the secret garden-第47节

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remote　rooms　where　he　usually　lived　attended　by　Pitcher。　He　went　into　the　library　and　sent　for　Mrs。　Medlock。　She　came　to　him　somewhat　excited　and　curious　and　flustered。

〃How　is　Master　Colin；　Medlock？〃　he　inquired。　　〃Well；　sir；〃　Mrs。　Medlock　answered；　〃he'she's　different；　in　a　manner　of　speaking。〃

〃Worse？〃　he　suggested。

Mrs。　Medlock　really　was　flushed。

〃Well；　you　see；　sir；〃　she　tried　to　explain；　〃neither　Dr。　Craven；　nor　the　nurse；　nor　me　can　exactly　make　him　out。〃

〃Why　is　that？〃

〃To　tell　the　truth；　sir；　Master　Colin　might　be　better　and　he　might　be　changing　for　the　worse。　　His　appetite；　sir；　is　past　understandingand　his　ways〃

〃Has　he　become　moremore　peculiar？〃　her　master；　asked；　knitting　his　brows　anxiously。

〃That's　it；　sir。　　He's　growing　very　peculiarwhen　you　compare　him　with　what　he　used　to　be。　　He　used　to　eat　nothing　and　then　suddenly　he　began　to　eat　something　enormous　and　then　he　stopped　again　all　at　once　and　the　meals　were　sent　back　just　as　they　used　to　be。　　You　never　knew；　sir；　perhaps；　that　out　of　doors　he　never　would　let　himself　be　taken。　The　things　we've　gone　through　to　get　him　to　go　out　in　his　chair　would　leave　a　body　trembling　like　a　leaf。　He'd　throw　himself　into　such　a　state　that　Dr。　Craven　said　he　couldn't　be　responsible　for　forcing　him。　　Well；　sir；　just　without　warningnot　long　after　one　of　his　worst　tantrums　he　suddenly　insisted　on　being　taken　out　every　day　by　Miss　Mary　and　Susan　Sowerby's　boy　Dickon　that　could　push　his　chair。　　He　took　a　fancy　to　both　Miss　Mary　and　Dickon；　and　Dickon　brought　his　tame　animals；　and；　if　you'll　credit　it；　sir；　out　of　doors　he　will　stay　from　morning　until　night。〃

〃How　does　he　look？〃　was　the　next　question。

〃If　he　took　his　food　natural；　sir；　you'd　think　he　was　putting　on　fleshbut　we're　afraid　it　may　be　a　sort　of　bloat。　He　laughs　sometimes　in　a　queer　way　when　he's　alone　with　Miss　Mary。　　He　never　used　to　laugh　at　all。　　Dr。　Craven　is　coming　to　see　you　at　once；　if　you'll　allow　him。　He　never　was　as　puzzled　in　his　life。〃

〃Where　is　Master　Colin　now？〃　Mr。　Craven　asked。

〃In　the　garden；　sir。　　He's　always　in　the　gardenthough　not　a　human　creature　is　allowed　to　go　near　for　fear　they'll　look　at　him。〃

Mr。　Craven　scarcely　heard　her　last　words。

〃In　the　garden；〃　he　said；　and　after　he　had　sent　Mrs。　Medlock　away　he　stood　and　repeated　it　again　and　again。　〃In　the　garden！〃

He　had　to　make　an　effort　to　bring　himself　back　to　the　place　he　was　standing　in　and　when　he　felt　he　was　on　earth　again　he　turned　and　went　out　of　the　room。　He　took　his　way；　as　Mary　had　done；　through　the　door　in　the　shrubbery　and　among　the　laurels　and　the　fountain　beds。　The　fountain　was　playing　now　and　was　encircled　by　beds　of　brilliant　autumn　flowers。　　He　crossed　the　lawn　and　turned　into　the　Long　Walk　by　the　ivied　walls。　　He　did　not　walk　quickly；　but　slowly；　and　his　eyes　were　on　the　path。　He　felt　as　if　he　were　being　drawn　back　to　the　place　he　had　so　long　forsaken；　and　he　did　not　know　why。　As　he　drew　near　to　it　his　step　became　still　more　slow。　He　knew　where　the　door　was　even　though　the　ivy　hung　thick　over　itbut　he　did　not　know　exactly　where　it　laythat　buried　key。

So　he　stopped　and　stood　still；　looking　about　him；　and　almost　the　moment　after　he　had　paused　he　started　and　listenedasking　himself　if　he　were　walking　in　a　dream。

The　ivy　hung　thick　over　the　door；　the　key　was　buried　under　the　shrubs；　no　human　being　had　passed　that　portal　for　ten　lonely　yearsand　yet　inside　the　garden　there　were　sounds。　　They　were　the　sounds　of　running　scuffling　feet　seeming　to　chase　round　and　round　under　the　trees；　they　were　strange　sounds　of　lowered　suppressed　voicesexclamations　and　smothered　joyous　cries。　It　seemed　actually　like　the　laughter　of　young　things；　the　uncontrollable　laughter　of　children　who　were　trying　not　to　be　heard　but　who　in　a　moment　or　soas　their　excitement　mountedwould　burst　forth。　　What　in　heaven's　name　was　he　dreaming　ofwhat　in　heaven's　name　did　he　hear？　Was　he　losing　his　reason　and　thinking　he　heard　things　which　were　not　for　human　ears？　Was　it　that　the　far　clear　voice　had　meant？

And　then　the　moment　came；　the　uncontrollable　moment　when　the　sounds　forgot　to　hush　themselves。　　The　feet　ran　faster　and　fasterthey　were　nearing　the　garden　doorthere　was　quick　strong　young　breathing　and　a　wild　outbreak　of　laughing　shows　which　could　not　be　containedand　the　door　in　the　wall　was　flung　wide　open；　the　sheet　of　ivy　swinging　back；　and　a　boy　burst　through　it　at　full　speed　and；　without　seeing　the　outsider；　dashed　almost　into　his　arms。

Mr。　Craven　had　extended　them　just　in　time　to　save　him　from　falling　as　a　result　of　his　unseeing　dash　against　him；　and　when　he　held　him　away　to　look　at　him　in　amazement　at　his　being　there　he　truly　gasped　for　breath。

He　was　a　tall　boy　and　a　handsome　one。　　He　was　glowing　with　life　and　his　running　had　sent　splendid　color　leaping　to　his　face。　　He　threw　the　thick　hair　back　from　his　forehead　and　lifted　a　pair　of　strange　gray　eyeseyes　full　of　boyish　laughter　and　rimmed　with　black　lashes　like　a　fringe。　It　was　the　eyes　which　made　Mr。　Craven　gasp　for　breath。　〃WhoWhat？　Who！〃　he　stammered。

This　was　not　what　Colin　had　expectedthis　was　not　what　he　had　planned。　　He　had　never　thought　of　such　a　meeting。　And　yet　to　come　dashing　outwinning　a　raceperhaps　it　was　even　better。　　He　drew　himself　up　to　his　very　tallest。　Mary；　who　had　been　running　with　him　and　had　dashed　through　the　door　too；　believed　that　he　managed　to　make　himself　look　taller　than　he　had　ever　looked　beforeinches　taller。

〃Father；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　Colin。　　You　can't　believe　it。　I　scarcely　can　myself。　　I'm　Colin。〃

Like　Mrs。　Medlock；　he　did　not　understand　what　his　father　meant　when　he　said　hurriedly：

〃In　the　garden！　In　the　garden！〃

〃Yes；〃　hurried　on　Colin。　　〃It　was　the　garden　that　did　itand　Mary　and　Dickon　and　the　creaturesand　the　Magic。　No　one　knows。　　We　kept　it　to　tell　you　when　you　came。　I'm　well；　I　can　beat　Mary　in　a　race。　　I'm　going　to　be　an　athlete。〃

He　said　it　all　so　like　a　healthy　boyhis　face　flushed；　his　words　tumbling　over　each　other　in　his　eagernessthat　Mr。　Craven's　soul　shook　with　unbelieving　joy。

Colin　put　out　his　hand　and　laid　it　on　his　father's　arm。

〃Aren't　you　glad；　Father？〃　he　ended。　　〃Aren't　you　glad？　I'm　going　to　live　forever　and　ever　and　ever！〃

Mr。　Craven　put　his　hands　on　both　the　boy's　shoulders　and　held　him　still。　　He　knew　he　dared　not　even　try　to　speak　for　a　moment。

〃Take　me　into　the　garden；　my　boy；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃And　tell　me　all　about　it。〃

And　so　they　led　him　in。

The　place　was　a　wilderness　of　autumn　gold　and　purple　and　violet　blue　and　flaming　scarlet　and　on　every　side　were　sheaves　of　late　lilies　standing　togetherlilies　which　were　white　or　white　and　ruby。　　He　remembered　well　when　the　first　of　them　had　been　planted　that　just　at　this　season　of　the　year　their　late　glories　should　reveal　themselves。　Late　roses　climbed　and　hung　and　clustered　and　the　sunshine　deepening　the　hue　of　the　yellowing　trees　made　one　feel　that　one；　stood　in　an　embowered　temple　of　gold。　The　newcomer　stood　silent　just　as　the　children　had　done　when　they　came　into　its　grayness。　　He　looked　round　and　round。

〃I　thought　it　would　be　dead；〃　he　said。〃

〃Mary　thought　so　at　first；〃　said　Colin。　　〃But　it　came　alive。〃

Then　they　sat　down　under　their　treeall　but　Colin；　who　wanted　to　stand　while　he　told　the　story。

It　was　the　strangest　thing　he　had　ever　heard；　Archibald　Craven　thought；　as　it　was　poured　forth　in　headlong　boy　fashion。　Mystery　and　Magic　and　wild　creatures；　the　weird　midnight　meetingthe　coming　of　the　springthe　passion　of　insulted　pride　which　had　dragged　the　young　Rajah　to　his　feet　to　defy　old　Ben　Weatherstaff　to　his　face。　　The　odd　companionship；　the　play　acting；　the　great　secret　so　carefully　kept。　The　listener　laughed　until　tears　came　into　his　eyes　and　sometimes　tears　came　into　his　eyes　when　he　was　not　laughing。　The　Athlete；　the　Lecturer；　the　Scientific　Discoverer　was　a　laughable；　lovable；　healthy　young　human　thing。

〃Now；〃　he　said　at　the　end　of　the　story；　〃it　need　not　be　a　secret　any　more。　　I　dare　say　it　will　frighten　them　nearly　into　fits　when　they　see　mebut　I　am　never　going　to　get　into　the　chair　again。　　I　shall　walk　back　with　you；　Fatherto　the　house。〃


Ben　Weatherstaff's　duties　rarely　took　him　away　from　the　gardens；　but　on　this　occasion　he　made　an　excuse　to　carry　some　vegetables　to　the　kitchen　and　being　invited　into　the　servants'　hall　by　Mrs。　Medlock　to　drink　a　glass　of　beer　he　was　on　the　spotas　he　had　hoped　to　bewhen　the　most　dramatic　event　Misselthwaite　Manor　had　seen　during　the　present　generation　actually　took　place。　　One　of　the　windows　looking　upon　the　courtyard　gave　also　a　glimpse　of　the　lawn。　Mrs。　Medlock；　knowing　Ben　had　come　from　the　gardens；　hoped　that　he　might　have　caught　sight　of　his　master　and　even　by　chance　of　his　meeting　with　Master　Colin。

〃Did　you　see　either　of　them；　Weatherstaff？〃　she　asked。

Ben　took　his　beer…mug　from　his　mouth　and　wiped　his　lips　with　the　back　of　his　hand。

〃Aye；　that　I　did；〃　he　answered　with　a　shrewdly　significant　air。

〃Both　of　them？〃　suggested　Mrs。　Medlock。

〃Both　of　'em；〃　returned　Ben　Weatherstaff。　　〃Thank　ye　kindly；　ma'am；　I　could　sup　up　another　mug　of　it。〃

〃Together？〃　said　Mrs。　Medlock；　hastily　overfilling　his　beer…mug　in　her　excitement。

〃Together；　ma'am；〃　and　B