a doleful face.

She was no more used to considering other people than Colin was and she saw no reason why an ill-tempered boy should interfere with the thing she liked best.

She was no more used to considering other people than Colin was and she saw no reason why an ill-tempered boy should interfere with the thing she liked best.

Colin frowned and condescended to look at her.

"If you send Dickon away, I'll never come into this room again!" she retorted.

They were a nice agreeable pair as they glared at each other.

Colin sneered ferociously.

He turned his head on his pillow and shut his eyes and a big tear was squeezed out and ran down his cheek.

He was beginning to feel pathetic and sorry for himself—not for any one else.

"You're not!" contradicted Mary unsympathetically.

He opened his eyes quite wide with indignation.

She marched out of the door and closed it behind her, and there to her great astonishment she found the trained nurse standing as if she had been listening and, more amazing still—she was laughing.

She was a big handsome young woman who ought not to have been a trained nurse at all, as she could not bear invalids and she was always making excuses to leave Colin to Martha or any one else who would take her place.

Mary had never liked her, and she simply stood and gazed up at her as she stood giggling into her handkerchief..

"Hysterics and temper are half what ails him."

She felt so sour and unrelenting that for a few minutes she almost forgot about Dickon and the green veil creeping over the world and the soft wind blowing down from the moor.

Martha was waiting for her and the trouble in her face had been temporarily replaced by interest and curiosity.

Martha was waiting for her and the trouble in her face had been temporarily replaced by interest and curiosity.

There was a wooden box on the table and its cover had been removed and revealed that it was full of neat packages.

He had never told any one but Mary that most of his "tantrums" as they called them grew out of his hysterical hidden fear.

She thought it was the middle of the night when she was awakened by such dreadful sounds that she jumped out of bed in an instant.

She thought it was the middle of the night when she was awakened by such dreadful sounds that she jumped out of bed in an instant.

Doors were opened and shut and there were hurrying feet in the corridors and some one was crying and screaming at the same time, screaming and crying in a horrible way.

She felt quite wicked by the time she reached the door.

A nice sympathetic child could neither have thought nor said such things, but it just happened that the shock of hearing them was the best possible thing for this hysterical boy whom no one had ever dared to restrain or contradict.

His face looked dreadful, white and red and swollen, and he was gasping and choking; but savage little Mary did not care an atom.

His face looked dreadful, white and red and swollen, and he was gasping and choking; but savage little Mary did not care an atom.

His face looked dreadful, white and red and swollen, and he was gasping and choking; but savage little Mary did not care an atom.

I shall have a hunch on my back and then I shall die," and he began to writhe again and turned on his face and sobbed and wailed but he didn't scream.

The nurse, Mrs. Medlock and Martha had been standing huddled together near the door staring at her, their mouths half open.

Every rib could be counted and every joint of the spine, though Mistress Mary did not count them as she bent over and examined them with a solemn savage little face.

If he had ever had any one to talk to about his secret terrors—if he had ever dared to let himself ask questions—if he had had childish companions and had not lain on his back in the huge closed house, breathing an atmosphere heavy with the fears of people who were most of them ignorant and tired of him, he would have found out that most of his fright and illness was created by himself.

If he had ever had any one to talk to about his secret terrors—if he had ever dared to let himself ask questions—if he had had childish companions and had not lain on his back in the huge closed house, breathing an atmosphere heavy with the fears of people who were most of them ignorant and tired of him, he would have found out that most of his fright and illness was created by himself.

If he had ever had any one to talk to about his secret terrors—if he had ever dared to let himself ask questions—if he had had childish companions and had not lain on his back in the huge closed house, breathing an atmosphere heavy with the fears of people who were most of them ignorant and tired of him, he would have found out that most of his fright and illness was created by himself.

And now that an angry unsympathetic little girl insisted obstinately that he was not as ill as he thought he was he actually felt as if she might be speaking the truth.

The nurse was neither clever nor soft-hearted but she could repeat some of the London doctor's words.

"He'll drop off after a while—if he's not too upset.

"Well," said the nurse, with an attempt at reluctance.

Mary looked at his poor little tired face and swollen eyes and her heart relented.

The soft drone of her voice was making him stiller and stiller and she saw it and went on.

"Perhaps they are coming up through the grass—perhaps there are clusters of purple crocuses and gold ones—even now.

"No, I'll go and see Colin first and tell him—I know what I'll tell him," with a sudden inspiration.

When he said "Nut" one squirrel leaped on to his right shoulder and when he said "Shell" the other one leaped on to his left shoulder.

When he was very much interested he often spoke quite broad Yorkshire though at other times he tried to modify his dialect so that Mary could better understand.

"I'll tell thee what us'll do first," she proceeded, and Dickon grinned, because when the little wench tried to twist her tongue into speaking Yorkshire it amused him very much.

But she went back to the house and when she sat down close to Colin's bed he began to sniff as Dickon did though not in such an experienced way.

And then she began to laugh too and they both laughed until they could not stop themselves and they laughed until the room echoed and Mrs. Medlock opening the door to come in drew back into the corridor and stood listening amazed.

He was rather thin with living on moor grass but he was as tough and wiry as if the muscle in his little legs had been made of steel springs.

He had lifted his head and whinnied softly the moment he saw Dickon and he had trotted up to him and put his head across his shoulder and then Dickon had talked into his ear and Jump had talked back in odd little whinnies and puffs and snorts.

"Yes," answered Mary without any affectation.

"I should have detested you if I had seen you before I saw the robin and Dickon."

Can I trust you—for sure—for sure?" she implored.

And she was so un-hysterical and natural and childish that she brought him to his senses and he began to laugh at himself and a few minutes afterward she was sitting on her stool again telling him not what she imagined the secret garden to be like but what it really was, and Colin's aches and tiredness were forgotten and he was listening enraptured.

He was always sent for at once when such a thing occurred and he always found, when he arrived, a white shaken boy lying on his bed, sulky and still so hysterical that he was ready to break into fresh sobbing at the least word.

In fact, Dr. Craven dreaded and detested the difficulties of these visits.

On this occasion he was away from Misselthwaite Manor until afternoon.

"He will break a blood-vessel in one of those fits some day.

The boy is half insane with hysteria and self-indulgence."

The boy is half insane with hysteria and self-indulgence."

The boy is half insane with hysteria and self-indulgence."

The scene which Dr. Craven beheld when he entered his patient's room was indeed rather astonishing to him.

"Those long spires of blue ones—we'll have a lot of those," Colin was announcing.

As there had been occasions when this same young gentleman had shrieked aloud with rage and had insisted that fresh air would give him cold and kill him, it is not to be wondered at that his doctor felt somewhat startled.

"No, I will not have the nurse," so magnificently that Mary could not help remembering how the young native Prince had looked with his diamonds and emeralds and pearls stuck all over him and the great rubies on the small dark hand he had waved to command his servants to approach with salaams and receive his orders.

"No, I will not have the nurse," so magnificently that Mary could not help remembering how the young native Prince had looked with his diamonds and emeralds and pearls stuck all over him and the great rubies on the small dark hand he had waved to command his servants to approach with salaams and receive his orders.

"No, I will not have the nurse," so magnificently that Mary could not help remembering how the young native Prince had looked with his diamonds and emeralds and pearls stuck all over him and the great rubies on the small dark hand he had waved to command his servants to approach with salaams and receive his orders.

If this tiresome hysterical boy should chance to get well he himself would lose all chance of inheriting Misselthwaite; but he was not an unscrupulous man, though he was a weak one, and he did not intend to let him run into actual danger.

If this tiresome hysterical boy should chance to get well he himself would lose all chance of inheriting Misselthwaite; but he was not an unscrupulous man, though he was a weak one, and he did not intend to let him run into actual danger.

She saw that in a moment Dr. Craven's serious face relaxed into a relieved smile.

"That sounds soothing," said Dr. Craven, more perplexed than ever and glancing sideways at Mistress Mary sitting on her stool and looking down silently at the carpet.

"It is certainly a new state of affairs," said the doctor.

"And there's no denying it is better than the old one."

She says, 'Once when I was givin' th' children a bit of a preach after they'd been fightin' I ses to 'em all, "When I was at school my jography told as th' world was shaped like a orange an' I found out before I was ten that th' whole orange doesn't belong to nobody.

But don't you—none o' you—think as you own th' whole orange or you'll find out you're mistaken, an' you won't find it out without hard knocks."

If you do you'll likely not get even th' pips, an' them's too bitter to eat.'"

"She's a shrewd woman," said Dr. Craven, putting on his coat.

It was actually nice to be awake, and he turned over and stretched his limbs luxuriously.

"It's so beautiful!" she said, a little breathless with her speed.

She had sat stifling in the room many a warm day because her patient was sure that open windows gave people cold.

"Are you sure you are not chilly, Master Colin?" she inquired.

She found the servants' hall a more amusing place than the invalid's chamber and just now everybody wanted to hear the news from upstairs.

There was a great deal of joking about the unpopular young recluse who, as the cook said, "had found his master, and good for him."

The servants' hall had been very tired of the tantrums, and the butler, who was a man with a family, had more than once expressed his opinion that the invalid would be all the better "for a good hiding."

When Colin was on his sofa and the breakfast for two was put upon the table he made an announcement to the nurse in his most Rajah-like manner.

The nurse gave a slight gasp and tried to conceal it with a cough.

Colin listened and heard it, the oddest sound in the world to hear inside a house, a hoarse "caw-caw."

Colin had never talked to a boy in his life and he was so overwhelmed by his own pleasure and curiosity that he did not even think of speaking.

He had not felt embarrassed because the crow had not known his language and had only stared and had not spoken to him the first time they met.

There now," and he pushed the rubber tip of the bottle into the nuzzling mouth and the lamb began to suck it with ravenous ecstasy.

There now," and he pushed the rubber tip of the bottle into the nuzzling mouth and the lamb began to suck it with ravenous ecstasy.

While he talked, Soot flew solemnly in and out of the open window and cawed remarks about the scenery while Nut and Shell made excursions into the big trees outside and ran up and down trunks and explored branches.

While he talked, Soot flew solemnly in and out of the open window and cawed remarks about the scenery while Nut and Shell made excursions into the big trees outside and ran up and down trunks and explored branches.

While he talked, Soot flew solemnly in and out of the open window and cawed remarks about the scenery while Nut and Shell made excursions into the big trees outside and ran up and down trunks and explored branches.

While he talked, Soot flew solemnly in and out of the open window and cawed remarks about the scenery while Nut and Shell made excursions into the big trees outside and ran up and down trunks and explored branches.

Captain curled up near Dickon, who sat on the hearth-rug from preference.

But they were obliged to wait more than a week because first there came some very windy days and then Colin was threatened with a cold, which two things happening one after the other would no doubt have thrown him into a rage but that there was so much careful and mysterious planning to do and almost every day Dickon came in, if only for a few minutes, to talk about what was happening on the moor and in the lanes and hedges and on the borders of streams.

The things he had to tell about otters' and badgers' and water-rats' houses, not to mention birds' nests and field-mice and their burrows, were enough to make you almost tremble with excitement when you heard all the intimate details from an animal charmer and realized with what thrilling eagerness and anxiety the whole busy underworld was working.

The things he had to tell about otters' and badgers' and water-rats' houses, not to mention birds' nests and field-mice and their burrows, were enough to make you almost tremble with excitement when you heard all the intimate details from an animal charmer and realized with what thrilling eagerness and anxiety the whole busy underworld was working.

An' it keeps 'em so busy they fair scuffle to get 'em done."

The most absorbing thing, however, was the preparations to be made before Colin could be transported with sufficient secrecy to the garden.

The most absorbing thing, however, was the preparations to be made before Colin could be transported with sufficient secrecy to the garden.

The most absorbing thing, however, was the preparations to be made before Colin could be transported with sufficient secrecy to the garden.

As each day passed, Colin had become more and more fixed in his feeling that the mystery surrounding the garden was one of its greatest charms.

As each day passed, Colin had become more and more fixed in his feeling that the mystery surrounding the garden was one of its greatest charms.

They had long and quite delightful talks about their route.

They would go up this path and down that one and cross the other and go round among the fountain flower-beds as if they were looking at the "bedding-out plants" the head gardener, Mr. Roach, had been having arranged.

That would seem such a rational thing to do that no one would think it at all mysterious.

Rumors of the new and curious things which were occurring in the invalid's apartments had of course filtered through the servants' hall into the stable yards and out among the gardeners, but notwithstanding this, Mr. Roach was startled one day when he received orders from Master Colin's room to the effect that he must report himself in the apartment no outsider had ever seen, as the invalid himself desired to speak to him.

Rumors of the new and curious things which were occurring in the invalid's apartments had of course filtered through the servants' hall into the stable yards and out among the gardeners, but notwithstanding this, Mr. Roach was startled one day when he received orders from Master Colin's room to the effect that he must report himself in the apartment no outsider had ever seen, as the invalid himself desired to speak to him.

Rumors of the new and curious things which were occurring in the invalid's apartments had of course filtered through the servants' hall into the stable yards and out among the gardeners, but notwithstanding this, Mr. Roach was startled one day when he received orders from Master Colin's room to the effect that he must report himself in the apartment no outsider had ever seen, as the invalid himself desired to speak to him.

He had never caught even a glimpse of the boy and had heard a dozen exaggerated stories about his uncanny looks and ways and his insane tempers.

He had never caught even a glimpse of the boy and had heard a dozen exaggerated stories about his uncanny looks and ways and his insane tempers.

The thing he had heard oftenest was that he might die at any moment and there had been numerous fanciful descriptions of a humped back and helpless limbs, given by people who had never seen him.

The thing he had heard oftenest was that he might die at any moment and there had been numerous fanciful descriptions of a humped back and helpless limbs, given by people who had never seen him.

The thing he had heard oftenest was that he might die at any moment and there had been numerous fanciful descriptions of a humped back and helpless limbs, given by people who had never seen him.

Don't you be surprised, Mr. Roach, if you find yourself in the middle of a menagerie and Martha Sowerby's Dickon more at home than you or me could ever be."

In spite of Mrs. Medlock's warning, Mr. Roach only just escaped being sufficiently undignified to jump backward.

"Very good, sir," answered Roach, wondering if he was to receive instructions to fell all the oaks in the park or to transform the orchards into water-gardens.

"Very good, sir," answered Roach, wondering if he was to receive instructions to fell all the oaks in the park or to transform the orchards into water-gardens.

You'd think he was a whole Royal Family rolled into one—Prince Consort and all.".

Shut in and morbid as his life had been, Colin had more imagination than she had and at least he had spent a good deal of time looking at wonderful books and pictures.

It sounded as if things were coming with a great procession and big bursts and wafts of music.

I've a picture like it in one of my books—crowds of lovely people and children with garlands and branches with blossoms on them, everyone laughing and dancing and crowding and playing on pipes.

She noticed that instead of lying like a log while his clothes were put on he sat up and made some efforts to help himself, and he talked and laughed with Mary all the time.

"This is one of his good days, sir," she said to Dr. Craven, who dropped in to inspect him.

"We'll try the experiment.

"You have my permission to go," he said, and they both disappeared quickly and it must be confessed giggled when they were safely inside the house.

"You have my permission to go," he said, and they both disappeared quickly and it must be confessed giggled when they were safely inside the house.

The arch of it looked very high and the small snowy clouds seemed like white birds floating on outspread wings below its crystal blueness.

But they wound in and out among the shrubbery and out and round the fountain beds, following their carefully planned route for the mere mysterious pleasure of it.

One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands alone and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun—which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years.

That afternoon the whole world seemed to devote itself to being perfect and radiantly beautiful and kind to one boy.

That afternoon the whole world seemed to devote itself to being perfect and radiantly beautiful and kind to one boy.

And delight reigned.

It was like a king's canopy, a fairy king's.

They brought him things to look at—buds which were opening, buds which were tight closed, bits of twig whose leaves were just showing green, the feather of a woodpecker which had dropped on the grass, the empty shell of some bird early hatched.

Tha'll see him flyin' backward an' for'ard carryin' worms nigh as big as himsel' an' that much noise goin' on in th' nest when he gets there as fair flusters him so as he scarce knows which big mouth to drop th' first piece in.

Colin had been instructed as to the law of whispers and low voices several days before.

Dickon looked across the grass at the tree and Mary looked and there was a brief moment of stillness.

It was an agreeable idea, easily carried out, and when the white cloth was spread upon the grass, with hot tea and buttered toast and crumpets, a delightfully hungry meal was eaten, and several birds on domestic errands paused to inquire what was going on and were led into investigating crumbs with great activity.

It was an agreeable idea, easily carried out, and when the white cloth was spread upon the grass, with hot tea and buttered toast and crumpets, a delightfully hungry meal was eaten, and several birds on domestic errands paused to inquire what was going on and were led into investigating crumbs with great activity.

The afternoon was dragging towards its mellow hour.

"When tha' stops bein' afraid tha'lt stand on 'em," Dickon said with renewed cheer.

There was Ben Weatherstaff's indignant face glaring at them over the wall from the top of a ladder!

He mounted another step threateningly as if it were his energetic intention to jump down and deal with her; but as she came toward him he evidently thought better of it and stood on the top step of his ladder shaking his fist down at her.

"I never thowt much o' thee!" he harangued.

Then it did seem as if Ben really would scramble down on her side of the wall, he was so outraged.

Eh! tha' young nowt"—she could see his next words burst out because he was overpowered by curiosity—"however i' this world did tha' get in?"

But in the midst of it he had recovered himself and beckoned imperiously to Dickon.

But in the midst of it he had recovered himself and beckoned imperiously to Dickon.

Ben Weatherstaff put his gnarled hand up and passed it over his eyes and over his forehead and then he did answer in a queer shaky voice.

Ben Weatherstaff put his gnarled hand up and passed it over his eyes and over his forehead and then he did answer in a queer shaky voice.

"He's not!" cried Mary, almost shouting up the wall in her fierce indignation.

Never yet had he been accused of crooked legs—even in whispers—and the perfectly simple belief in their existence which was revealed by Ben Weatherstaff's voice was more than Rajah flesh and blood could endure.

Never yet had he been accused of crooked legs—even in whispers—and the perfectly simple belief in their existence which was revealed by Ben Weatherstaff's voice was more than Rajah flesh and blood could endure.

Never yet had he been accused of crooked legs—even in whispers—and the perfectly simple belief in their existence which was revealed by Ben Weatherstaff's voice was more than Rajah flesh and blood could endure.

"Look at me!" he flung up at Ben Weatherstaff.

What Ben Weatherstaff did Mary thought queer beyond measure.

Tha'rt as thin as a lath an' as white as a wraith, but there's not a knob on thee.

Yes, sir!" and obediently disappeared as he descended the ladder.

Ben Weatherstaff had not quite got over his emotion, but he had recovered a little and answered almost in his usual way.

And he said it with such decision Ben Weatherstaff looked him over, up and down, down and up.

"Tha' die!" he said with dry exultation.

There was a queer mixture of crabbed tenderness and shrewd understanding in his manner.

"I'm kep' on by favor—because she liked me."

But I come," with grumpy obstinacy.

But I come," with grumpy obstinacy.

Colin persevered.

"Eh!" he said, "that sounds as if tha'd got wits enow.

He had lived on a sort of desert island all his life and as he had been the king of it he had made his own manners and had had no one to compare himself with.

He had lived on a sort of desert island all his life and as he had been the king of it he had made his own manners and had had no one to compare himself with.

Having made this discovery she naturally thought it of enough interest to communicate to Colin.

Having made this discovery she naturally thought it of enough interest to communicate to Colin.

"No, he daren't," answered Mistress Mary, thinking the thing out quite without prejudice.

"I am not going to be," and he frowned again with determination.

They always called it Magic and indeed it seemed like it in the months that followed—the wonderful months—the radiant months—the amazing ones.

At first it seemed that green things would never cease pushing their way through the earth, in the grass, in the beds, even in the crevices of the walls.

Then the green things began to show buds and the buds began to unfurl and show color, every shade of blue, every shade of purple, every tint and hue of crimson.

Then the green things began to show buds and the buds began to unfurl and show color, every shade of blue, every shade of purple, every tint and hue of crimson.

Ben Weatherstaff had seen it done and had himself scraped out mortar from between the bricks of the wall and made pockets of earth for lovely clinging things to grow on.

Iris and white lilies rose out of the grass in sheaves, and the green alcoves filled themselves with amazing armies of the blue and white flower lances of tall delphiniums or columbines or campanulas.

If you watched long enough, he declared, you could see buds unsheath themselves.

Also you could make the acquaintance of strange busy insect things running about on various unknown but evidently serious errands, sometimes carrying tiny scraps of straw or feather or food, or climbing blades of grass as if they were trees from whose tops one could look out to explore the country.

The fact that he had really once stood on his feet had set Colin thinking tremendously and when Mary told him of the spell she had worked he was excited and approved of it greatly.

(One of the long concealed charms of Ben Weatherstaff was that in his boyhood he had once run away to sea and had made voyages.

"I am going to try a scientific experiment," explained the Rajah.

"Aye, aye, sir!" said Ben Weatherstaff promptly, though this was the first time he had heard of great scientific discoveries.

It was the first time Mary had heard of them, either, but even at this stage she had begun to realize that, queer as he was, Colin had read about a great many singular things and was somehow a very convincing sort of boy.

At this moment he was especially convincing because he suddenly felt the fascination of actually making a sort of speech like a grown-up person.

This sounded so imposing that Ben Weatherstaff became quite excited and really could not keep still.

"When Mary found this garden it looked quite dead," the orator proceeded.

"If you keep doing it every day as regularly as soldiers go through drill we shall see what will happen and find out if the experiment succeeds.

Ben Weatherstaff chuckled and there was shrewd admiration in his little old eyes.

"Next time I see Bess Fettleworth I'll give her a bit of a hint o' what Magic will do for her.

Dickon had stood listening to the lecture, his round eyes shining with curious delight.

Fired by recollections of fakirs and devotees in illustrations Colin suggested that they should all sit cross-legged under the tree which made a canopy.

Colin turned and looked at him—into his innocent round eyes.

It all seemed most majestic and mysterious when they sat down in their circle.

Ordinarily he was very fixed in being what he called "agen' prayer-meetin's" but this being the Rajah's affair he did not resent it and was indeed inclined to be gratified at being called upon to assist.

Ordinarily he was very fixed in being what he called "agen' prayer-meetin's" but this being the Rajah's affair he did not resent it and was indeed inclined to be gratified at being called upon to assist.

Dickon held his rabbit in his arm, and perhaps he made some charmer's signal no one heard, for when he sat down, cross-legged like the rest, the crow, the fox, the squirrels and the lamb slowly drew near and made part of the circle, settling each into a place of rest as if of their own desire.

"They turned me out o' th' church choir th' only time I ever tried it."

They were all too much in earnest.

Ben Weatherstaff began to feel soothed into a sort of dream which was quite agreeable.

The humming of the bees in the blossoms mingled with the chanting voice and drowsily melted into a doze.

The humming of the bees in the blossoms mingled with the chanting voice and drowsily melted into a doze.

"Th' sermon was good enow—but I'm bound to get out afore th' collection."

In fact, being a stubborn old party and not having entire faith in Magic he had made up his mind that if he were sent away he would climb his ladder and look over the wall so that he might be ready to hobble back if there were any stumbling.

In fact, being a stubborn old party and not having entire faith in Magic he had made up his mind that if he were sent away he would climb his ladder and look over the wall so that he might be ready to hobble back if there were any stumbling.

In fact, being a stubborn old party and not having entire faith in Magic he had made up his mind that if he were sent away he would climb his ladder and look over the wall so that he might be ready to hobble back if there were any stumbling.

Ben Weatherstaff walked behind, and the "creatures" trailed after them, the lamb and the fox cub keeping close to Dickon, the white rabbit hopping along or stopping to nibble and Soot following with the solemnity of a person who felt himself in charge.

It was a procession which moved slowly but with dignity.

When he returned to the canopy tree his cheeks were flushed and he looked triumphant.

He had made himself believe that he was going to get well, which was really more than half the battle, if he had been aware of it.

And the thought which stimulated him more than any other was this imagining what his father would look like when he saw that he had a son who was as straight and strong as other fathers' sons.

One of his darkest miseries in the unhealthy morbid past days had been his hatred of being a sickly weak-backed boy whose father was afraid to look at him.

"One of the things I am going to do, after the Magic works and before I begin to make scientific discoveries, is to be an athlete."

"Tha'lt end wi' winnin' th' Belt an' bein' champion prize-fighter of all England."

"Ax pardon—ax pardon, sir" answered Ben, touching his forehead in salute.

He really did not mind being snubbed since the snubbing meant that the lad was gaining strength and spirit.

He really did not mind being snubbed since the snubbing meant that the lad was gaining strength and spirit.

Early in the morning and late in the fading twilight and on all the days Colin and Mary did not see him, Dickon worked there planting or tending potatoes and cabbages, turnips and carrots and herbs for his mother.

Dickon had bought penny packages of flower seeds now and then and sown bright sweet-scented things among gooseberry bushes and even cabbages and he grew borders of mignonette and pinks and pansies and things whose seeds he could save year after year or whose roots would bloom each spring and spread in time into fine clumps.

The coming of Dickon and how it had been told to him, the doubt of Mester Colin and the final drama of his introduction to the hidden domain, combined with the incident of Ben Weatherstaff's angry face peering over the wall and Mester Colin's sudden indignant strength, made Mrs. Sowerby's nice-looking face quite change color several times.

The coming of Dickon and how it had been told to him, the doubt of Mester Colin and the final drama of his introduction to the hidden domain, combined with the incident of Ben Weatherstaff's angry face peering over the wall and Mester Colin's sudden indignant strength, made Mrs. Sowerby's nice-looking face quite change color several times.

The coming of Dickon and how it had been told to him, the doubt of Mester Colin and the final drama of his introduction to the hidden domain, combined with the incident of Ben Weatherstaff's angry face peering over the wall and Mester Colin's sudden indignant strength, made Mrs. Sowerby's nice-looking face quite change color several times.

The coming of Dickon and how it had been told to him, the doubt of Mester Colin and the final drama of his introduction to the hidden domain, combined with the incident of Ben Weatherstaff's angry face peering over the wall and Mester Colin's sudden indignant strength, made Mrs. Sowerby's nice-looking face quite change color several times.

The coming of Dickon and how it had been told to him, the doubt of Mester Colin and the final drama of his introduction to the hidden domain, combined with the incident of Ben Weatherstaff's angry face peering over the wall and Mester Colin's sudden indignant strength, made Mrs. Sowerby's nice-looking face quite change color several times.

But he has to do his bit o' complainin'," with a highly entertained grin.

Him an' Miss Mary's both got to enjoyin' it an' when he groans an' complains she'll say, 'Poor Colin!

Mrs. Sowerby laughed so heartily at the revelation of this difficulty that she quite rocked backward and forward in her blue cloak, and Dickon laughed with her.

Mrs. Sowerby laughed so heartily at the revelation of this difficulty that she quite rocked backward and forward in her blue cloak, and Dickon laughed with her.

"They're two young 'uns growin' fast, an' health's comin' back to both of 'em.

Colin and Mary found it one of their most thrilling sources of entertainment.

Colin and Mary found it one of their most thrilling sources of entertainment.

The idea of protecting themselves from suspicion had been unconsciously suggested to them first by the puzzled nurse and then by Dr. Craven himself.

The idea of protecting themselves from suspicion had been unconsciously suggested to them first by the puzzled nurse and then by Dr. Craven himself.

Colin put on his favorite air of dignified indifference to opinion.

"Perhaps," said Colin, prompted by a sudden inspiration, "perhaps it is an unnatural appetite."

"Perhaps—perhaps I am bloated and feverish," said Colin, assuming a discouraging air of gloom.

"Perhaps—perhaps I am bloated and feverish," said Colin, assuming a discouraging air of gloom.

Your father will be happy to hear of this remarkable improvement."

"It will only disappoint him if I get worse again—and I may get worse this very night.

You are too sensitive about things.

"His advance seems almost abnormal.

"His advance seems almost abnormal.

Still, he excites himself very easily and nothing must be said to irritate him."

He made up his mind to eat less, but unfortunately it was not possible to carry out this brilliant idea when he wakened each morning with an amazing appetite and the table near his sofa was set with a breakfast of home-made bread and fresh butter, snow-white eggs, raspberry jam and clotted cream.

Mary always breakfasted with him and when they found themselves at the table—particularly if there were delicate slices of sizzling ham sending forth tempting odors from under a hot silver cover—they would look into each other's eyes in desperation.

But they never found they could send away anything and the highly polished condition of the empty plates returned to the pantry awakened much comment.

But they never found they could send away anything and the highly polished condition of the empty plates returned to the pantry awakened much comment.

The morning that Dickon—after they had been enjoying themselves in the garden for about two hours—went behind a big rosebush and brought forth two tin pails and revealed that one was full of rich new milk with cream on the top of it, and that the other held cottage-made currant buns folded in a clean blue and white napkin, buns so carefully tucked in that they were still hot, there was a riot of surprised joyfulness.

And what delicious fresh milk!

Tell her we are grateful, Dickon—extremely grateful."

Tell her we are grateful, Dickon—extremely grateful."

He was given to using rather grown-up phrases at times.

"Tell her she has been most bounteous and our gratitude is extreme."

"Tell her she has been most bounteous and our gratitude is extreme."

And then forgetting his grandeur he fell to and stuffed himself with buns and drank milk out of the pail in copious draughts in the manner of any hungry little boy who had been taking unusual exercise and breathing in moorland air and whose breakfast was more than two hours behind him.

And then forgetting his grandeur he fell to and stuffed himself with buns and drank milk out of the pail in copious draughts in the manner of any hungry little boy who had been taking unusual exercise and breathing in moorland air and whose breakfast was more than two hours behind him.

They actually awoke to the fact that as Mrs. Sowerby had fourteen people to provide food for she might not have enough to satisfy two extra appetites every day.

They actually awoke to the fact that as Mrs. Sowerby had fourteen people to provide food for she might not have enough to satisfy two extra appetites every day.

Roasted eggs were a previously unknown luxury and very hot potatoes with salt and fresh butter in them were fit for a woodland king—besides being deliciously satisfying.

Every beautiful morning the Magic was worked by the mystic circle under the plum-tree which provided a canopy of thickening green leaves after its brief blossom-time was ended.

After the ceremony Colin always took his walking exercise and throughout the day he exercised his newly found power at intervals.

After the ceremony Colin always took his walking exercise and throughout the day he exercised his newly found power at intervals.

After the ceremony Colin always took his walking exercise and throughout the day he exercised his newly found power at intervals.

"Yesterday," he said one morning after an absence, "I went to Thwaite for mother an' near th' Blue Cow Inn I seed Bob Haworth.

Th' gentry calls him a athlete and I thought o' thee, Mester Colin, and I says, 'How did tha' make tha' muscles stick out that way, Bob?

He's friendly same as I said an' he stood up an' showed me good-natured like, an' I imitated what he did till I knowed it by heart."

Dickon stood up on the grass and slowly went through a carefully practical but simple series of muscle exercises.

Dickon stood up on the grass and slowly went through a carefully practical but simple series of muscle exercises.

Soot, who was watching the performance, became much disturbed and left his branch and hopped about restlessly because he could not do them too.

But the little oven in the hollow and Mrs. Sowerby's bounties were so satisfying that Mrs. Medlock and the nurse and Dr. Craven became mystified again.

Not a mouthful of that lovely young fowl and bread sauce did they set a fork into yesterday—and the poor woman fair invented a pudding for them—and back it's sent.

She's afraid she'll be blamed if they starve themselves into their graves."

She's afraid she'll be blamed if they starve themselves into their graves."

The waxen tinge had left, Colins skin and a warm rose showed through it; his beautiful eyes were clear and the hollows under them and in his cheeks and temples had filled out.

His lips were fuller and of a normal color.

In fact as an imitation of a boy who was a confirmed invalid he was a disgraceful sight.

In fact as an imitation of a boy who was a confirmed invalid he was a disgraceful sight.

Mary was sitting on her stool nearby and she suddenly made a very queer sound which she tried so violently to repress that she ended by almost choking.

Mary became quite severe in her manner.

The glummest, ill-natured little thing she used to be and now her and Master Colin laugh together like a pair of crazy young ones.

Even Dickon did not go near the close-grown corner in those days, but waited until by the quiet working of some mysterious spell he seemed to have conveyed to the soul of the little pair that in the garden there was nothing which was not quite like themselves—nothing which did not understand the wonderfulness of what was happening to them—the immense, tender, terrible, heart-breaking beauty and solemnity of Eggs.

If there had been one person in that garden who had not known through all his or her innermost being that if an Egg were taken away or hurt the whole world would whirl round and crash through space and come to an end—if there had been even one who did not feel it and act accordingly there could have been no happiness even in that golden springtime air.

If there had been one person in that garden who had not known through all his or her innermost being that if an Egg were taken away or hurt the whole world would whirl round and crash through space and come to an end—if there had been even one who did not feel it and act accordingly there could have been no happiness even in that golden springtime air.

He could speak robin (which is a quite distinct language not to be mistaken for any other).

Dickon always spoke it to the robin himself, so the queer gibberish he used when he spoke to humans did not matter in the least.

The robin thought he spoke this gibberish to them because they were not intelligent enough to understand feathered speech.

Any robin could understand Dickon, so his presence was not even disturbing.

The robin used to secrete himself in a bush and watch this anxiously, his head tilted first on one side and then on the other.

He thought that the slow movements might mean that he was preparing to pounce, as cats do.

The robin talked this over with his mate a great deal for a few days but after that he decided not to speak of the subject because her terror was so great that he was afraid it might be injurious to the Eggs.

He seemed very fond of walking but he had a way of sitting or lying down for a while and then getting up in a disconcerting manner to begin again.

He mentioned this to his mate and when he told her that the Eggs would probably conduct themselves in the same way after they were fledged she was quite comforted and even became eagerly interested and derived great pleasure from watching the boy over the edge of her nest—though she always thought that the Eggs would be much cleverer and learn more quickly.

He mentioned this to his mate and when he told her that the Eggs would probably conduct themselves in the same way after they were fledged she was quite comforted and even became eagerly interested and derived great pleasure from watching the boy over the edge of her nest—though she always thought that the Eggs would be much cleverer and learn more quickly.

Robins are not like human beings; their muscles are always exercised from the first and so they develop themselves in a natural manner.

If you have to fly about to find every meal you eat, your muscles do not become atrophied (atrophied means wasted away through want of use).

When the boy was walking and running about and digging and weeding like the others, the nest in the corner was brooded over by a great peace and content.

Knowing that your Eggs were as safe as if they were locked in a bank vault and the fact that you could watch so many curious things going on made setting a most entertaining occupation.

Knowing that your Eggs were as safe as if they were locked in a bank vault and the fact that you could watch so many curious things going on made setting a most entertaining occupation.

One morning when the rain streamed down unceasingly and Colin was beginning to feel a little restive, as he was obliged to remain on his sofa because it was not safe to get up and walk about, Mary had an inspiration.

When the footman had wheeled the chair into the picture-gallery and left the two together in obedience to orders, Colin and Mary looked at each other delighted.

"All these," said Colin, "must be my relations.

They saw more rooms and made more discoveries than Mary had made on her first pilgrimage.

They found new corridors and corners and flights of steps and new old pictures they liked and weird old things they did not know the use of.

That morning they had found among other things such good appetites that when they returned to Colin's room it was not possible to send the luncheon away untouched.

"If they keep that up every day," said the strong young footman John, "there'd be small wonder that he weighs twice as much to-day as he did a month ago.

I should have to give up my place in time, for fear of doing my muscles an injury."

That idea seemed to impress Colin.

Their belief in the Magic was an abiding thing.

After the morning's incantations Colin sometimes gave them Magic lectures.

But when Colin held forth under his tree old Ben fixed devouring eyes on him and kept them there.

He looked him over with critical affection.

Sometimes when Colin felt Ben's earnest gaze meant that he was much impressed he wondered what he was reflecting on and once when he had seemed quite entranced he questioned him.

I was lookin' at tha' calves an' tha' shoulders.

I'd like to get thee on a pair o' scales."

When he came he was ruddy with running and his funny face looked more twinkling than usual.

The moisture which was good for the flowers was also good for the weeds which thrust up tiny blades of grass and points of leaves which must be pulled up before their roots took too firm hold.

The moisture which was good for the flowers was also good for the weeds which thrust up tiny blades of grass and points of leaves which must be pulled up before their roots took too firm hold.

He had known it before in a way, he had hoped it and felt it and thought about it, but just at that minute something had rushed all through him—a sort of rapturous belief and realization and it had been so strong that he could not help calling out.

He had known it before in a way, he had hoped it and felt it and thought about it, but just at that minute something had rushed all through him—a sort of rapturous belief and realization and it had been so strong that he could not help calling out.

I feel—I feel as if I want to shout out something—something thankful, joyful!"

He had no opinion of the Doxology and he did not make the suggestion with any particular reverence.

Dickon answered with his all-perceiving animal charmer's smile.

Dickon was quite simple and unaffected about it.

He understood by a sort of instinct so natural that he did not know it was understanding.

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him above ye Heavenly Host,

How can we know the exact names of everything?

And they sang it again, and Mary and Colin lifted their voices as musically as they could and Dickon's swelled quite loud and beautiful—and at the second line Ben Weatherstaff raspingly cleared his throat and at the third line he joined in with such vigor that it seemed almost savage and when the "Amen" came to an end Mary observed that the very same thing had happened to him which had happened when he found out that Colin was not a cripple—his chin was twitching and he was staring and winking a

And they sang it again, and Mary and Colin lifted their voices as musically as they could and Dickon's swelled quite loud and beautiful—and at the second line Ben Weatherstaff raspingly cleared his throat and at the third line he joined in with such vigor that it seemed almost savage and when the "Amen" came to an end Mary observed that the very same thing had happened to him which had happened when he found out that Colin was not a cripple—his chin was twitching and he was staring and winking a

And they sang it again, and Mary and Colin lifted their voices as musically as they could and Dickon's swelled quite loud and beautiful—and at the second line Ben Weatherstaff raspingly cleared his throat and at the third line he joined in with such vigor that it seemed almost savage and when the "Amen" came to an end Mary observed that the very same thing had happened to him which had happened when he found out that Colin was not a cripple—his chin was twitching and he was staring and winking a

With the ivy behind her, the sunlight drifting through the trees and dappling her long blue cloak, and her nice fresh face smiling across the greenery she was rather like a softly colored illustration in one of Colin's books.

They was like drumsticks i' stockin' two month' ago—an' I heard folk tell as they was bandy an' knock-kneed both at th' same time.

"Let him go on playin' an' workin' in the garden an' eatin' hearty an' drinkin' plenty o' good sweet milk an' there'll not be a finer pair i' Yorkshire, thank God for it."

She did not mention that when Martha came home on her "day out" and described the plain sallow child she had said that she had no confidence whatever in what Mrs. Medlock had heard.

She had packed a basket which held a regular feast this morning, and when the hungry hour came and Dickon brought it out from its hiding place, she sat down with them under their tree and watched them devour their food, laughing and quite gloating over their appetites.

But before he got into his chair he stood quite close to Susan and fixed his eyes on her with a kind of bewildered adoration and he suddenly caught hold of the fold of her blue cloak and held it fast.

But before he got into his chair he stood quite close to Susan and fixed his eyes on her with a kind of bewildered adoration and he suddenly caught hold of the fold of her blue cloak and held it fast.

In each century since the beginning of the world wonderful things have been discovered.

In this new century hundreds of things still more astounding will be brought to light.

At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done—then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.

One of the new things people began to find out in the last century was that thoughts—just mere thoughts—are as powerful as electric batteries—as good for one as sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison.

One of the new things people began to find out in the last century was that thoughts—just mere thoughts—are as powerful as electric batteries—as good for one as sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison.

So long as Mistress Mary's mind was full of disagreeable thoughts about her dislikes and sour opinions of people and her determination not to be pleased by or interested in anything, she was a yellow-faced, sickly, bored and wretched child.

Circumstances, however, were very kind to her, though she was not at all aware of it.

When her mind gradually filled itself with robins, and moorland cottages crowded with children, with queer crabbed old gardeners and common little Yorkshire housemaids, with springtime and with secret gardens coming alive day by day, and also with a moor boy and his "creatures," there was no room left for the disagreeable thoughts which affected her liver and her digestion and made her yellow and tired.

So long as Colin shut himself up in his room and thought only of his fears and weakness and his detestation of people who looked at him and reflected hourly on humps and early death, he was a hysterical half-crazy little hypochondriac who knew nothing of the sunshine and the spring and also did not know that he could get well and could stand upon his feet if he tried to do it.

Much more surprising things can happen to any one who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable determinedly courageous one.

Much more surprising things can happen to any one who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable determinedly courageous one.

A terrible sorrow had fallen upon him when he had been happy and he had let his soul fill itself with blackness and had refused obstinately to allow any rift of light to pierce through.

A terrible sorrow had fallen upon him when he had been happy and he had let his soul fill itself with blackness and had refused obstinately to allow any rift of light to pierce through.

A terrible sorrow had fallen upon him when he had been happy and he had let his soul fill itself with blackness and had refused obstinately to allow any rift of light to pierce through.

He, was a tall man with a drawn face and crooked shoulders and the name he always entered on hotel registers was, "Archibald Craven, Misselthwaite Manor, Yorkshire, England."

He had chosen the quietest and remotest spots.

He saw birds come and dip their heads to drink in it and then flick their wings and fly away.

It was as if a sweet clear spring had begun to rise in a stagnant pool and had risen and risen until at last it swept the dark water away.

Something seemed to have been unbound and released in him, very quietly.

He did not understand at all himself—but he remembered this strange hour months afterward when he was at Misselthwaite again and he found out quite by accident that on this very day Colin had cried out as he went into the secret garden:

But, strange as it seemed to him, there were minutes—sometimes half-hours—when, without his knowing why, the black burden seemed to lift itself again and he knew he was a living man and not a dead one.

It was growing stronger but—because of the rare peaceful hours when his thoughts were changed—his soul was slowly growing stronger, too.

Now and then he wondered vaguely about his boy and asked himself what he should feel when he went and stood by the carved four-posted bed again and looked down at the sharply chiseled ivory-white face while it slept and, the black lashes rimmed so startlingly the close-shut eyes.

Now and then he wondered vaguely about his boy and asked himself what he should feel when he went and stood by the carved four-posted bed again and looked down at the sharply chiseled ivory-white face while it slept and, the black lashes rimmed so startlingly the close-shut eyes.

He shrank from it.

One marvel of a day he had walked so far that when he returned the moon was high and full and all the world was purple shadow and silver.

He walked down to a little bowered terrace at the water's edge and sat upon a seat and breathed in all the heavenly scents of the night.

He remembered afterward how intensely wide awake and alert he had thought he was.

Your obedient servant,

Now, though he did not intend to think about him, memories of him constantly drifted into his mind.

He had supplied doctors and nurses and luxuries, but he had shrunk from the mere thought of the boy and had buried himself in his own misery.

The first time after a year's absence he returned to Misselthwaite and the small miserable looking thing languidly and indifferently lifted to his face the great gray eyes with black lashes round them, so like and yet so horribly unlike the happy eyes he had adored, he could not bear the sight of them and turned away pale as death.

The first time after a year's absence he returned to Misselthwaite and the small miserable looking thing languidly and indifferently lifted to his face the great gray eyes with black lashes round them, so like and yet so horribly unlike the happy eyes he had adored, he could not bear the sight of them and turned away pale as death.

All this was not an uplifting thing to recall, but as the train whirled him through mountain passes and golden plains the man who was "coming alive" began to think in a new way and he thought long and steadily and deeply.

"Our Dickon," they volunteered, was over at the Manor working in one of the gardens where he went several days each week.

He smiled at their friendly grins and took a golden sovereign from his pocket and gave it to "our 'Lizabeth Ellen" who was the oldest.

"If you divide that into eight parts there will be half a crown for each of, you," he said.

Then amid grins and chuckles and bobbing of curtsies he drove away, leaving ecstasy and nudging elbows and little jumps of joy behind.

Was it possible that perhaps he might find him changed a little for the better and that he might overcome his shrinking from him?

She came to him somewhat excited and curious and flustered.

He'd throw himself into such a state that Dr. Craven said he couldn't be responsible for forcing him.

He felt as if he were being drawn back to the place he had so long forsaken, and he did not know why.

The ivy hung thick over the door, the key was buried under the shrubs, no human being had passed that portal for ten lonely years—and yet inside the garden there were sounds.

They were the sounds of running scuffling feet seeming to chase round and round under the trees, they were strange sounds of lowered suppressed voices—exclamations and smothered joyous cries.

The place was a wilderness of autumn gold and purple and violet blue and flaming scarlet and on every side were sheaves of late lilies standing together—lilies which were white or white and ruby.

He remembered well when the first of them had been planted that just at this season of the year their late glories should reveal themselves.

The newcomer stood silent just as the children had done when they came into its grayness.

It was the strangest thing he had ever heard, Archibald Craven thought, as it was poured forth in headlong boy fashion.

The Athlete, the Lecturer, the Scientific Discoverer was a laughable, lovable, healthy young human thing.

Ben Weatherstaff's duties rarely took him away from the gardens, but on this occasion he made an excuse to carry some vegetables to the kitchen and being invited into the servants' hall by Mrs. Medlock to drink a glass of beer he was on the spot—as he had hoped to be—when the most dramatic event Misselthwaite Manor had seen during the present generation actually took place.

Ben Weatherstaff's duties rarely took him away from the gardens, but on this occasion he made an excuse to carry some vegetables to the kitchen and being invited into the servants' hall by Mrs. Medlock to drink a glass of beer he was on the spot—as he had hoped to be—when the most dramatic event Misselthwaite Manor had seen during the present generation actually took place.

"Aye, that I did," he answered with a shrewdly significant air.