Таинственный сад
IV. Martha
Shestoppedandlistenedtohimandsomehowhischeerful,friendlylittlewhistlegaveherapleasedfeeling—evenadisagreeablelittlegirlmaybelonely,andthebigclosedhouseandbigbaremoorandbigbaregardenshadmadethisonefeelasiftherewasnooneleftintheworldbutherself.Ifshehadbeenanaffectionatechild,whohadbeenusedtobeingloved,shewouldhavebrokenherheart,buteventhoughshewas“MistressMaryQuiteContrary”shewasdesolate,andthebright-breastedlittlebirdbroughtalookintohersourlittlefacewhichwasalmostasmile.Shelistenedtohimuntilheflewaway.HewasnotlikeanIndianbirdandshelikedhimandwonderedifsheshouldeverseehimagain.Perhapshelivedinthemysteriousgardenandknewallaboutit.
Perhapsitwasbecauseshehadnothingwhatevertodothatshethoughtsomuchofthedesertedgarden.Shewascuriousaboutitandwantedtoseewhatitwaslike.WhyhadMr.ArchibaldCravenburiedthekey?Ifhehadlikedhiswifesomuchwhydidhehatehergarden?Shewonderedifsheshouldeverseehim,butsheknewthatifshedidsheshouldnotlikehim,andhewouldnotlikeher,andthatsheshouldonlystandandstareathimandsaynothing,thoughsheshouldbewantingdreadfullytoaskhimwhyhehaddonesuchaqueerthing.
“PeopleneverlikemeandIneverlikepeople,”shethought.“AndInevercantalkastheCrawfordchildrencould.Theywerealwaystalkingandlaughingandmakingnoises.
