the secret garden-第34节

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glistening；　instead　of　his　ears。

〃There　are　so　many　sounds　of　singing　and　humming　and　calling　out；〃　he　said。　　〃What　is　that　scent　the　puffs　of　wind　bring？〃

〃It's　gorse　on　th'　moor　that's　openin'　out；〃　answered　Dickon。　〃Eh！　th'　bees　are　at　it　wonderful　today。〃

Not　a　human　creature　was　to　be　caught　sight　of　in　the　paths　they　took。　　In　fact　every　gardener　or　gardener's　lad　had　been　witched　away。　　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。　　But　when　at　last　they　turned　into　the　Long　Walk　by　the　ivied　walls　the　excited　sense　of　an　approaching　thrill　made　them；　for　some　curious　reason　they　could　not　have　explained；　begin　to　speak　in　whispers。

〃This　is　it；〃　breathed　Mary。　　〃This　is　where　I　used　to　walk　up　and　down　and　wonder　and　wonder。〃　〃Is　it？〃　cried　Colin；　and　his　eyes　began　to　search　the　ivy　with　eager　curiousness。　　〃But　I　can　see　nothing；〃　he　whispered。　〃There　is　no　door。〃

〃That's　what　I　thought；〃　said　Mary。

Then　there　was　a　lovely　breathless　silence　and　the　chair　wheeled　on。

〃That　is　the　garden　where　Ben　Weatherstaff　works；〃　said　Mary。

〃Is　it？〃　said　Colin。

A　few　yards　more　and　Mary　whispered　again。

〃This　is　where　the　robin　flew　over　the　wall；〃　she　said。

〃Is　it？〃　cried　Colin。　　〃Oh！　I　wish　he'd　come　again！〃

〃And　that；〃　said　Mary　with　solemn　delight；　pointing　under　a　big　lilac　bush；　〃is　where　he　perched　on　the　little　heap　of　earth　and　showed　me　the　key。〃

Then　Colin　sat　up。

〃Where？　Where？　There？〃　he　cried；　and　his　eyes　were　as　big　as　the　wolf's　in　Red　Riding…Hood；　when　Red　Riding…Hood　felt　called　upon　to　remark　on　them。　　Dickon　stood　still　and　the　wheeled　chair　stopped。

〃And　this；〃　said　Mary；　stepping　on　to　the　bed　close　to　the　ivy；　〃is　where　I　went　to　talk　to　him　when　he　chirped　at　me　from　the　top　of　the　wall。　　And　this　is　the　ivy　the　wind　blew　back；〃　and　she　took　hold　of　the　hanging　green　curtain。

〃Oh！　is　itis　it！〃　gasped　Colin。

〃And　here　is　the　handle；　and　here　is　the　door。　Dickon　push　him　inpush　him　in　quickly！〃

And　Dickon　did　it　with　one　strong；　steady；　splendid　push。

But　Colin　had　actually　dropped　back　against　his　cushions；　even　though　he　gasped　with　delight；　and　he　had　covered　his　eyes　with　his　hands　and　held　them　there　shutting　out　everything　until　they　were　inside　and　the　chair　stopped　as　if　by　magic　and　the　door　was　closed。　Not　till　then　did　he　take　them　away　and　look　round　and　round　and　round　as　Dickon　and　Mary　had　done。　And　over　walls　and　earth　and　trees　and　swinging　sprays　and　tendrils　the　fair　green　veil　of　tender　little　leaves　had　crept；　and　in　the　grass　under　the　trees　and　the　gray　urns　in　the　alcoves　and　here　and　there　everywhere　were　touches　or　splashes　of　gold　and　purple　and　white　and　the　trees　were　showing　pink　and　snow　above　his　head　and　there　were　fluttering　of　wings　and　faint　sweet　pipes　and　humming　and　scents　and　scents。　　And　the　sun　fell　warm　upon　his　face　like　a　hand　with　a　lovely　touch。　And　in　wonder　Mary　and　Dickon　stood　and　stared　at　him。　He　looked　so　strange　and　different　because　a　pink　glow　of　color　had　actually　crept　all　over　himivory　face　and　neck　and　hands　and　all。

〃I　shall　get　well！　I　shall　get　well！〃　he　cried　out。　〃Mary！　Dickon！　I　shall　get　well！　And　I　shall　live　forever　and　ever　and　ever！〃



CHAPTER　XXI

BEN　WEATHERSTAFF


One　of　the　strange　things　about　living　in　the　world　is　that　it　is　only　now　and　then　one　is　quite　sure　one　is　going　to　live　forever　and　ever　and　ever。　　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　sunwhich　has　been　happening　every　morning　for　thousands　and　thousands　and　thousands　of　years。　One　knows　it　then　for　a　moment　or　so。　　And　one　knows　it　sometimes　when　one　stands　by　oneself　in　a　wood　at　sunset　and　the　mysterious　deep　gold　stillness　slanting　through　and　under　the　branches　seems　to　be　saying　slowly　again　and　again　something　one　cannot　quite　hear；　however　much　one　tries。　Then　sometimes　the　immense　quiet　of　the　dark　blue　at　night　with　millions　of　stars　waiting　and　watching　makes　one　sure；　and　sometimes　a　sound　of　far…off　music　makes　it　true；　and　sometimes　a　look　in　some　one's　eyes。

And　it　was　like　that　with　Colin　when　he　first　saw　and　heard　and　felt　the　Springtime　inside　the　four　high　walls　of　a　hidden　garden。　　That　afternoon　the　whole　world　seemed　to　devote　itself　to　being　perfect　and　radiantly　beautiful　and　kind　to　one　boy。　　Perhaps　out　of　pure　heavenly　goodness　the　spring　came　and　crowned　everything　it　possibly　could　into　that　one　place。　　More　than　once　Dickon　paused　in　what　he　was　doing　and　stood　still　with　a　sort　of　growing　wonder　in　his　eyes；　shaking　his　head　softly。

〃Eh！　it　is　graidely；〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　twelve　goin'　on　thirteen　an'　there's　a　lot　o'　afternoons　in　thirteen　years；　but　seems　to　me　like　I　never　seed　one　as　graidely　as　this　'ere。〃

〃Aye；　it　is　a　graidely　one；〃　said　Mary；　and　she　sighed　for　mere　joy。　　〃I'll　warrant　it's　the　graidelest　one　as　ever　was　in　this　world。〃

〃Does　tha'　think；〃　said　Colin　with　dreamy　carefulness；　〃as　happen　it　was　made　loike　this　'ere　all　o'　purpose　for　me？〃

〃My　word！〃　cried　Mary　admiringly；　〃that　there　is　a　bit　o'　good　Yorkshire。　　Tha'rt　shapin'　first…ratethat　tha'　art。〃

And　delight　reigned。　　They　drew　the　chair　under　the　plum…tree；　which　was　snow…white　with　blossoms　and　musical　with　bees。　It　was　like　a　king's　canopy；　a　fairy　king's。　There　were　flowering　cherry…trees　near　and　apple…trees　whose　buds　were　pink　and　white；　and　here　and　there　one　had　burst　open　wide。　　Between　the　blossoming　branches　of　the　canopy　bits　of　blue　sky　looked　down　like　wonderful　eyes。

Mary　and　Dickon　worked　a　litle　here　and　there　and　Colin　watched　them。　　They　brought　him　things　to　look　atbuds　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。　Dickon　pushed　the　chair　slowly　round　and　round　the　garden；　stopping　every　other　moment　to　let　him　look　at　wonders　springing　out　of　the　earth　or　trailing　down　from　trees。　It　was　like　being　taken　in　state　round　the　country　of　a　magic　king　and　queen　and　shown　all　the　mysterious　riches　it　contained。

〃I　wonder　if　we　shall　see　the　robin？〃　said　Colin。

〃Tha'll　see　him　often　enow　after　a　bit；〃　answered　Dickon。　〃When　th'　eggs　hatches　out　th'　little　chap　he'll　be　kep'　so　busy　it'll　make　his　head　swim。　　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。　　An'　gapin'　beaks　an'　squawks　on　every　side。　　Mother　says　as　when　she　sees　th'　work　a　robin　has　to　keep　them　gapin'　beaks　filled；　she　feels　like　she　was　a　lady　with　nothin'　to　do。　She　says　she's　seen　th'　little　chaps　when　it　seemed　like　th'　sweat　must　be　droppin'　off　'em；　though　folk　can't　see　it。〃

This　made　them　giggle　so　delightedly　that　they　were　obliged　to　cover　their　mouths　with　their　hands；　remembering　that　they　must　not　be　heard。　　Colin　had　been　instructed　as　to　the　law　of　whispers　and　low　voices　several　days　before。　He　liked　the　mysteriousness　of　it　and　did　his　best；　but　in　the　midst　of　excited　enjoyment　it　is　rather　difficult　never　to　laugh　above　a　whisper。

Every　moment　of　the　afternoon　was　full　of　new　things　and　every　hour　the　sunshine　grew　more　golden。　　The　wheeled　chair　had　been　drawn　back　under　the　canopy　and　Dickon　had　sat　down　on　the　grass　and　had　just　drawn　out　his　pipe　when　Colin　saw　something　he　had　not　had　time　to　notice　before。

〃That's　a　very　old　tree　over　there；　isn't　it？〃　he　said。　Dickon　looked　across　the　grass　at　the　tree　and　Mary　looked　and　there　was　a　brief　moment　of　stillness。

〃Yes；〃　answered　Dickon；　after　it；　and　his　low　voice　had　a　very　gentle　sound。

Mary　gazed　at　the　tree　and　thought。

〃The　branches　are　quite　gray　and　there's　not　a　single　leaf　anywhere；〃　Colin　went　on。　　〃It's　quite　dead；　isn't　it？〃

〃Aye；〃　admitted　Dickon。　　〃But　them　roses　as　has　climbed　all　over　it　will　near　hide　every　bit　o'　th'　dead　wood　when　they're　full　o'　leaves　an'　flowers。　　It　won't　look　dead　then。　　It'll　be　th'　prettiest　of　all。〃

Mary　still　gazed　at　the　tree　and　thought。

〃It　looks　as　if　a　big　branch　had　been　broken　off；〃　said　Colin。　　〃I　wonder　how　it　was　done。〃

〃It's　been　done　many　a　year；〃　answered　Dickon。　　〃Eh！〃　with　a　sudden　relieved　start　and　laying　his　hand　on　Colin。　〃Look　at　that　robin！　There　he　is！　He's　been　foragin'　for　his　mate。〃

Colin　was　almost　too　late　but　he　just　caught　sight　of　him；　the　flash　of　red…breasted　bird　with　something　in　his　beak。　He　darted　through　the　greenness　and　into　the　close…grown　corner　and　was　out　of　sight。　　Colin　leaned　back　on　his　cushion　again；　laughing　a　little。　　〃He's　taking　her　tea　to　her。　　Perhaps　it's　five　o'clock。　I　think　I'd　like　some　tea　myself。〃

And　so　they　were　s