the secret garden-第4节

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rt　footman　who　helped　her　in。　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。　　She　sat　and　looked　out　of　the　window；　curious　to　see　something　of　the　road　over　which　she　was　being　driven　to　the　queer　place　Mrs。　Medlock　had　spoken　of。　　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　upa　house　standing　on　the　edge　of　a　moor。

〃What　is　a　moor？〃　she　said　suddenly　to　Mrs。　Medlock。

〃Look　out　of　the　window　in　about　ten　minutes　and　you'll　see；〃　the　woman　answered。　　〃We've　got　to　drive　five　miles　across　Missel　Moor　before　we　get　to　the　Manor。　　You　won't　see　much　because　it's　a　dark　night；　but　you　can　see　something。〃

Mary　asked　no　more　questions　but　waited　in　the　darkness　of　her　corner；　keeping　her　eyes　on　the　window。　　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　had　passed　a　church　and　a　vicarage　and　a　little　shop…window　or　so　in　a　cottage　with　toys　and　sweets　and　odd　things　set　our　for　sale。　Then　they　were　on　the　highroad　and　she　saw　hedges　and　trees。　After　that　there　seemed　nothing　different　for　a　long　timeor　at　least　it　seemed　a　long　time　to　her。

At　last　the　horses　began　to　go　more　slowly；　as　if　they　were　climbing　up…hill；　and　presently　there　seemed　to　be　no　more　hedges　and　no　more　trees。　　She　could　see　nothing；　in　fact；　but　a　dense　darkness　on　either　side。　　She　leaned　forward　and　pressed　her　face　against　the　window　just　as　the　carriage　gave　a　big　jolt。

〃Eh！　We're　on　the　moor　now　sure　enough；〃　said　Mrs。　Medlock。

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'sit's　not　the　sea；　is　it？〃　said　Mary；　looking　round　at　her　companion。

〃No；　not　it；〃　answered　Mrs。　Medlock。　　〃Nor　it　isn't　fields　nor　mountains；　it's　just　miles　and　miles　and　miles　of　wild　land　that　nothing　grows　on　but　heather　and　gorse　and　broom；　and　nothing　lives　on　but　wild　ponies　and　sheep。〃

〃I　feel　as　if　it　might　be　the　sea；　if　there　were　water　on　it；〃　said　Mary。　　〃It　sounds　like　the　sea　just　now。〃

〃That's　the　wind　blowing　through　the　bushes；〃　Mrs。　Medlock　said。　〃It's　a　wild；　dreary　enough　place　to　my　mind；　though　there's　plenty　that　likes　itparticularly　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。　　The　road　went　up　and　down；　and　several　times　the　carriage　passed　over　a　little　bridge　beneath　which　water　rushed　very　fast　with　a　great　deal　of　noise。　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。

〃I　don't　like　it；〃　she　said　to　herself。　　〃I　don't　like　it；〃　and　she　pinched　her　thin　lips　more　tightly　together。

The　horses　were　climbing　up　a　hilly　piece　of　road　when　she　first　caught　sight　of　a　light。　　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。　　〃It's　the　light　in　the　lodge　window。　We　shall　get　a　good　cup　of　tea　after　a　bit；　at　all　events。〃

It　was　〃after　a　bit；〃　as　she　said；　for　when　the　carriage　passed　through　the　park　gates　there　was　still　two　miles　of　avenue　to　drive　through　and　the　trees　（which　nearly　met　overhead）　made　it　seem　as　if　they　were　driving　through　a　long　dark　vault。

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。　　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。　As　she　stood　on　the　stone　floor　she　looked　a　very　small；　odd　little　black　figure；　and　she　felt　as　small　and　lost　and　odd　as　she　looked。

A　neat；　thin　old　man　stood　near　the　manservant　who　opened　the　door　for　them。

〃You　are　to　take　her　to　her　room；〃　he　said　in　a　husky　voice。　〃He　doesn't　want　to　see　her。　　He's　going　to　London　in　the　morning。〃

〃Very　well；　Mr。　Pitcher；〃　Mrs。　Medlock　answered。　〃So　long　as　I　know　what's　expected　of　me；　I　can　manage。〃

〃What's　expected　of　you；　Mrs。　Medlock；〃　Mr。　Pitcher　said；　〃is　that　you　make　sure　that　he's　not　disturbed　and　that　he　doesn't　see　what　he　doesn't　want　to　see。〃

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。

Mrs。　Medlock　said　unceremoniously：

〃Well；　here　you　are！　This　room　and　the　next　are　where　you'll　liveand　you　must　keep　to　them。　　Don't　you　forget　that！〃

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



CHAPTER　IV

MARTHA


When　she　opened　her　eyes　in　the　morning　it　was　because　a　young　housemaid　had　come　into　her　room　to　light　the　fire　and　was　kneeling　on　the　hearth…rug　raking　out　the　cinders　noisily。　　Mary　lay　and　watched　her　for　a　few　moments　and　then　began　to　look　about　the　room。　She　had　never　seen　a　room　at　all　like　it　and　thought　it　curious　and　gloomy。　　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。　There　were　hunters　and　horses　and　dogs　and　ladies。　Mary　felt　as　if　she　were　in　the　forest　with　them。　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。

〃What　is　that？〃　she　said；　pointing　out　of　the　window。

Martha；　the　young　housemaid；　who　had　just　risen　to　her　feet；　looked　and　pointed　also。　　〃That　there？〃　she　said。

〃Yes。〃

〃That's　th'　moor；〃　with　a　good…natured　grin。　　〃Does　tha'　like　it？〃

〃No；〃　answered　Mary。　　〃I　hate　it。〃

〃That's　because　tha'rt　not　used　to　it；〃　Martha　said；　going　back　to　her　hearth。　　〃Tha'　thinks　it's　too　big　an'　bare　now。　　But　tha'　will　like　it。〃

〃Do　you？〃　inquired　Mary。

〃Aye；　that　I　do；〃　answered　Martha；　cheerfully　polishing　away　at　the　grate。　　〃I　just　love　it。　　It's　none　bare。　It's　covered　wi'　growin'　things　as　smells　sweet。　It's　fair　lovely　in　spring　an'　summer　when　th'　gorse　an'　broom　an'　heather's　in　flower。　　It　smells　o'　honey　an'　there's　such　a　lot　o'　fresh　airan'　th'　sky　looks　so　high　an'　th'　bees　an'　skylarks　makes　such　a　nice　noise　hummin'　an'　singin'。　Eh！　I　wouldn't　live　away　from　th'　moor　for　anythin'。〃

Mary　listened　to　her　with　a　grave；　puzzled　expression。　The　native　servants　she　had　been　used　to　in　India　were　not　in　the　least　like　this。　　They　were　obsequious　and　servile　and　did　not　presume　to　talk　to　their　masters　as　if　they　were　their　equals。　　They　made　salaams　and　called　them　〃protector　of　the　poor〃　and　names　of　that　sort。　Indian　servants　were　commanded　to　do　things；　not　asked。　It　was　not　the　custom　to　say　〃please〃　and　〃thank　you〃　and　Mary　had　always　slapped　her　Ayah　in　the　face　when　she　was　angry。　　She　wondered　a　little　what　this　girl　would　do　if　one　slapped　her　in　the　face。　　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　backif　the　person　who　slapped　her　was　only　a　little　girl。

〃You　are　a　strange　servant；〃　she　said　from　her　pillows；　rather　haughtily。

Martha　sat　up　on　her　heels；　with　her　blackingbrush　in　her　hand；　and　laughed；　without　seeming　the　least　out　of　temper。

〃Eh！　I　know　that；〃　she　said。　　〃If　there　was　a　grand　Missus　at　Misselthwaite　I　should　never　have　been　even　one　of　th'　under　house…maids。　I　might　have　been　let　to　be　scullerymaid　but　I'd　never　have　been　let　upstairs。　　I'm　too　common　an'　I　talk　too　much　Yorkshire。　　But　this　is　a　funny　house　for　all　it's　so　grand。　　Seems　like　there's　neither　Master　nor　Mistress　except　Mr。　Pitcher　an'　Mrs。　Medlock。　　Mr。　Craven；　he　won't　be　troubled　about　anythin'　when　he's　here；　an'　he's　nearly　always　away。　　Mrs。　Medlock　gave　me　th'　place　out　o'　kindness。　　She　told　me　she　could　never　have　done　it　if　Miss