the secret garden-第5节

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。　　Mrs。　Medlock　gave　me　th'　place　out　o'　kindness。　　She　told　me　she　could　never　have　done　it　if　Misselthwaite　had　been　like　other　big　houses。〃　〃Are　you　going　to　be　my　servant？〃　Mary　asked；　still　in　her　imperious　little　Indian　way。

Martha　began　to　rub　her　grate　again。

〃I'm　Mrs。　Medlock's　servant；〃　she　said　stoutly。　〃An'　she's　Mr。　Craven'sbut　I'm　to　do　the　housemaid's　work　up　here　an'　wait　on　you　a　bit。　　But　you　won't　need　much　waitin'　on。〃

〃Who　is　going　to　dress　me？〃　demanded　Mary。

Martha　sat　up　on　her　heels　again　and　stared。　　She　spoke　in　broad　Yorkshire　in　her　amazement。

〃Canna'　tha'　dress　thysen！〃　she　said。

〃What　do　you　mean？　I　don't　understand　your　language；〃　said　Mary。

〃Eh！　I　forgot；〃　Martha　said。　　〃Mrs。　Medlock　told　me　I'd　have　to　be　careful　or　you　wouldn't　know　what　I　was　sayin'。　I　mean　can't　you　put　on　your　own　clothes？〃

〃No；〃　answered　Mary；　quite　indignantly。　　〃I　never　did　in　my　life。　　My　Ayah　dressed　me；　of　course。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Martha；　evidently　not　in　the　least　aware　that　she　was　impudent；　〃it's　time　tha'　should　learn。　Tha'　cannot　begin　younger。　　It'll　do　thee　good　to　wait　on　thysen　a　bit。　　My　mother　always　said　she　couldn't　see　why　grand　people's　children　didn't　turn　out　fair　foolswhat　with　nurses　an'　bein'　washed　an'　dressed　an'　took　out　to　walk　as　if　they　was　puppies！〃

〃It　is　different　in　India；〃　said　Mistress　Mary　disdainfully。　She　could　scarcely　stand　this。

But　Martha　was　not　at　all　crushed。

〃Eh！　I　can　see　it's　different；〃　she　answered　almost　sympathetically。　　〃I　dare　say　it's　because　there's　such　a　lot　o'　blacks　there　instead　o'　respectable　white　people。　When　I　heard　you　was　comin'　from　India　I　thought　you　was　a　black　too。〃

Mary　sat　up　in　bed　furious。

〃What！〃　she　said。　　〃What！　You　thought　I　was　a　native。　Youyou　daughter　of　a　pig！〃

Martha　stared　and　looked　hot。

〃Who　are　you　callin'　names？〃　she　said。　　〃You　needn't　be　so　vexed。　　That's　not　th'　way　for　a　young　lady　to　talk。　I've　nothin'　against　th'　blacks。　　When　you　read　about　'em　in　tracts　they're　always　very　religious。　　You　always　read　as　a　black's　a　man　an'　a　brother。　　I've　never　seen　a　black　an'　I　was　fair　pleased　to　think　I　was　goin'　to　see　one　close。　When　I　come　in　to　light　your　fire　this　mornin'　I　crep'　up　to　your　bed　an'　pulled　th'　cover　back　careful　to　look　at　you。　　An'　there　you　was；〃　disappointedly；　〃no　more　black　than　mefor　all　you're　so　yeller。〃

Mary　did　not　even　try　to　control　her　rage　and　humiliation。　〃You　thought　I　was　a　native！　You　dared！　You　don't　know　anything　about　natives！　They　are　not　peoplethey're　servants　who　must　salaam　to　you。　　You　know　nothing　about　India。　You　know　nothing　about　anything！〃

She　was　in　such　a　rage　and　felt　so　helpless　before　the　girl's　simple　stare；　and　somehow　she　suddenly　felt　so　horribly　lonely　and　far　away　from　everything　she　understood　and　which　understood　her；　that　she　threw　herself　face　downward　on　the　pillows　and　burst　into　passionate　sobbing。　She　sobbed　so　unrestrainedly　that　good…natured　Yorkshire　Martha　was　a　little　frightened　and　quite　sorry　for　her。　She　went　to　the　bed　and　bent　over　her。

〃Eh！　you　mustn't　cry　like　that　there！〃　she　begged。　〃You　mustn't　for　sure。　　I　didn't　know　you'd　be　vexed。　I　don't　know　anythin'　about　anythin'just　like　you　said。　I　beg　your　pardon；　Miss。　Do　stop　cryin'。〃

There　was　something　comforting　and　really　friendly　in　her　queer　Yorkshire　speech　and　sturdy　way　which　had　a　good　effect　on　Mary。　　She　gradually　ceased　crying　and　became　quiet。　Martha　looked　relieved。

〃It's　time　for　thee　to　get　up　now；〃　she　said。　〃Mrs。　Medlock　said　I　was　to　carry　tha'　breakfast　an'　tea　an'　dinner　into　th'　room　next　to　this。　　It's　been　made　into　a　nursery　for　thee。　　I'll　help　thee　on　with　thy　clothes　if　tha'll　get　out　o'　bed。　　If　th'　buttons　are　at　th'　back　tha'　cannot　button　them　up　tha'self。〃

When　Mary　at　last　decided　to　get　up；　the　clothes　Martha　took　from　the　wardrobe　were　not　the　ones　she　had　worn　when　she　arrived　the　night　before　with　Mrs。　Medlock。

〃Those　are　not　mine；〃　she　said。　　〃Mine　are　black。〃

She　looked　the　thick　white　wool　coat　and　dress　over；　and　added　with　cool　approval：

〃Those　are　nicer　than　mine。〃

〃These　are　th'　ones　tha'　must　put　on；〃　Martha　answered。　〃Mr。　Craven　ordered　Mrs。　Medlock　to　get　'em　in　London。　He　said　‘I　won't　have　a　child　dressed　in　black　wanderin'　about　like　a　lost　soul；'　he　said。　　‘It'd　make　the　place　sadder　than　it　is。　　Put　color　on　her。'　Mother　she　said　she　knew　what　he　meant。　　Mother　always　knows　what　a　body　means。　She　doesn't　hold　with　black　hersel'。〃

〃I　hate　black　things；〃　said　Mary。

The　dressing　process　was　one　which　taught　them　both　something。　Martha　had　〃buttoned　up〃　her　little　sisters　and　brothers　but　she　had　never　seen　a　child　who　stood　still　and　waited　for　another　person　to　do　things　for　her　as　if　she　had　neither　hands　nor　feet　of　her　own。

〃Why　doesn't　tha'　put　on　tha'　own　shoes？〃　she　said　when　Mary　quietly　held　out　her　foot。

〃My　Ayah　did　it；〃　answered　Mary；　staring。　　〃It　was　the　custom。〃

She　said　that　very　often〃It　was　the　custom。〃　The　native　servants　were　always　saying　it。　　If　one　told　them　to　do　a　thing　their　ancestors　had　not　done　for　a　thousand　years　they　gazed　at　one　mildly　and　said；　〃It　is　not　the　custom〃　and　one　knew　that　was　the　end　of　the　matter。

It　had　not　been　the　custom　that　Mistress　Mary　should　do　anything　but　stand　and　allow　herself　to　be　dressed　like　a　doll；　but　before　she　was　ready　for　breakfast　she　began　to　suspect　that　her　life　at　Misselthwaite　Manor　would　end　by　teaching　her　a　number　of　things　quite　new　to　herthings　such　as　putting　on　her　own　shoes　and　stockings；　and　picking　up　things　she　let　fall。　If　Martha　had　been　a　well…trained　fine　young　lady's　maid　she　would　have　been　more　subservient　and　respectful　and　would　have　known　that　it　was　her　business　to　brush　hair；　and　button　boots；　and　pick　things　up　and　lay　them　away。　She　was；　however；　only　an　untrained　Yorkshire　rustic　who　had　been　brought　up　in　a　moorland　cottage　with　a　swarm　of　little　brothers　and　sisters　who　had　never　dreamed　of　doing　anything　but　waiting　on　themselves　and　on　the　younger　ones　who　were　either　babies　in　arms　or　just　learning　to　totter　about　and　tumble　over　things。

If　Mary　Lennox　had　been　a　child　who　was　ready　to　be　amused　she　would　perhaps　have　laughed　at　Martha's　readiness　to　talk；　but　Mary　only　listened　to　her　coldly　and　wondered　at　her　freedom　of　manner。　　At　first　she　was　not　at　all　interested；　but　gradually；　as　the　girl　rattled　on　in　her　good…tempered；　homely　way；　Mary　began　to　notice　what　she　was　saying。

〃Eh！　you　should　see　'em　all；〃　she　said。　　〃There's　twelve　of　us　an'　my　father　only　gets　sixteen　shilling　a　week。　　I　can　tell　you　my　mother's　put　to　it　to　get　porridge　for　'em　all。　They　tumble　about　on　th'　moor　an'　play　there　all　day　an'　mother　says　th'　air　of　th'　moor　fattens　'em。　She　says　she　believes　they　eat　th'　grass　same　as　th'　wild　ponies　do。　Our　Dickon；　he's　twelve　years　old　and　he's　got　a　young　pony　he　calls　his　own。〃

〃Where　did　he　get　it？〃　asked　Mary。

〃He　found　it　on　th'　moor　with　its　mother　when　it　was　a　little　one　an'　he　began　to　make　friends　with　it　an'　give　it　bits　o'　bread　an'　pluck　young　grass　for　it。　And　it　got　to　like　him　so　it　follows　him　about　an'　it　lets　him　get　on　its　back。　　Dickon's　a　kind　lad　an'　animals　likes　him。〃

Mary　had　never　possessed　an　animal　pet　of　her　own　and　had　always　thought　she　should　like　one。　　So　she　began　to　feel　a　slight　interest　in　Dickon；　and　as　she　had　never　before　been　interested　in　any　one　but　herself；　it　was　the　dawning　of　a　healthy　sentiment。　　When　she　went　into　the　room　which　had　been　made　into　a　nursery　for　her；　she　found　that　it　was　rather　like　the　one　she　had　slept　in。　It　was　not　a　child's　room；　but　a　grown…up　person's　room；　with　gloomy　old　pictures　on　the　walls　and　heavy　old　oak　chairs。　　A　table　in　the　center　was　set　with　a　good　substantial　breakfast。　　But　she　had　always　had　a　very　small　appetite；　and　she　looked　with　something　more　than　indifference　at　the　first　plate　Martha　set　before　her。

〃I　don't　want　it；〃　she　said。

〃Tha'　doesn't　want　thy　porridge！〃　Martha　exclaimed　incredulously。

〃No。〃

〃Tha'　doesn't　know　how　good　it　is。　　Put　a　bit　o'　treacle　on　it　or　a　bit　o'　sugar。〃

〃I　don't　want　it；〃　repeated　Mary。

〃Eh！〃　said　Martha。　　〃I　can't　abide　to　see　good　victuals　go　to　waste。　　If　our　children　was　at　this　table　they'd　clean　it　bare　in　five　minutes。〃

〃Why？〃　said　Mary　coldly。　　〃Why！〃　echoed　Martha。　　〃Because　they　scarce　ever　had　their　stomachs　full　in　their　lives。　They're　as　hungry　as　young　hawks　an'　foxes。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　it　is　to　be　hungry；〃　said　Mary；　with　the　indifference　of　ignorance。

Martha　looked　indignant。

〃Well；　it　would　do　thee　good　to　try　it。　　I　can　see　that　plain　enough；〃　she　said　outspokenly。　　〃I've　no　patience　with　folk　as　sits　an'　just　stares　at　good　bread　an'　meat。　　My　word！　don't　I　wish　Dickon　and　Phil　an'　Jane　an'　th'　rest　of　'em　had　what's　here　under　their　pinafores。〃

〃Why　don't　you　take　it　to　them？〃　suggested　Mary。

〃It's　not　mine；〃　answered　Martha　stoutly。　　〃An'　this　isn't　my　day　out。　　I　get　my　day　out　once　a　month　same　as　th'　rest。　　Then　I　go　home　an'　clean　up　for　mother　an'　give　her　a　day's　rest。〃

Mary　drank　some　tea　and　ate　a　little　toast　and　some　marmalade。

〃You　wr