Таинственный сад

           Let’shearwhattheydo,Dickonlad.”

           Dickonstoppedweedingandsatuponhisheelstotellher.Hiseyesweretwinklingwithfun.

           “MesterColiniscarrieddowntohischaireverytimehegoesout,”heexplained.“An’hefliesoutatJohn,th’footman,fornotcarryin’himcarefulenough.Hemakeshimselfashelplesslookin’ashecanan’neverliftshisheaduntilwe’reouto’sighto’th’house.An’hegruntsan’fretsagoodbitwhenhe’sbein’settledintohischair.Himan’MissMary’sbothgottoenjoyin’itan’whenhegroansan’complainsshe’llsay,‘PoorColin!Doesithurtyousomuch?Areyousoweakasthat,poorColin?’—butth’troubleisthatsometimestheycanscarcekeepfromburstin’outlaughin’.Whenwegetsafeintothegardentheylaughtillthey’venobreathlefttolaughwith.An’theyhavetostufftheirfacesintoMesterColin’scushionstokeepthegardenersfromhearin’,ifanyof,’em’sabout.”

           “Th’moretheylaughth’betterfor’em!”saidMrs.Sowerby,stilllaughingherself.“Goodhealthychildlaughin’sbetterthanpillsanydayo’th’year.Thatpair’llplumpupforsure.”

           “Theyareplumpin’up,”saidDickon.“They’rethathungrytheydon’tknowhowtogetenoughtoeatwithoutmakin’talk.MesterColinsaysifhekeepssendin’formorefoodtheywon’tbelievehe’saninvalidatall.MissMarysaysshe’lllethimeathershare,buthesaysthatifshegoeshungryshe’llgetthinan’theymunbothgetfatatonce.”

           Mrs.