Таинственный сад
XXI. Ben Weatherstaff
”
“You’llgetplentyoffreshair,won’tyou?”saidMary.
“I’mgoingtogetnothingelse,”heanswered.“I’veseenthespringnowandI’mgoingtoseethesummer.I’mgoingtoseeeverythinggrowhere.I’mgoingtogrowheremyself.”
“Thattha’will,”saidDickon.“Us’llhavetheewalkin’aboutherean’diggin’sameasotherfolkaforelong.”
Colinflushedtremendously.
“Walk!”hesaid.“Dig!ShallI?”
Dickon’sglanceathimwasdelicatelycautious.NeitherhenorMaryhadeveraskedifanythingwasthematterwithhislegs.
“Forsuretha’will,”hesaidstoutly.“Tha—tha’sgotlegso’thineown,sameasotherfolks!”
MarywasratherfrighteneduntilsheheardColin’sanswer.
“Nothingreallyailsthem,”hesaid,“buttheyaresothinandweak.TheyshakesothatI’mafraidtotrytostandonthem.”
BothMaryandDickondrewarelievedbreath.
“Whentha’stopsbein’afraidtha’ltstandon’em,”Dickonsaidwithrenewedcheer.“An’tha’ltstopbein’afraidinabit.”
“Ishall?”saidColin,andhelaystillasifhewerewonderingaboutthings.
Theywerereallyveryquietforalittlewhile.Thesunwasdroppinglower.Itwasthathourwheneverythingstillsitself,andtheyreallyhadhadabusyandexcitingafternoon.Colinlookedasifhewererestingluxuriously.Eventhecreatureshadceasedmovingaboutandhaddrawntogetherandwererestingnearthem.Soothadperchedonalowbranchanddrawnuponeleganddroppedthegrayfilmdrowsilyoverhiseyes.
