Таинственный сад
XX. “I Shall Live Forever—and Ever—and Ever!”
Theyhadlongandquitedelightfultalksabouttheirroute.Theywouldgoupthispathanddownthatoneandcrosstheotherandgoroundamongthefountainflower-bedsasiftheywerelookingatthe“bedding-outplants”theheadgardener,Mr.Roach,hadbeenhavingarranged.Thatwouldseemsucharationalthingtodothatnoonewouldthinkitatallmysterious.Theywouldturnintotheshrubberywalksandlosethemselvesuntiltheycametothelongwalls.Itwasalmostasseriousandelaboratelythoughtoutastheplansofmarchmadebygreatgeneralsintimeofwar.
Rumorsofthenewandcuriousthingswhichwereoccurringintheinvalid’sapartmentshadofcoursefilteredthroughtheservants’hallintothestableyardsandoutamongthegardeners,butnotwithstandingthis,Mr.RoachwasstartledonedaywhenhereceivedordersfromMasterColin’sroomtotheeffectthathemustreporthimselfintheapartmentnooutsiderhadeverseen,astheinvalidhimselfdesiredtospeaktohim.
“Well,well,”hesaidtohimselfashehurriedlychangedhiscoat,“what’stodonow?HisRoyalHighnessthatwasn’ttobelookedatcallingupamanhe’sneverseteyeson.”
Mr.Roachwasnotwithoutcuriosity.Hehadnevercaughtevenaglimpseoftheboyandhadheardadozenexaggeratedstoriesabouthisuncannylooksandwaysandhisinsanetempers.Thethinghehadheardoftenestwasthathemightdieatanymomentandtherehadbeennumerousfancifuldescriptionsofahumpedbackandhelplesslimbs,givenbypeoplewhohadneverseenhim.
“Thingsarechanginginthishouse,Mr.Roach,”saidMrs.
