the secret garden-第40节

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〃They　don't　know　what　to　make　of　it；〃　answered　Dickon。　　〃Every　day　as　comes　round　his　face　looks　different。　　It's　fillin'　out　and　doesn't　look　so　sharp　an'　th'　waxy　color　is　goin'。　But　he　has　to　do　his　bit　o'　complainin'；〃　with　a　highly　entertained　grin。

〃What　for；　i'　Mercy's　name？〃　asked　Mrs。　Sowerby。

Dickon　chuckled。

〃He　does　it　to　keep　them　from　guessin'　what's　happened。　If　the　doctor　knew　he'd　found　out　he　could　stand　on　his　feet　he'd　likely　write　and　tell　Mester　Craven。　Mester　Colin's　savin'　th'　secret　to　tell　himself。　He's　goin'　to　practise　his　Magic　on　his　legs　every　day　till　his　father　comes　back　an'　then　he's　goin'　to　march　into　his　room　an'　show　him　he's　as　straight　as　other　lads。　But　him　an'　Miss　Mary　thinks　it's　best　plan　to　do　a　bit　o'　groanin'　an'　frettin'　now　an'　then　to　throw　folk　off　th'　scent。〃

Mrs。　Sowerby　was　laughing　a　low　comfortable　laugh　long　before　he　had　finished　his　last　sentence。

〃Eh！〃　she　said；　〃that　pair's　enjoyin'　their…selves　I'll　warrant。　They'll　get　a　good　bit　o'　actin'　out　of　it　an'　there's　nothin'　children　likes　as　much　as　play　actin'。　Let's　hear　what　they　do；　Dickon　lad。〃　Dickon　stopped　weeding　and　sat　up　on　his　heels　to　tell　her。　　His　eyes　were　twinkling　with　fun。

〃Mester　Colin　is　carried　down　to　his　chair　every　time　he　goes　out；〃　he　explained。　　〃An'　he　flies　out　at　John；　th'　footman；　for　not　carryin'　him　careful　enough。　　He　makes　himself　as　helpless　lookin'　as　he　can　an'　never　lifts　his　head　until　we're　out　o'　sight　o'　th'　house。　　An'　he　grunts　an'　frets　a　good　bit　when　he's　bein'　settled　into　his　chair。　Him　an'　Miss　Mary's　both　got　to　enjoyin'　it　an'　when　he　groans　an'　complains　she'll　say；　‘Poor　Colin！　Does　it　hurt　you　so　much？　Are　you　so　weak　as　that；　poor　Colin？'but　th'　trouble　is　that　sometimes　they　can　scarce　keep　from　burstin'　out　laughin'。　When　we　get　safe　into　the　garden　they　laugh　till　they've　no　breath　left　to　laugh　with。　　An'　they　have　to　stuff　their　faces　into　Mester　Colin's　cushions　to　keep　the　gardeners　from　hearin'；　if　any　of；　'em's　about。〃

〃Th'　more　they　laugh　th'　better　for　'em！〃　said　Mrs。　Sowerby；　still　laughing　herself。　　〃Good　healthy　child　laughin's　better　than　pills　any　day　o'　th'　year。　　That　pair'll　plump　up　for　sure。〃

〃They　are　plumpin'　up；〃　said　Dickon。　　〃They're　that　hungry　they　don't　know　how　to　get　enough　to　eat　without　makin'　talk。　　Mester　Colin　says　if　he　keeps　sendin'　for　more　food　they　won't　believe　he's　an　invalid　at　all。　　Miss　Mary　says　she'll　let　him　eat　her　share；　but　he　says　that　if　she　goes　hungry　she'll　get　thin　an'　they　mun　both　get　fat　at　once。〃

Mrs。　Sowerby　laughed　so　heartily　at　the　revelation　of　this　difficulty　that　she　quite　rocked　backward　and　forward　in　her　blue　cloak；　and　Dickon　laughed　with　her。

〃I'll　tell　thee　what；　lad；〃　Mrs。　Sowerby　said　when　she　could　speak。　　〃I've　thought　of　a　way　to　help　'em。　When　tha'　goes　to　'em　in　th'　mornin's　tha'　shall　take　a　pail　o'　good　new　milk　an'　I'll　bake　'em　a　crusty　cottage　loaf　or　some　buns　wi'　currants　in　'em；　same　as　you　children　like。　Nothin's　so　good　as　fresh　milk　an'　bread。　　Then　they　could　take　off　th'　edge　o'　their　hunger　while　they　were　in　their　garden　an'　th；　fine　food　they　get　indoors　'ud　polish　off　th'　corners。〃

〃Eh！　mother！〃　said　Dickon　admiringly；　〃what　a　wonder　tha'　art！　Tha'　always　sees　a　way　out　o'　things。　　They　was　quite　in　a　pother　yesterday。　　They　didn't　see　how　they　was　to　manage　without　orderin'　up　more　foodthey　felt　that　empty　inside。〃

〃They're　two　young　'uns　growin'　fast；　an'　health's　comin'　back　to　both　of　'em。　Children　like　that　feels　like　young　wolves　an'　food's　flesh　an'　blood　to　'em；〃　said　Mrs。　Sowerby。　　Then　she　smiled　Dickon's　own　curving　smile。　〃Eh！　but　they're　enjoyin'　theirselves　for　sure；〃　she　said。

She　was　quite　right；　the　comfortable　wonderful　mother　creatureand　she　had　never　been　more　so　than　when　she　said　their　〃play　actin'〃　would　be　their　joy。　　Colin　and　Mary　found　it　one　of　their　most　thrilling　sources　of　entertainment。　The　idea　of　protecting　themselves　from　suspicion　had　been　unconsciously　suggested　to　them　first　by　the　puzzled　nurse　and　then　by　Dr。　Craven　himself。

〃Your　appetite。　　Is　improving　very　much；　Master　Colin；〃　the　nurse　had　said　one　day。　　〃You　used　to　eat　nothing；　and　so　many　things　disagreed　with　you。〃

〃Nothing　disagrees　with　me　now〃　replied　Colin；　and　then　seeing　the　nurse　looking　at　him　curiously　he　suddenly　remembered　that　perhaps　he　ought　not　to　appear　too　well　just　yet。　〃At　least　things　don't　so　often　disagree　with　me。　It's　the　fresh　air。〃

〃Perhaps　it　is；〃　said　the　nurse；　still　looking　at　him　with　a　mystified　expression。　　〃But　I　must　talk　to　Dr。　Craven　about　it。〃

〃How　she　stared　at　you！〃　said　Mary　when　she　went　away。　〃As　if　she　thought　there　must　be　something　to　find　out。〃

〃I　won't　have　her　finding　out　things；〃　said　Colin。　〃No　one　must　begin　to　find　out　yet。〃　When　Dr。　Craven　came　that　morning　he　seemed　puzzled；　also。　　He　asked　a　number　of　questions；　to　Colin's　great　annoyance。

〃You　stay　out　in　the　garden　a　great　deal；〃　he　suggested。　〃Where　do　you　go？〃

Colin　put　on　his　favorite　air　of　dignified　indifference　to　opinion。

〃I　will　not　let　any　one　know　where　I　go；〃　he　answered。　〃I　go　to　a　place　I　like。　　Every　one　has　orders　to　keep　out　of　the　way。　　I　won't　be　watched　and　stared　at。　You　know　that！〃

〃You　seem　to　be　out　all　day　but　I　do　not　think　it　has　done　you　harmI　do　not　think　so。　　The　nurse　says　that　you　eat　much　more　than　you　have　ever　done　before。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　said　Colin；　prompted　by　a　sudden　inspiration；　〃perhaps　it　is　an　unnatural　appetite。〃

〃I　do　not　think　so；　as　your　food　seems　to　agree　with　you；〃　said　Dr。　Craven。　　〃You　are　gaining　flesh　rapidly　and　your　color　is　better。〃

〃Perhapsperhaps　I　am　bloated　and　feverish；〃　said　Colin；　assuming　a　discouraging　air　of　gloom。　　〃People　who　are　not　going　to　live　are　oftendifferent。〃　Dr。　Craven　shook　his　head。　　He　was　holding　Colin's　wrist　and　he　pushed　up　his　sleeve　and　felt　his　arm。

〃You　are　not　feverish；〃　he　said　thoughtfully；　〃and　such　flesh　as　you　have　gained　is　healthy。　　If　you　can　keep　this　up；　my　boy；　we　need　not　talk　of　dying。　　Your　father　will　be　happy　to　hear　of　this　remarkable　improvement。〃

〃I　won't　have　him　told！〃　Colin　broke　forth　fiercely。　〃It　will　only　disappoint　him　if　I　get　worse　againand　I　may　get　worse　this　very　night。　　I　might　have　a　raging　fever。　I　feel　as　if　I　might　be　beginning　to　have　one　now。　I　won't　have　letters　written　to　my　fatherI　won'tI　won't！　You　are　making　me　angry　and　you　know　that　is　bad　for　me。　I　feel　hot　already。　　I　hate　being　written　about　and　being　talked　over　as　much　as　I　hate　being　stared　at！〃

〃Hush…h！　my　boy；〃　Dr。　Craven　soothed　him。　　〃Nothing　shall　be　written　without　your　permission。　　You　are　too　sensitive　about　things。　　You　must　not　undo　the　good　which　has　been　done。〃

He　said　no　more　about　writing　to　Mr。　Craven　and　when　he　saw　the　nurse　he　privately　warned　her　that　such　a　possibility　must　not　be　mentioned　to　the　patient。

〃The　boy　is　extraordinarily　better；〃　he　said。　〃His　advance　seems　almost　abnormal。　　But　of　course　he　is　doing　now　of　his　own　free　will　what　we　could　not　make　him　do　before。　　Still；　he　excites　himself　very　easily　and　nothing　must　be　said　to　irritate　him。〃　Mary　and　Colin　were　much　alarmed　and　talked　together　anxiously。　From　this　time　dated　their　plan　of　〃play　actin'。〃

〃I　may　be　obliged　to　have　a　tantrum；〃　said　Colin　regretfully。　〃I　don't　want　to　have　one　and　I'm　not　miserable　enough　now　to　work　myself　into　a　big　one。　　Perhaps　I　couldn't　have　one　at　all。　　That　lump　doesn't　come　in　my　throat　now　and　I　keep　thinking　of　nice　things　instead　of　horrible　ones。　But　if　they　talk　about　writing　to　my　father　I　shall　have　to　do　something。〃

He　made　up　his　mind　to　eat　less；　but　unfortunately　it　was　not　possible　to　carry　out　this　brilliant　idea　when　he　wakened　each　morning　with　an　amazing　appetite　and　the　table　near　his　sofa　was　set　with　a　breakfast　of　home…made　bread　and　fresh　butter；　snow…white　eggs；　raspberry　jam　and　clotted　cream。　　Mary　always　breakfasted　with　him　and　when　they　found　themselves　at　the　tableparticularly　if　there　were　delicate　slices　of　sizzling　ham　sending　forth　tempting　odors　from　under　a　hot　silver　coverthey　would　look　into　each　other's　eyes　in　desperation。

〃I　think　we　shall　have　to　eat　it　all　this　morning；　Mary；〃　Colin　always　ended　by　saying。　　〃We　can　send　away　some　of　the　lunch　and　a　great　deal　of　the　dinner。〃

But　they　never　found　they　could　send　away　anything　and　the　highly　polished　condition　of　the　empty　plates　returned　to　the　pantry　awakened　much　comment。

〃I　do　wish；〃　Colin　would　say　also；　〃I　do　wish　the　slices　of　ham　were　thicker；　and　one　muffin　each　is　not　enough　for　any　one。〃

〃It's　enough　for　a　person　who　is　going　to　die；〃　answered　Mary　when　first　she　heard　this；　〃but　it's　not　enough　for　a　person　who　is　going　to　live。　　I　sometimes　feel　as　if　I　could　eat　three　when　those　nice　fresh　heather　and　gorse　smells　from　the　moor　come　pouring　in　at　the　open　window。〃

The　morning　that　Dickonafter　they　had　been　enjoying　themselves　in　the　garden　for　about　two　hourswent　behind　a　big　rosebush　and　brought　forth　two　tin　pails　and　revealed　that　one　was　full　of　rich　new　milk　with　cream　on　the　top　of　it；　and　that　the　other　held　cottage…made　currant　buns　folded　in　a