the secret garden-第14节

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ou　don't　trouble　'em；　most　of　'em'll　work　away　underground　for　a　lifetime　an'　spread　out　an'　have　little　'uns。　There's　a　place　in　th'　park　woods　here　where　there's　snowdrops　by　thousands。　They're　the　prettiest　sight　in　Yorkshire　when　th'　spring　comes。　　No　one　knows　when　they　was　first　planted。〃

〃I　wish　the　spring　was　here　now；〃　said　Mary。　　〃I　want　to　see　all　the　things　that　grow　in　England。〃

She　had　finished　her　dinner　and　gone　to　her　favorite　seat　on　the　hearth…rug。

〃I　wishI　wish　I　had　a　little　spade；〃　she　said。　〃Whatever　does　tha'　want　a　spade　for？〃　asked　Martha；　laughing。　〃Art　tha'　goin'　to　take　to　diggin'？　I　must　tell　mother　that；　too。〃

Mary　looked　at　the　fire　and　pondered　a　little。　　She　must　be　careful　if　she　meant　to　keep　her　secret　kingdom。　She　wasn't　doing　any　harm；　but　if　Mr。　Craven　found　out　about　the　open　door　he　would　be　fearfully　angry　and　get　a　new　key　and　lock　it　up　forevermore。　　She　really　could　not　bear　that。

〃This　is　such　a　big　lonely　place；〃　she　said　slowly；　as　if　she　were　turning　matters　over　in　her　mind。　　〃The　house　is　lonely；　and　the　park　is　lonely；　and　the　gardens　are　lonely。　So　many　places　seem　shut　up。　　I　never　did　many　things　in　India；　but　there　were　more　people　to　look　atnatives　and　soldiers　marching　byand　sometimes　bands　playing；　and　my　Ayah　told　me　stories。　　There　is　no　one　to　talk　to　here　except　you　and　Ben　Weatherstaff。　　And　you　have　to　do　your　work　and　Ben　Weatherstaff　won't　speak　to　me　often。　I　thought　if　I　had　a　little　spade　I　could　dig　somewhere　as　he　does；　and　I　might　make　a　little　garden　if　he　would　give　me　some　seeds。〃

Martha's　face　quite　lighted　up。

〃There　now！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃if　that　wasn't　one　of　th'　things　mother　said。　　She　says；　‘There's　such　a　lot　o'　room　in　that　big　place；　why　don't　they　give　her　a　bit　for　herself；　even　if　she　doesn't　plant　nothin'　but　parsley　an'　radishes？　She'd　dig　an'　rake　away　an'　be　right　down　happy　over　it。'　Them　was　the　very　words　she　said。〃

〃Were　they？〃　said　Mary。　　〃How　many　things　she　knows；　doesn't　she？〃

〃Eh！〃　said　Martha。　　〃It's　like　she　says：　‘A　woman　as　brings　up　twelve　children　learns　something　besides　her　A　B　C。　Children's　as　good　as　'rithmetic　to　set　you　findin'　out　things。'〃

〃How　much　would　a　spade　costa　little　one？〃　Mary　asked。

〃Well；〃　was　Martha's　reflective　answer；　〃at　Thwaite　village　there's　a　shop　or　so　an'　I　saw　little　garden　sets　with　a　spade　an'　a　rake　an'　a　fork　all　tied　together　for　two　shillings。　　An'　they　was　stout　enough　to　work　with；　too。〃

〃I've　got　more　than　that　in　my　purse；〃　said　Mary。　〃Mrs。　Morrison　gave　me　five　shillings　and　Mrs。　Medlock　gave　me　some　money　from　Mr。　Craven。〃

〃Did　he　remember　thee　that　much？〃　exclaimed　Martha。

〃Mrs。　Medlock　said　I　was　to　have　a　shilling　a　week　to　spend。　She　gives　me　one　every　Saturday。　　I　didn't　know　what　to　spend　it　on。〃

〃My　word！　that's　riches；〃　said　Martha。　　〃Tha'　can　buy　anything　in　th'　world　tha'　wants。　　Th'　rent　of　our　cottage　is　only　one　an'　threepence　an'　it's　like　pullin'　eye…teeth　to　get　it。　　Now　I've　just　thought　of　somethin'；〃　putting　her　hands　on　her　hips。

〃What？〃　said　Mary　eagerly。

〃In　the　shop　at　Thwaite　they　sell　packages　o'　flower…seeds　for　a　penny　each；　and　our　Dickon　he　knows　which　is　th'　prettiest　ones　an；　how　to　make　'em　grow。　He　walks　over　to　Thwaite　many　a　day　just　for　th'　fun　of　it。　Does　tha'　know　how　to　print　letters？〃　suddenly。

〃I　know　how　to　write；〃　Mary　answered。

Martha　shook　her　head。

〃Our　Dickon　can　only　read　printin'。　If　tha'　could　print　we　could　write　a　letter　to　him　an'　ask　him　to　go　an'　buy　th'　garden　tools　an'　th'　seeds　at　th'　same　time。〃

〃Oh！　you're　a　good　girl！〃　Mary　cried。　　〃You　are；　really！　I　didn't　know　you　were　so　nice。　　I　know　I　can　print　letters　if　I　try。　　Let's　ask　Mrs。　Medlock　for　a　pen　and　ink　and　some　paper。〃

〃I've　got　some　of　my　own；〃　said　Martha。　　〃I　bought　'em　so　I　could　print　a　bit　of　a　letter　to　mother　of　a　Sunday。　I'll　go　and　get　it。〃　She　ran　out　of　the　room；　and　Mary　stood　by　the　fire　and　twisted　her　thin　little　hands　together　with　sheer　pleasure。

〃If　I　have　a　spade；〃　she　whispered；　〃I　can　make　the　earth　nice　and　soft　and　dig　up　weeds。　　If　I　have　seeds　and　can　make　flowers　grow　the　garden　won't　be　dead　at　allit　will　come　alive。〃

She　did　not　go　out　again　that　afternoon　because　when　Martha　returned　with　her　pen　and　ink　and　paper　she　was　obliged　to　clear　the　table　and　carry　the　plates　and　dishes　downstairs　and　when　she　got　into　the　kitchen　Mrs。　Medlock　was　there　and　told　her　to　do　something；　so　Mary　waited　for　what　seemed　to　her　a　long　time　before　she　came　back。　Then　it　was　a　serious　piece　of　work　to　write　to　Dickon。　Mary　had　been　taught　very　little　because　her　governesses　had　disliked　her　too　much　to　stay　with　her。　　She　could　not　spell　particularly　well　but　she　found　that　she　could　print　letters　when　she　tried。　　This　was　the　letter　Martha　dictated　to　her：　〃My　Dear　Dickon：

This　comes　hoping　to　find　you　well　as　it　leaves　me　at　present。　Miss　Mary　has　plenty　of　money　and　will　you　go　to　Thwaite　and　buy　her　some　flower　seeds　and　a　set　of　garden　tools　to　make　a　flower…bed。　Pick　the　prettiest　ones　and　easy　to　grow　because　she　has　never　done　it　before　and　lived　in　India　which　is　different。　　Give　my　love　to　mother　and　every　one　of　you。　　Miss　Mary　is　going　to　tell　me　a　lot　more　so　that　on　my　next　day　out　you　can　hear　about　elephants　and　camels　and　gentlemen　going　hunting　lions　and　tigers。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your　loving　sister；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Martha　Phoebe　Sowerby。〃

〃We'll　put　the　money　in　th'　envelope　an'　I'll　get　th'　butcher　boy　to　take　it　in　his　cart。　　He's　a　great　friend　o'　Dickon's；〃　said　Martha。

〃How　shall　I　get　the　things　when　Dickon　buys　them？〃

〃He'll　bring　'em　to　you　himself。　　He'll　like　to　walk　over　this　way。〃

〃Oh！〃　exclaimed　Mary；　〃then　I　shall　see　him！　I　never　thought　I　should　see　Dickon。〃

〃Does　tha'　want　to　see　him？〃　asked　Martha　suddenly；　for　Mary　had　looked　so　pleased。

〃Yes；　I　do。　　I　never　saw　a　boy　foxes　and　crows　loved。　I　want　to　see　him　very　much。〃

Martha　gave　a　little　start；　as　if　she　remembered　something。　〃Now　to　think；〃　she　broke　out；　〃to　think　o'　me　forgettin'　that　there；　an'　I　thought　I　was　goin'　to　tell　you　first　thing　this　mornin'。　I　asked　motherand　she　said　she'd　ask　Mrs。　Medlock　her　own　self。〃

〃Do　you　mean〃　Mary　began。

〃What　I　said　Tuesday。　　Ask　her　if　you　might　be　driven　over　to　our　cottage　some　day　and　have　a　bit　o'　mother's　hot　oat　cake；　an'　butter；　an'　a　glass　o'　milk。〃

It　seemed　as　if　all　the　interesting　things　were　happening　in　one　day。　　To　think　of　going　over　the　moor　in　the　daylight　and　when　the　sky　was　blue！　To　think　of　going　into　the　cottage　which　held　twelve　children！

〃Does　she　think　Mrs。　Medlock　would　let　me　go？〃　she　asked；　quite　anxiously。

〃Aye；　she　thinks　she　would。　　She　knows　what　a　tidy　woman　mother　is　and　how　clean　she　keeps　the　cottage。〃

〃If　I　went　I　should　see　your　mother　as　well　as　Dickon；〃　said　Mary；　thinking　it　over　and　liking　the　idea　very　much。　〃She　doesn't　seem　to　be　like　the　mothers　in　India。〃

Her　work　in　the　garden　and　the　excitement　of　the　afternoon　ended　by　making　her　feel　quiet　and　thoughtful。　　Martha　stayed　with　her　until　tea…time；　but　they　sat　in　comfortable　quiet　and　talked　very　little。　　But　just　before　Martha　went　downstairs　for　the　tea…tray；　Mary　asked　a　question。

〃Martha；〃　she　said；　〃has　the　scullery…maid　had　the　toothache　again　today？〃

Martha　certainly　started　slightly。

〃What　makes　thee　ask　that？〃　she　said。

〃Because　when　I　waited　so　long　for　you　to　come　back　I　opened　the　door　and　walked　down　the　corridor　to　see　if　you　were　coming。　　And　I　heard　that　far…off　crying　again；　just　as　we　heard　it　the　other　night。　　There　isn't　a　wind　today；　so　you　see　it　couldn't　have　been　the　wind。〃

〃Eh！〃　said　Martha　restlessly。　　〃Tha'　mustn't　go　walkin'　about　in　corridors　an'　listenin'。　Mr。　Craven　would　be　that　there　angry　there's　no　knowin'　what　he'd　do。〃

〃I　wasn't　listening；〃　said　Mary。　　〃I　was　just　waiting　for　youand　I　heard　it。　　That's　three　times。〃

〃My　word！　There's　Mrs。　Medlock's　bell；〃　said　Martha；　and　she　almost　ran　out　of　the　room。

〃It's　the　strangest　house　any　one　ever　lived　in；〃　said　Mary　drowsily；　as　she　dropped　her　head　on　the　cushioned　seat　of　the　armchair　near　her。　　Fresh　air；　and　digging；　and　skipping…rope　had　made　her　feel　so　comfortably　tired　that　she　fell　asleep。



CHAPTER　X

DICKON


The　sun　shone　down　for　nearly　a　week　on　the　secret　garden。　The　Secret　Garden　was　what　Mary　called　it　when　she　was　thinking　of　it。　　She　liked　the　name；　and　she　liked　still　more　the　feeling　that　when　its　beautiful　old　walls　shut　her　in　no　one　knew　where　she　was。　　It　seemed　almost　like　being　shut　out　of　the　world　in　some　fairy　place。　　The　few　books　she　had　read　and　liked　had　been　fairy…story　books；　and　she　had　read　of　secret　gardens　in　some　of　the　stories。　Sometimes　people　went　to　sleep　in　them　for　a　hundred　years；　which　she　had　thought　must　be　rather　stupid。　　She　had　no　intention　of　going　to　sleep；　and；　in　fact；　she　was　becoming　wider　awake　every　day　which　passed　at　Misselthwaite。　She　was　beginning　to　like　to　be　out　of　doors；　she　no　longer　hated　the　wind；　but　enjoyed　it。　　She　could　run　faster；　and　longer；　and　she　could　skip　up　to　a　hundred。　　The　bulbs　in　the　secret　garden　m