Таинственный сад
XXIV. “Let Them Laugh”
“Yourappetite.Isimprovingverymuch,MasterColin,”thenursehadsaidoneday.“Youusedtoeatnothing,andsomanythingsdisagreedwithyou.”
“Nothingdisagreeswithmenow”repliedColin,andthenseeingthenurselookingathimcuriouslyhesuddenlyrememberedthatperhapsheoughtnottoappeartoowelljustyet.“Atleastthingsdon’tsooftendisagreewithme.It’sthefreshair.”
“Perhapsitis,”saidthenurse,stilllookingathimwithamystifiedexpression.“ButImusttalktoDr.Cravenaboutit.”
“Howshestaredatyou!”saidMarywhenshewentaway.“Asifshethoughttheremustbesomethingtofindout.”
“Iwon’thaveherfindingoutthings,”saidColin.“Noonemustbegintofindoutyet.”
WhenDr.Cravencamethatmorningheseemedpuzzled,also.Heaskedanumberofquestions,toColin’sgreatannoyance.
“Youstayoutinthegardenagreatdeal,”hesuggested.“Wheredoyougo?”
Colinputonhisfavoriteairofdignifiedindifferencetoopinion.
“IwillnotletanyoneknowwhereIgo,”heanswered.“IgotoaplaceIlike.Everyonehasorderstokeepoutoftheway.Iwon’tbewatchedandstaredat.Youknowthat!”
“YouseemtobeoutalldaybutIdonotthinkithasdoneyouharm—Idonotthinkso.Thenursesaysthatyoueatmuchmorethanyouhaveeverdonebefore.”
“Perhaps,”saidColin,promptedbyasuddeninspiration,“perhapsitisanunnaturalappetite.”
“Idonotthinkso,asyourfoodseemstoagreewithyou,”saidDr.Craven.“Youaregainingfleshrapidlyandyourcolorisbetter.
