the secret garden-第43节

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y。　They　saw　more　rooms　and　made　more　discoveries　than　Mary　had　made　on　her　first　pilgrimage。　　They　found　new　corridors　and　corners　and　flights　of　steps　and　new　old　pictures　they　liked　and　weird　old　things　they　did　not　know　the　use　of。　It　was　a　curiously　entertaining　morning　and　the　feeling　of　wandering　about　in　the　same　house　with　other　people　but　at　the　same　time　feeling　as　if　one　were　miles　away　from　them　was　a　fascinating　thing。

〃I'm　glad　we　came；〃　Colin　said。　　〃I　never　knew　I　lived　in　such　a　big　queer　old　place。　　I　like　it。　We　will　ramble　about　every　rainy　day。　　We　shall　always　be　finding　new　queer　corners　and　things。〃

That　morning　they　had　found　among　other　things　such　good　appetites　that　when　they　returned　to　Colin's　room　it　was　not　possible　to　send　the　luncheon　away　untouched。

When　the　nurse　carried　the　tray　down…stairs　she　slapped　it　down　on　the　kitchen　dresser　so　that　Mrs。　Loomis；　the　cook；　could　see　the　highly　polished　dishes　and　plates。

〃Look　at　that！〃　she　said。　　〃This　is　a　house　of　mystery；　and　those　two　children　are　the　greatest　mysteries　in　it。〃

〃If　they　keep　that　up　every　day；〃　said　the　strong　young　footman　John；　〃there'd　be　small　wonder　that　he　weighs　twice　as　much　to…day　as　he　did　a　month　ago。　I　should　have　to　give　up　my　place　in　time；　for　fear　of　doing　my　muscles　an　injury。〃

That　afternoon　Mary　noticed　that　something　new　had　happened　in　Colin's　room。　　She　had　noticed　it　the　day　before　but　had　said　nothing　because　she　thought　the　change　might　have　been　made　by　chance。　　She　said　nothing　today　but　she　sat　and　looked　fixedly　at　the　picture　over　the　mantel。　She　could　look　at　it　because　the　curtain　had　been　drawn　aside。　That　was　the　change　she　noticed。

〃I　know　what　you　want　me　to　tell　you；〃　said　Colin；　after　she　had　stared　a　few　minutes。　　〃I　always　know　when　you　want　me　to　tell　you　something。　　You　are　wondering　why　the　curtain　is　drawn　back。　　I　am　going　to　keep　it　like　that。〃

〃Why？〃　asked　Mary。

〃Because　it　doesn't　make　me　angry　any　more　to　see　her　laughing。　I　wakened　when　it　was　bright　moonlight　two　nights　ago　and　felt　as　if　the　Magic　was　filling　the　room　and　making　everything　so　splendid　that　I　couldn't　lie　still。　I　got　up　and　looked　out　of　the　window。　　The　room　was　quite　light　and　there　was　a　patch　of　moonlight　on　the　curtain　and　somehow　that　made　me　go　and　pull　the　cord。　　She　looked　right　down　at　me　as　if　she　were　laughing　because　she　was　glad　I　was　standing　there。　　It　made　me　like　to　look　at　her。　I　want　to　see　her　laughing　like　that　all　the　time。　I　think　she　must　have　been　a　sort　of　Magic　person　perhaps。〃

〃You　are　so　like　her　now；〃　said　Mary；　〃that　sometimes　I　think　perhaps　you　are　her　ghost　made　into　a　boy。〃

That　idea　seemed　to　impress　Colin。　　He　thought　it　over　and　then　answered　her　slowly。

〃If　I　were　her　ghostmy　father　would　be　fond　of　me。〃

〃Do　you　want　him　to　be　fond　of　you？〃　inquired　Mary。

〃I　used　to　hate　it　because　he　was　not　fond　of　me。　　If　he　grew　fond　of　me　I　think　I　should　tell　him　about　the　Magic。　It　might　make　him　more　cheerful。〃



CHAPTER　XXVI

〃IT'S　MOTHER！〃


Their　belief　in　the　Magic　was　an　abiding　thing。　After　the　morning's　incantations　Colin　sometimes　gave　them　Magic　lectures。

〃I　like　to　do　it；〃　he　explained；　〃because　when　I　grow　up　and　make　great　scientific　discoveries　I　shall　be　obliged　to　lecture　about　them　and　so　this　is　practise。　I　can　only　give　short　lectures　now　because　I　am　very　young；　and　besides　Ben　Weatherstaff　would　feel　as　if　he　were　in　church　and　he　would　go　to　sleep。〃

〃Th'　best　thing　about　lecturin'；〃　said　Ben；　〃is　that　a　chap　can　get　up　an'　say　aught　he　pleases　an'　no　other　chap　can　answer　him　back。　　I　wouldn't　be　agen'　lecturin'　a　bit　mysel'　sometimes。〃

But　when　Colin　held　forth　under　his　tree　old　Ben　fixed　devouring　eyes　on　him　and　kept　them　there。　　He　looked　him　over　with　critical　affection。　　It　was　not　so　much　the　lecture　which　interested　him　as　the　legs　which　looked　straighter　and　stronger　each　day；　the　boyish　head　which　held　itself　up　so　well；　the　once　sharp　chin　and　hollow　cheeks　which　had　filled　and　rounded　out　and　the　eyes　which　had　begun　to　hold　the　light　he　remembered　in　another　pair。　Sometimes　when　Colin　felt　Ben's　earnest　gaze　meant　that　he　was　much　impressed　he　wondered　what　he　was　reflecting　on　and　once　when　he　had　seemed　quite　entranced　he　questioned　him。

〃What　are　you　thinking　about；　Ben　Weatherstaff？〃　he　asked。

〃I　was　thinkin'〃　answered　Ben；　〃as　I'd　warrant　tha's；　gone　up　three　or　four　pound　this　week。　　I　was　lookin'　at　tha'　calves　an'　tha'　shoulders。　　I'd　like　to　get　thee　on　a　pair　o'　scales。〃

〃It's　the　Magic　andand　Mrs。　Sowerby's　buns　and　milk　and　things；〃　said　Colin。　　〃You　see　the　scientific　experiment　has　succeeded。〃

That　morning　Dickon　was　too　late　to　hear　the　lecture。　When　he　came　he　was　ruddy　with　running　and　his　funny　face　looked　more　twinkling　than　usual。　　As　they　had　a　good　deal　of　weeding　to　do　after　the　rains　they　fell　to　work。　They　always　had　plenty　to　do　after　a　warm　deep　sinking　rain。　The　moisture　which　was　good　for　the　flowers　was　also　good　for　the　weeds　which　thrust　up　tiny　blades　of　grass　and　points　of　leaves　which　must　be　pulled　up　before　their　roots　took　too　firm　hold。　　Colin　was　as　good　at　weeding　as　any　one　in　these　days　and　he　could　lecture　while　he　was　doing　it。　〃The　Magic　works　best　when　you　work；　yourself；〃　he　said　this　morning。　　〃You　can　feel　it　in　your　bones　and　muscles。　I　am　going　to　read　books　about　bones　and　muscles；　but　I　am　going　to　write　a　book　about　Magic。　　I　am　making　it　up　now。　I　keep　finding　out　things。〃

It　was　not　very　long　after　he　had　said　this　that　he　laid　down　his　trowel　and　stood　up　on　his　feet。　He　had　been　silent　for　several　minutes　and　they　had　seen　that　he　was　thinking　out　lectures；　as　he　often　did。　When　he　dropped　his　trowel　and　stood　upright　it　seemed　to　Mary　and　Dickon　as　if　a　sudden　strong　thought　had　made　him　do　it。　　He　stretched　himself　out　to　his　tallest　height　and　he　threw　out　his　arms　exultantly。　　Color　glowed　in　his　face　and　his　strange　eyes　widened　with　joyfulness。　All　at　once　he　had　realized　something　to　the　full。

〃Mary！　Dickon！〃　he　cried。　　〃Just　look　at　me！〃

They　stopped　their　weeding　and　looked　at　him。

〃Do　you　remember　that　first　morning　you　brought　me　in　here？〃　he　demanded。

Dickon　was　looking　at　him　very　hard。　　Being　an　animal　charmer　he　could　see　more　things　than　most　people　could　and　many　of　them　were　things　he　never　talked　about。　He　saw　some　of　them　now　in　this　boy。　　〃Aye；　that　we　do；〃　he　answered。

Mary　looked　hard　too；　but　she　said　nothing。

〃Just　this　minute；〃　said　Colin；　〃all　at　once　I　remembered　it　myselfwhen　I　looked　at　my　hand　digging　with　the　troweland　I　had　to　stand　up　on　my　feet　to　see　if　it　was　real。　　And　it　is　real！　I'm　wellI'm　well！〃

〃Aye；　that　th'　art！〃　said　Dickon。

〃I'm　well！　I'm　well！〃　said　Colin　again；　and　his　face　went　quite　red　all　over。

He　had　known　it　before　in　a　way；　he　had　hoped　it　and　felt　it　and　thought　about　it；　but　just　at　that　minute　something　had　rushed　all　through　hima　sort　of　rapturous　belief　and　realization　and　it　had　been　so　strong　that　he　could　not　help　calling　out。

〃I　shall　live　forever　and　ever　and　ever！〃　he　cried　grandly。　〃I　shall　find　out　thousands　and　thousands　of　things。　I　shall　find　out　about　people　and　creatures　and　everything　that　growslike　Dickonand　I　shall　never　stop　making　Magic。　I'm　well！　I'm　well！　I　feelI　feel　as　if　I　want　to　shout　out　somethingsomething　thankful；　joyful！〃

Ben　Weatherstaff；　who　had　been　working　near　a　rose…bush；　glanced　round　at　him。

〃Tha'　might　sing　th'　Doxology；〃　he　suggested　in　his　dryest　grunt。　　He　had　no　opinion　of　the　Doxology　and　he　did　not　make　the　suggestion　with　any　particular　reverence。

But　Colin　was　of　an　exploring　mind　and　he　knew　nothing　about　the　Doxology。

〃What　is　that？〃　he　inquired。

〃Dickon　can　sing　it　for　thee；　I'll　warrant；〃　replied　Ben　Weatherstaff。

Dickon　answered　with　his　all…perceiving　animal　charmer's　smile。

〃They　sing　it　i'　church；〃　he　said。　　〃Mother　says　she　believes　th'　skylarks　sings　it　when　they　gets　up　i'　th'　mornin'。〃

〃If　she　says　that；　it　must　be　a　nice　song；〃　Colin　answered。　〃I've　never　been　in　a　church　myself。　　I　was　always　too　ill。　Sing　it；　Dickon。　　I　want　to　hear　it。〃

Dickon　was　quite　simple　and　unaffected　about　it。　He　understood　what　Colin　felt　better　than　Colin　did　himself。　He　understood　by　a　sort　of　instinct　so　natural　that　he　did　not　know　it　was　understanding。　　He　pulled　off　his　cap　and　looked　round　still　smiling。

〃Tha'　must　take　off　tha'　cap；〃　he　said　to　Colin；〃　an'　so　mun　tha'；　Benan'　tha'　mun　stand　up；　tha'　knows。〃

Colin　took　off　his　cap　and　the　sun　shone　on　and　warmed　his　thick　hair　as　he　watched　Dickon　intently。　　Ben　Weatherstaff　scrambled　up　from　his　knees　and　bared　his　head　too　with　a　sort　of　puzzled　half…resentful　look　on　his　old　face　as　if　he　didn't　know　exactly　why　he　was　doing　this　remarkable　thing。

Dickon　stood　out　among　the　trees　and　rose…bushes　and　began　to　sing　in　quite　a　simple　matter…of…fact　way　and　in　a　nice　strong　boy　voice：

　　　　　　　　　〃Praise　God　from　whom　all　blessings　flow；　　　　　　　　　　Praise　Him　all　creatures　here　below；　　　　　　　　　　Praise　Him　above　ye　Heavenly　Host；　　　　　　　　　　Praise　Father；　Son；　and　Holy　Ghost。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Amen。〃

When　he