the secret garden-第41节

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new　milk　with　cream　on　the　top　of　it；　and　that　the　other　held　cottage…made　currant　buns　folded　in　a　clean　blue　and　white　napkin；　buns　so　carefully　tucked　in　that　they　were　still　hot；　there　was　a　riot　of　surprised　joyfulness。　　What　a　wonderful　thing　for　Mrs。　Sowerby　to　think　of！　What　a　kind；　clever　woman　she　must　be！　How　good　the　buns　were！　And　what　delicious　fresh　milk！

〃Magic　is　in　her　just　as　it　is　in　Dickon；〃　said　Colin。　〃It　makes　her　think　of　ways　to　do　thingsnice　things。　She　is　a　Magic　person。　　Tell　her　we　are　grateful；　Dickonextremely　grateful。〃　He　was　given　to　using　rather　grown…up　phrases　at　times。　　He　enjoyed　them。　　He　liked　this　so　much　that　he　improved　upon　it。

〃Tell　her　she　has　been　most　bounteous　and　our　gratitude　is　extreme。〃

And　then　forgetting　his　grandeur　he　fell　to　and　stuffed　himself　with　buns　and　drank　milk　out　of　the　pail　in　copious　draughts　in　the　manner　of　any　hungry　little　boy　who　had　been　taking　unusual　exercise　and　breathing　in　moorland　air　and　whose　breakfast　was　more　than　two　hours　behind　him。

This　was　the　beginning　of　many　agreeable　incidents　of　the　same　kind。　　They　actually　awoke　to　the　fact　that　as　Mrs。　Sowerby　had　fourteen　people　to　provide　food　for　she　might　not　have　enough　to　satisfy　two　extra　appetites　every　day。　　So　they　asked　her　to　let　them　send　some　of　their　shillings　to　buy　things。

Dickon　made　the　stimulating　discovery　that　in　the　wood　in　the　park　outside　the　garden　where　Mary　had　first　found　him　piping　to　the　wild　creatures　there　was　a　deep　little　hollow　where　you　could　build　a　sort　of　tiny　oven　with　stones　and　roast　potatoes　and　eggs　in　it。　Roasted　eggs　were　a　previously　unknown　luxury　and　very　hot　potatoes　with　salt　and　fresh　butter　in　them　were　fit　for　a　woodland　king　besides　being　deliciously　satisfying。　You　could　buy　both　potatoes　and　eggs　and　eat　as　many　as　you　liked　without　feeling　as　if　you　were　taking　food　out　of　the　mouths　of　fourteen　people。

Every　beautiful　morning　the　Magic　was　worked　by　the　mystic　circle　under　the　plum…tree　which　provided　a　canopy　of　thickening　green　leaves　after　its　brief　blossom…time　was　ended。　　After　the　ceremony　Colin　always　took　his　walking　exercise　and　throughout　the　day　he　exercised　his　newly　found　power　at　intervals。　　Each　day　he　grew　stronger　and　could　walk　more　steadily　and　cover　more　ground。　And　each　day　his　belief　in　the　Magic　grew　strongeras　well　it　might。　　He　tried　one　experiment　after　another　as　he　felt　himself　gaining　strength　and　it　was　Dickon　who　showed　him　the　best　things　of　all。

〃Yesterday；〃　he　said　one　morning　after　an　absence；　〃I　went　to　Thwaite　for　mother　an'　near　th'　Blue　Cow　Inn　I　seed　Bob　Haworth。　　He's　the　strongest　chap　on　th'　moor。　He's　the　champion　wrestler　an'　he　can　jump　higher　than　any　other　chap　an'　throw　th'　hammer　farther。　　He's　gone　all　th'　way　to　Scotland　for　th'　sports　some　years。　　He's　knowed　me　ever　since　I　was　a　little　'un　an'　he's　a　friendly　sort　an'　I　axed　him　some　questions。　　Th'　gentry　calls　him　a　athlete　and　I　thought　o'　thee；　Mester　Colin；　and　I　says；　‘How　did　tha'　make　tha'　muscles　stick　out　that　way；　Bob？　Did　tha'　do　anythin'　extra　to　make　thysel'　so　strong？'　An'　he　says　'Well；　yes；　lad；　I　did。　　A　strong　man　in　a　show　that　came　to　Thwaite　once　showed　me　how　to　exercise　my　arms　an'　legs　an'　every　muscle　in　my　body。　　An'　I　says；　‘Could　a　delicate　chap　make　himself　stronger　with　'em；　Bob？'　an'　he　laughed　an'　says；　'Art　tha'　th'　delicate　chap？'　an'　I　says；　‘No；　but　I　knows　a　young　gentleman　that's　gettin'　well　of　a　long　illness　an'　I　wish　I　knowed　some　o'　them　tricks　to　tell　him　about。'　I　didn't　say　no　names　an；　he　didn't　ask　none。　　He's　friendly　same　as　I　said　an'　he　stood　up　an'　showed　me　good…natured　like；　an'　I　imitated　what　he　did　till　I　knowed　it　by　heart。〃

Colin　had　been　listening　excitedly。

〃Can　you　show　me？〃　he　cried。　　〃Will　you？〃

〃Aye；　to　be　sure；〃　Dickon　answered；　getting　up。　〃But　he　says　tha'　mun　do　'em　gentle　at　first　an'　be　careful　not　to　tire　thysel'。　Rest　in　between　times　an'　take　deep　breaths　an'　don't　overdo。〃

〃I'll　be　careful；〃　said　Colin。　　〃Show　me！　Show　me！　Dickon；　you　are　the　most　Magic　boy　in　the　world！〃

Dickon　stood　up　on　the　grass　and　slowly　went　through　a　carefully　practical　but　simple　series　of　muscle　exercises。　Colin　watched　them　with　widening　eyes。　　He　could　do　a　few　while　he　was　sitting　down。　　Presently　he　did　a　few　gently　while　he　stood　upon　his　already　steadied　feet。　　Mary　began　to　do　them　also。　　Soot；　who　was　watching　the　performance；　became　much　disturbed　and　left　his　branch　and　hopped　about　restlessly　because　he　could　not　do　them　too。

From　that　time　the　exercises　were　part　of　the　day's　duties　as　much　as　the　Magic　was。　　It　became　possible　for　both　Colin　and　Mary　to　do　more　of　them　each　time　they　tried；　and　such　appetites　were　the　results　that　but　for　the　basket　Dickon　put　down　behind　the　bush　each　morning　when　he　arrived　they　would　have　been　lost。　　But　the　little　oven　in　the　hollow　and　Mrs。　Sowerby's　bounties　were　so　satisfying　that　Mrs。　Medlock　and　the　nurse　and　Dr。　Craven　became　mystified　again。　　You　can　trifle　with　your　breakfast　and　seem　to　disdain　your　dinner　if　you　are　full　to　the　brim　with　roasted　eggs　and　potatoes　and　richly　frothed　new　milk　and　oatcakes　and　buns　and　heather　honey　and　clotted　cream。

〃They　are　eating　next　to　nothing；〃　said　the　nurse。　〃They'll　die　of　starvation　if　they　can't　be　persuaded　to　take　some　nourishment。　　And　yet　see　how　they　look。〃

〃Look！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Medlock　indignantly。　　〃Eh！　I'm　moithered　to　death　with　them。　　They're　a　pair　of　young　Satans。　Bursting　their　jackets　one　day　and　the　next　turning　up　their　noses　at　the　best　meals　Cook　can　tempt　them　with。　Not　a　mouthful　of　that　lovely　young　fowl　and　bread　sauce　did　they　set　a　fork　into　yesterdayand　the　poor　woman　fair　invented　a　pudding　for　themand　back　it's　sent。　She　almost　cried。　　She's　afraid　she'll　be　blamed　if　they　starve　themselves　into　their　graves。〃

Dr。　Craven　came　and　looked　at　Colin　long　and　carefully；　He　wore　an　extremely　worried　expression　when　the　nurse　talked　with　him　and　showed　him　the　almost　untouched　tray　of　breakfast　she　had　saved　for　him　to　look　atbut　it　was　even　more　worried　when　he　sat　down　by　Colin's　sofa　and　examined　him。　　He　had　been　called　to　London　on　business　and　had　not　seen　the　boy　for　nearly　two　weeks。　When　young　things　begin　to　gain　health　they　gain　it　rapidly。　The　waxen　tinge　had　left；　Colins　skin　and　a　warm　rose　showed　through　it；　his　beautiful　eyes　were　clear　and　the　hollows　under　them　and　in　his　cheeks　and　temples　had　filled　out。　His　once　dark；　heavy　locks　had　begun　to　look　as　if　they　sprang　healthily　from　his　forehead　and　were　soft　and　warm　with　life。　　His　lips　were　fuller　and　of　a　normal　color。　In　fact　as　an　imitation　of　a　boy　who　was　a　confirmed　invalid　he　was　a　disgraceful　sight。　　Dr。　Craven　held　his　chin　in　his　hand　and　thought　him　over。

〃I　am　sorry　to　hear　that　you　do　not　eat　any…　thing；〃　he　said。　　〃That　will　not　do。　　You　will　lose　all　you　have　gained　and　you　have　gained　amazingly。　　You　ate　so　well　a　short　time　ago。〃

〃I　told　you　it　was　an　unnatural　appetite；〃　answered　Colin。

Mary　was　sitting　on　her　stool　nearby　and　she　suddenly　made　a　very　queer　sound　which　she　tried　so　violently　to　repress　that　she　ended　by　almost　choking。

〃What　is　the　matter？〃　said　Dr。　Craven；　turning　to　look　at　her。

Mary　became　quite　severe　in　her　manner。

〃It　was　something　between　a　sneeze　and　a　cough；〃　she　replied　with　reproachful　dignity；　〃and　it　got　into　my　throat。〃

〃But；〃　she　said　afterward　to　Colin；　〃I　couldn't　stop　myself。　It　just　burst　out　because　all　at　once　I　couldn't　help　remembering　that　last　big　potato　you　ate　and　the　way　your　mouth　stretched　when　you　bit　through　that　thick　lovely　crust　with　jam　and　clotted　cream　on　it。〃

〃Is　there　any　way　in　which　those　children　can　get　food　secretly？〃　Dr。　Craven　inquired　of　Mrs。　Medlock。

〃There's　no　way　unless　they　dig　it　out　of　the　earth　or　pick　it　off　the　trees；〃　Mrs。　Medlock　answered。　　〃They　stay　out　in　the　grounds　all　day　and　see　no　one　but　each　other。　And　if　they　want　anything　different　to　eat　from　what's　sent　up　to　them　they　need　only　ask　for　it。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Dr。　Craven；　〃so　long　as　going　without　food　agrees　with　them　we　need　not　disturb　ourselves。　The　boy　is　a　new　creature。〃

〃So　is　the　girl；〃　said　Mrs。　Medlock。　　〃She's　begun　to　be　downright　pretty　since　she's　filled　out　and　lost　her　ugly　little　sour　look。　　Her　hair's　grown　thick　and　healthy　looking　and　she's　got　a　bright　color。　　The　glummest；　ill…natured　little　thing　she　used　to　be　and　now　her　and　Master　Colin　laugh　together　like　a　pair　of　crazy　young　ones。　Perhaps　they're　growing　fat　on　that。〃

〃Perhaps　they　are；〃　said　Dr。　Craven。　　〃Let　them　laugh。〃



CHAPTER　XXV

THE　CURTAIN


And　the　secret　garden　bloomed　and　bloomed　and　every　morning　revealed　new　miracles。　　In　the　robin's　nest　there　were　Eggs　and　the　robin's　mate　sat　upon　them　keeping　them　warm　with　her　feathery　little　breast　and　careful　wings。　At　first　she　was　very　nervous　and　the　robin　himself　was　indignantly　watchful。　　Even　Dickon　did　not　go　near　the　close…grown　corner　in　those　days；　but　waited　until　by　the　quiet　working　of　some　mysterious　spell　he　seemed　to　have　conveyed　to　the　soul　of　the　little　pair　that　in　the　garden　there　was　nothing　which　w