the secret garden-第35节

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her　tea　to　her。　　Perhaps　it's　five　o'clock。　I　think　I'd　like　some　tea　myself。〃

And　so　they　were　safe。

〃It　was　Magic　which　sent　the　robin；〃　said　Mary　secretly　to　Dickon　afterward。　　〃I　know　it　was　Magic。〃　For　both　she　and　Dickon　had　been　afraid　Colin　might　ask　something　about　the　tree　whose　branch　had　broken　off　ten　years　ago　and　they　had　talked　it　over　together　and　Dickon　had　stood　and　rubbed　his　head　in　a　troubled　way。

〃We　mun　look　as　if　it　wasn't　no　different　from　th'　other　trees；〃　he　had　said。　　〃We　couldn't　never　tell　him　how　it　broke；　poor　lad。　　If　he　says　anything　about　it　we　munwe　mun　try　to　look　cheerful。〃

〃Aye；　that　we　mun；〃　had　answered　Mary。

But　she　had　not　felt　as　if　she　looked　cheerful　when　she　gazed　at　the　tree。　　She　wondered　and　wondered　in　those　few　moments　if　there　was　any　reality　in　that　other　thing　Dickon　had　said。　He　had　gone　on　rubbing　his　rust…red　hair　in　a　puzzled　way；　but　a　nice　comforted　look　had　begun　to　grow　in　his　blue　eyes。

〃Mrs。　Craven　was　a　very　lovely　young　lady；〃　he　had　gone　on　rather　hesitatingly。　　〃An'　mother　she　thinks　maybe　she's　about　Misselthwaite　many　a　time　lookin'　after　Mester　Colin；　same　as　all　mothers　do　when　they're　took　out　o'　th'　world。　　They　have　to　come　back；　tha'　sees。　　Happen　she's　been　in　the　garden　an'　happen　it　was　her　set　us　to　work；　an'　told　us　to　bring　him　here。〃

Mary　had　thought　he　meant　something　about　Magic。　She　was　a　great　believer　in　Magic。　　Secretly　she　quite　believed　that　Dickon　worked　Magic；　of　course　good　Magic；　on　everything　near　him　and　that　was　why　people　liked　him　so　much　and　wild　creatures　knew　he　was　their　friend。　She　wondered；　indeed；　if　it　were　not　possible　that　his　gift　had　brought　the　robin　just　at　the　right　moment　when　Colin　asked　that　dangerous　question。　　She　felt　that　his　Magic　was　working　all　the　afternoon　and　making　Colin　look　like　an　entirely　different　boy。　　It　did　not　seem　possible　that　he　could　be　the　crazy　creature　who　had　screamed　and　beaten　and　bitten　his　pillow。　　Even　his　ivory　whiteness　seemed　to　change。　　The　faint　glow　of　color　which　had　shown　on　his　face　and　neck　and　hands　when　he　first　got　inside　the　garden　really　never　quite　died　away。　He　looked　as　if　he　were　made　of　flesh　instead　of　ivory　or　wax。

They　saw　the　robin　carry　food　to　his　mate　two　or　three　times；　and　it　was　so　suggestive　of　afternoon　tea　that　Colin　felt　they　must　have　some。

〃Go　and　make　one　of　the　men　servants　bring　some　in　a　basket　to　the　rhododendron　walk；〃　he　said。　　〃And　then　you　and　Dickon　can　bring　it　here。〃

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。　　Nut　and　Shell　whisked　up　trees　with　pieces　of　cake　and　Soot　took　the　entire　half　of　a　buttered　crumpet　into　a　corner　and　pecked　at　and　examined　and　turned　it　over　and　made　hoarse　remarks　about　it　until　he　decided　to　swallow　it　all　joyfully　in　one　gulp。

The　afternoon　was　dragging　towards　its　mellow　hour。　The　sun　was　deepening　the　gold　of　its　lances；　the　bees　were　going　home　and　the　birds　were　flying　past　less　often。　Dickon　and　Mary　were　sitting　on　the　grass；　the　tea…basket　was　repacked　ready　to　be　taken　back　to　the　house；　and　Colin　was　lying　against　his　cushions　with　his　heavy　locks　pushed　back　from　his　forehead　and　his　face　looking　quite　a　natural　color。

〃I　don't　want　this　afternoon　to　go；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　shall　come　back　tomorrow；　and　the　day　after；　and　the　day　after；　and　the　day　after。〃

〃You'll　get　plenty　of　fresh　air；　won't　you？〃　said　Mary。　〃I'm　going　to　get　nothing　else；〃　he　answered。　〃I've　seen　the　spring　now　and　I'm　going　to　see　the　summer。　I'm　going　to　see　everything　grow　here。　　I'm　going　to　grow　here　myself。〃

〃That　tha'　will；〃　said　Dickon。　　〃Us'll　have　thee　walkin'　about　here　an'　diggin'　same　as　other　folk　afore　long。〃

Colin　flushed　tremendously。

〃Walk！〃　he　said。　　〃Dig！　Shall　I？〃

Dickon's　glance　at　him　was　delicately　cautious。　Neither　he　nor　Mary　had　ever　asked　if　anything　was　the　matter　with　his　legs。

〃For　sure　tha'　will；〃　he　said　stoutly。　　〃Thatha's　got　legs　o'　thine　own；　same　as　other　folks！〃

Mary　was　rather　frightened　until　she　heard　Colin's　answer。

〃Nothing　really　ails　them；〃　he　said；　〃but　they　are　so　thin　and　weak。　　They　shake　so　that　I'm　afraid　to　try　to　stand　on　them。〃

Both　Mary　and　Dickon　drew　a　relieved　breath。

〃When　tha'　stops　bein'　afraid　tha'lt　stand　on　'em；〃　Dickon　said　with　renewed　cheer。　　〃An'　tha'lt　stop　bein'　afraid　in　a　bit。〃

〃I　shall？〃　said　Colin；　and　he　lay　still　as　if　he　were　wondering　about　things。

They　were　really　very　quiet　for　a　little　while。　The　sun　was　dropping　lower。　　It　was　that　hour　when　everything　stills　itself；　and　they　really　had　had　a　busy　and　exciting　afternoon。　　Colin　looked　as　if　he　were　resting　luxuriously。　　Even　the　creatures　had　ceased　moving　about　and　had　drawn　together　and　were　resting　near　them。　Soot　had　perched　on　a　low　branch　and　drawn　up　one　leg　and　dropped　the　gray　film　drowsily　over　his　eyes。　Mary　privately　thought　he　looked　as　if　he　might　snore　in　a　minute。

In　the　midst　of　this　stillness　it　was　rather　startling　when　Colin　half　lifted　his　head　and　exclaimed　in　a　loud　suddenly　alarmed　whisper：

〃Who　is　that　man？〃　Dickon　and　Mary　scrambled　to　their　feet。

〃Man！〃　they　both　cried　in　low　quick　voices。

Colin　pointed　to　the　high　wall。　　〃Look！〃　he　whispered　excitedly。　〃Just　look！〃

Mary　and　Dickon　wheeled　about　and　looked。　　There　was　Ben　Weatherstaff's　indignant　face　glaring　at　them　over　the　wall　from　the　top　of　a　ladder！　He　actually　shook　his　fist　at　Mary。

〃If　I　wasn't　a　bachelder；　an'　tha'　was　a　wench　o'　mine；〃　he　cried；　〃I'd　give　thee　a　hidin'！〃

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。　　〃I　couldna'　abide　thee　th'　first　time　I　set　eyes　on　thee。　　A　scrawny　buttermilk…faced　young　besom；　allus　askin'　questions　an'　pokin'　tha'　nose　where　it　wasna；　wanted。　　I　never　knowed　how　tha'　got　so　thick　wi'　me。　　If　it　hadna'　been　for　th'　robin　Drat　him〃

〃Ben　Weatherstaff；〃　called　out　Mary；　finding　her　breath。　She　stood　below　him　and　called　up　to　him　with　a　sort　of　gasp。　　〃Ben　Weatherstaff；　it　was　the　robin　who　showed　me　the　way！〃

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

〃Tha'　young　bad　'un！〃　he　called　down　at　her。　　〃Layin'　tha'　badness　on　a　robinnot　but　what　he's　impidint　enow　for　anythin'。　Him　showin'　thee　th'　way！　Him！　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？〃

〃It　was　the　robin　who　showed　me　the　way；〃　she　protested　obstinately。　　〃He　didn't　know　he　was　doing　it　but　he　did。　And　I　can't　tell　you　from　here　while　you're　shaking　your　fist　at　me。〃

He　stopped　shaking　his　fist　very　suddenly　at　that　very　moment　and　his　jaw　actually　dropped　as　he　stared　over　her　head　at　something　he　saw　coming　over　the　grass　toward　him。

At　the　first　sound　of　his　torrent　of　words　Colin　had　been　so　surprised　that　he　had　only　sat　up　and　listened　as　if　he　were　spellbound。　　But　in　the　midst　of　it　he　had　recovered　himself　and　beckoned　imperiously　to　Dickon。

〃Wheel　me　over　there！〃　he　commanded。　　〃Wheel　me　quite　close　and　stop　right　in　front　of　him！〃

And　this；　if　you　please；　this　is　what　Ben　Weatherstaff　beheld　and　which　made　his　jaw　drop。　　A　wheeled　chair　with　luxurious　cushions　and　robes　which　came　toward　him　looking　rather　like　some　sort　of　State　Coach　because　a　young　Rajah　leaned　back　in　it　with　royal　command　in　his　great　black…rimmed　eyes　and　a　thin　white　hand　extended　haughtily　toward　him。　And　it　stopped　right　under　Ben　Weatherstaff's　nose。　It　was　really　no　wonder　his　mouth　dropped　open。

〃Do　you　know　who　I　am？〃　demanded　the　Rajah。

How　Ben　Weatherstaff　stared！　His　red　old　eyes　fixed　themselves　on　what　was　before　him　as　if　he　were　seeing　a　ghost。　　He　gazed　and　gazed　and　gulped　a　lump　down　his　throat　and　did　not　say　a　word。　　〃Do　you　know　who　I　am？〃　demanded　Colin　still　more　imperiously。　　〃Answer！〃

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。

〃Who　tha'　art？〃　he　said。　　〃Aye；　that　I　dowi'　tha'　mother's　eyes　starin'　at　me　out　o'　tha'　face。　　Lord　knows　how　tha'　come　here。　　But　tha'rt　th'　poor　cripple。〃

Colin　forgot　that　he　had　ever　had　a　back。　　His　face　flushed　scarlet　and　he　sat　bolt　upright。

〃I'm　not　a　cripple！〃　he　cried　out　furiously。　　〃I'm　not！〃

〃He's　not！〃　cried　Mary；　almost　shouting　up　the　wall　in　her　fierce　indignation。　　〃He's　not　got　a　lump　as　big　as　a　pin！　I　looked　and　there　was　none　therenot　one！〃

Ben　Weatherstaff　passed　his　hand　over　his　forehead　again　and　gazed　as　if　he　could　never　gaze　enough。　His　hand　shook　and　his　mouth　shook　and　his　voice　shook。　He　was　an　ignorant　old　man　and　a　tactless　old　man　and　he　could　only　remember　the　things