Таинственный сад
VI. “There Was Someone Crying—there Was!”
MarywasmostattractedbythemotherandDickon.WhenMarthatoldstoriesofwhat“mother”saidordidtheyalwayssoundedcomfortable.
“IfIhadaravenorafoxcubIcouldplaywithit,”saidMary.“ButIhavenothing.”
Marthalookedperplexed.
“Cantha’knit?”sheasked.
“No,”answeredMary.
“Cantha’sew?”
“No.”
“Cantha’read?”
“Yes.”
“Thenwhydoesn’tthareadsomethin’,orlearnabito’spellin’?Tha’stoldenoughtobelearnin’thybookagoodbitnow.”
“Ihaven’tanybooks,”saidMary.“ThoseIhadwereleftinIndia.”
“That’sapity,”saidMartha.“IfMrs.Medlock’dlettheegointoth’library,there’sthousandso’booksthere.”
Marydidnotaskwherethelibrarywas,becauseshewassuddenlyinspiredbyanewidea.Shemadeuphermindtogoandfinditherself.ShewasnottroubledaboutMrs.Medlock.Mrs.Medlockseemedalwaystobeinhercomfortablehousekeeper’ssitting-roomdownstairs.Inthisqueerplaceonescarcelyeversawanyoneatall.Infact,therewasnoonetoseebuttheservants,andwhentheirmasterwasawaytheylivedaluxuriouslifebelowstairs,wheretherewasahugekitchenhungaboutwithshiningbrassandpewter,andalargeservants’hallwheretherewerefourorfiveabundantmealseateneveryday,andwhereagreatdealoflivelyrompingwentonwhenMrs.Medlockwasoutoftheway.
Mary’smealswereservedregularly,andMarthawaitedonher,butnoonetroubledthemselvesaboutherintheleast.Mrs.
