the secret garden-第30节

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When　she　stopped　she　was　quite　proud　of　herself。　She　had　never　made　a　long　speech　in　Yorkshire　before　and　she　had　remembered　very　well。

〃Tha'　mun　talk　a　bit　o'　Yorkshire　like　that　to　Mester　Colin；〃　Dickon　chuckled。　　〃Tha'll　make　him　laugh　an'　there's　nowt　as　good　for　ill　folk　as　laughin'　is。　　Mother　says　she　believes　as　half　a　hour's　good　laugh　every　mornin'　'ud　cure　a　chap　as　was　makin'　ready　for　typhus　fever。〃

〃I'm　going　to　talk　Yorkshire　to　him　this　very　day；〃　said　Mary；　chuckling　herself。

The　garden　had　reached　the　time　when　every　day　and　every　night　it　seemed　as　if　Magicians　were　passing　through　it　drawing　loveliness　out　of　the　earth　and　the　boughs　with　wands。　It　was　hard　to　go　away　and　leave　it　all；　particularly　as　Nut　had　actually　crept　on　to　her　dress　and　Shell　had　scrambled　down　the　trunk　of　the　apple…tree　they　sat　under　and　stayed　there　looking　at　her　with　inquiring　eyes。　　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。

〃You　smell　like　flowers　andand　fresh　things；〃　he　cried　out　quite　joyously。　　〃What　is　it　you　smell　of？　It's　cool　and　warm　and　sweet　all　at　the　same　time。〃

〃It's　th'　wind　from　th'　moor；〃　said　Mary。　　〃It　comes　o'　sittin'　on　th'　grass　under　a　tree　wi'　Dickon　an'　wi'　Captain　an'　Soot　an'　Nut　an'　Shell。　　It's　th'　springtime　an'　out　o'　doors　an'　sunshine　as　smells　so　graidely。〃

She　said　it　as　broadly　as　she　could；　and　you　do　not　know　how　broadly　Yorkshire　sounds　until　you　have　heard　some　one　speak　it。　　Colin　began　to　laugh。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　he　said。　　〃I　never　heard　you　talk　like　that　before。　　How　funny　it　sounds。〃

〃I'm　givin'　thee　a　bit　o'　Yorkshire；〃　answered　Mary　triumphantly。　‘I　canna'　talk　as　graidely　as　Dickon　an'　Martha　can　but　tha'　sees　I　can　shape　a　bit。　　Doesn't　tha'　understand　a　bit　o'　Yorkshire　when　tha'　hears　it？　An'　tha'　a　Yorkshire　lad　thysel'　bred　an'　born！　Eh！　I　wonder　tha'rt　not　ashamed　o'　thy　face。〃

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。

〃Well；　upon　my　word！〃　she　said；　speaking　rather　broad　Yorkshire　herself　because　there　was　no　one　to　hear　her　and　she　was　so　astonished。　　〃Whoever　heard　th'　like！　Whoever　on　earth　would　ha'　thought　it！〃

There　was　so　much　to　talk　about。　　It　seemed　as　if　Colin　could　never　hear　enough　of　Dickon　and　Captain　and　Soot　and　Nut　and　Shell　and　the　pony　whose　name　was　Jump。　Mary　had　run　round　into　the　wood　with　Dickon　to　see　Jump。　He　was　a　tiny　little　shaggy　moor　pony　with　thick　locks　hanging　over　his　eyes　and　with　a　pretty　face　and　a　nuzzling　velvet　nose。　　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。　　Dickon　had　made　him　give　Mary　his　small　front　hoof　and　kiss　her　on　her　cheek　with　his　velvet　muzzle。

〃Does　he　really　understand　everything　Dickon　says？〃　Colin　asked。

〃It　seems　as　if　he　does；〃　answered　Mary。　　〃Dickon　says　anything　will　understand　if　you're　friends　with　it　for　sure；　but　you　have　to　be　friends　for　sure。〃

Colin　lay　quiet　a　little　while　and　his　strange　gray　eyes　seemed　to　be　staring　at　the　wall；　but　Mary　saw　he　was　thinking。

〃I　wish　I　was　friends　with　things；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃but　I'm　not。　　I　never　had　anything　to　be　friends　with；　and　I　can't　bear　people。〃

〃Can't　you　bear　me？〃　asked　Mary。

〃Yes；　I　can；〃　he　answered。　　〃It's　funny　but　I　even　like　you。〃

〃Ben　Weatherstaff　said　I　was　like　him；〃　said　Mary。　〃He　said　he'd　warrant　we'd　both　got　the　same　nasty　tempers。　I　think　you　are　like　him　too。　　We　are　all　three　alikeyou　and　I　and　Ben　Weatherstaff。　　He　said　we　were　neither　of　us　much　to　look　at　and　we　were　as　sour　as　we　looked。　But　I　don't　feel　as　sour　as　I　used　to　before　I　knew　the　robin　and　Dickon。〃

〃Did　you　feel　as　if　you　hated　people？〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　Mary　without　any　affectation。　〃I　should　have　detested　you　if　I　had　seen　you　before　I　saw　the　robin　and　Dickon。〃

Colin　put　out　his　thin　hand　and　touched　her。

〃Mary；〃　he　said；　〃I　wish　I　hadn't　said　what　I　did　about　sending　Dickon　away。　　I　hated　you　when　you　said　he　was　like　an　angel　and　I　laughed　at　you　butbut　perhaps　he　is。〃

〃Well；　it　was　rather　funny　to　say　it；〃　she　admitted　frankly；　〃because　his　nose　does　turn　up　and　he　has　a　big　mouth　and　his　clothes　have　patches　all　over　them　and　he　talks　broad　Yorkshire；　butbut　if　an　angel　did　come　to　Yorkshire　and　live　on　the　moorif　there　was　a　Yorkshire　angelI　believe　he'd　understand　the　green　things　and　know　how　to　make　them　grow　and　he　would　know　how　to　talk　to　the　wild　creatures　as　Dickon　does　and　they'd　know　he　was　friends　for　sure。〃

〃I　shouldn't　mind　Dickon　looking　at　me；〃　said　Colin；　〃I　want　to　see　him。〃

〃I'm　glad　you　said　that；〃　answered　Mary；　〃becausebecause〃

Quite　suddenly　it　came　into　her　mind　that　this　was　the　minute　to　tell　him。　　Colin　knew　something　new　was　coming。

〃Because　what？〃　he　cried　eagerly。

Mary　was　so　anxious　that　she　got　up　from　her　stool　and　came　to　him　and　caught　hold　of　both　his　hands。

〃Can　I　trust　you？　I　trusted　Dickon　because　birds　trusted　him。　Can　I　trust　youfor　surefor　sure？〃　she　implored。

Her　face　was　so　solemn　that　he　almost　whispered　his　answer。

〃Yesyes！〃

〃Well；　Dickon　will　come　to　see　you　tomorrow　morning；　and　he'll　bring　his　creatures　with　him。〃

〃Oh！　Oh！〃　Colin　cried　out　in　delight。

〃But　that's　not　all；〃　Mary　went　on；　almost　pale　with　solemn　excitement。　　〃The　rest　is　better。　　There　is　a　door　into　the　garden。　　I　found　it。　　It　is　under　the　ivy　on　the　wall。〃

If　he　had　been　a　strong　healthy　boy　Colin　would　probably　have　shouted　〃Hooray！　Hooray！　Hooray！〃　but　he　was　weak　and　rather　hysterical；　his　eyes　grew　bigger　and　bigger　and　he　gasped　for　breath。

〃Oh！　Mary！〃　he　cried　out　with　a　half　sob。　　〃Shall　I　see　it？　Shall　I　get　into　it？　Shall　I　live　to　get　into　it？〃　and　he　clutched　her　hands　and　dragged　her　toward　him。

〃Of　course　you'll　see　it！〃　snapped　Mary　indignantly。　〃Of　course　you'll　live　to　get　into　it！　Don't　be　silly！〃

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。

〃It　is　just　what　you　thought　it　would　be；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃It　sounds　just　as　if　you　had　really　seen　it。　　You　know　I　said　that　when　you　told　me　first。〃

Mary　hesitated　about　two　minutes　and　then　boldly　spoke　the　truth。

〃I　had　seen　itand　I　had　been　in；〃　she　said。　　〃I　found　the　key　and　got　in　weeks　ago。　　But　I　daren't　tell　youI　daren't　because　I　was　so　afraid　I　couldn't　trust　youfor　sure！〃



CHAPTER　XIX

〃IT　HAS　COME！〃

Of　course　Dr。　Craven　had　been　sent　for　the　morning　after　Colin　had　had　his　tantrum。　　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。

〃How　is　he？〃　he　asked　Mrs。　Medlock　rather　irritably　when　he　arrived。　〃He　will　break　a　blood…vessel　in　one　of　those　fits　some　day。　The　boy　is　half　insane　with　hysteria　and　self…indulgence。〃

〃Well；　sir；〃　answered　Mrs。　Medlock；　〃you'll　scarcely　believe　your　eyes　when　you　see　him。　　That　plain　sour…faced　child　that's　almost　as　bad　as　himself　has　just　bewitched　him。　How　she's　done　it　there's　no　telling。　　The　Lord　knows　she's　nothing　to　look　at　and　you　scarcely　ever　hear　her　speak；　but　she　did　what　none　of　us　dare　do。　She　just　flew　at　him　like　a　little　cat　last　night；　and　stamped　her　feet　and　ordered　him　to　stop　screaming；　and　somehow　she　startled　him　so　that　he　actually　did　stop；　and　this　afternoonwell　just　come　up　and　see；　sir。　It's　past　crediting。〃

The　scene　which　Dr。　Craven　beheld　when　he　entered　his　patient's　room　was　indeed　rather　astonishing　to　him。　As　Mrs。　Medlock　opened　the　door　he　heard　laughing　and　chattering。　　Colin　was　on　his　sofa　in　his　dressing…gown　and　he　was　sitting　up　quite　straight　looking　at　a　picture　in　one　of　the　garden　books　and　talking　to　the　plain　child　who　at　that　moment　could　scarcely　be　called　plain　at　all　because　her　face　was　so　glowing　with　enjoyment。

〃Those　long　spires　of　blue　oneswe'll　have　a　lot　of　those；〃　Colin　was　announcing。　　〃They're　called　Del…phin…iums。〃

〃Dickon　says　they're　larkspurs　made　big　and　grand；〃　cried　Mistress　Mary。　　〃There　are　clumps　there　already。〃

Then　they　saw　Dr。　Craven　and　stopped。　　Mary　became　quite　still　and　Colin　looked　fretful。

〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　you　were　ill　last　night；　my　boy；〃　Dr。　Craven　said　a　trifle　ne