Таинственный сад
IV. Martha
Shewasjustthinkingthiswhenshesawthat,attheendofthepathshewasfollowing,thereseemedtobealongwall,withivygrowingoverit.ShewasnotfamiliarenoughwithEnglandtoknowthatshewascominguponthekitchen-gardenswherethevegetablesandfruitweregrowing.Shewenttowardthewallandfoundthattherewasagreendoorintheivy,andthatitstoodopen.Thiswasnottheclosedgarden,evidently,andshecouldgointoit.
Shewentthroughthedoorandfoundthatitwasagardenwithwallsallrounditandthatitwasonlyoneofseveralwalledgardenswhichseemedtoopenintooneanother.Shesawanotheropengreendoor,revealingbushesandpathwaysbetweenbedscontainingwintervegetables.Fruit-treesweretrainedflatagainstthewall,andoversomeofthebedstherewereglassframes.Theplacewasbareanduglyenough,Marythought,asshestoodandstaredabouther.Itmightbenicerinsummerwhenthingsweregreen,buttherewasnothingprettyaboutitnow.
Presentlyanoldmanwithaspadeoverhisshoulderwalkedthroughthedoorleadingfromthesecondgarden.HelookedstartledwhenhesawMary,andthentouchedhiscap.Hehadasurlyoldface,anddidnotseematallpleasedtoseeher—butthenshewasdispleasedwithhisgardenandworeher“quitecontrary”expression,andcertainlydidnotseematallpleasedtoseehim.
“Whatisthisplace?”sheasked.
“Oneo’th’kitchen-gardens,”heanswered.
“Whatisthat?”saidMary,pointingthroughtheothergreendoor.
“Anotherof’em,”shortly.
