Таинственный сад
XIV. A Young Rajah
AndaboutDickon’smother—andtheskipping-rope—andthemoorwiththesunonit—andaboutpalegreenpointsstickingupoutoftheblacksod.AnditwasallsoalivethatMarytalkedmorethanshehadevertalkedbefore—andColinbothtalkedandlistenedashehadneverdoneeitherbefore.Andtheybothbegantolaughovernothingsaschildrenwillwhentheyarehappytogether.Andtheylaughedsothatintheendtheyweremakingasmuchnoiseasiftheyhadbeentwoordinaryhealthynaturalten-year-oldcreatures—insteadofahard,little,unlovinggirlandasicklyboywhobelievedthathewasgoingtodie.
Theyenjoyedthemselvessomuchthattheyforgotthepicturesandtheyforgotaboutthetime.TheyhadbeenlaughingquiteloudlyoverBenWeatherstaffandhisrobin,andColinwasactuallysittingupasifhehadforgottenabouthisweakback,whenhesuddenlyrememberedsomething.
“Doyouknowthereisonethingwehaveneveroncethoughtof,”hesaid.“Wearecousins.”
Itseemedsoqueerthattheyhadtalkedsomuchandneverrememberedthissimplethingthattheylaughedmorethanever,becausetheyhadgotintothehumortolaughatanything.AndinthemidstofthefunthedooropenedandinwalkedDr.CravenandMrs.Medlock.
Dr.CravenstartedinactualalarmandMrs.Medlockalmostfellbackbecausehehadaccidentallybumpedagainsther.
“GoodLord!”exclaimedpoorMrs.Medlockwithhereyesalmoststartingoutofherhead.“GoodLord!”
“Whatisthis?”saidDr.Craven,comingforward.“Whatdoesitmean?”
ThenMarywasremindedoftheboyRajahagain.
