Таинственный сад
VIII. The Robin Who Showed The Way
Yorkshirepeopleseemedstrange,andMarthawasalwaysratherapuzzletoher.Atfirstshehaddislikedherverymuch,butnowshedidnot.Theskipping-ropewasawonderfulthing.Shecountedandskipped,andskippedandcounted,untilhercheekswerequitered,andshewasmoreinterestedthanshehadeverbeensinceshewasborn.Thesunwasshiningandalittlewindwasblowing—notaroughwind,butonewhichcameindelightfullittlegustsandbroughtafreshscentofnewlyturnedearthwithit.Sheskippedroundthefountaingarden,anduponewalkanddownanother.Sheskippedatlastintothekitchen-gardenandsawBenWeatherstaffdiggingandtalkingtohisrobin,whichwashoppingabouthim.Sheskippeddownthewalktowardhimandheliftedhisheadandlookedatherwithacuriousexpression.Shehadwonderedifhewouldnoticeher.Shewantedhimtoseeherskip.
“Well!”heexclaimed.“Uponmyword.P’rapstha’artayoung’un,afterall,an’p’rapstha’sgotchild’sbloodinthyveinsinsteadofsourbuttermilk.Tha’sskippedredintothycheeksassureasmyname’sBenWeatherstaff.Iwouldn’thavebelievedtha’coulddoit.”
“Ineverskippedbefore,”Marysaid.“I’mjustbeginning.Icanonlygouptotwenty.”
“Tha’keepon,”saidBen.“Tha’shapeswellenoughatitforayoung’unthat’slivedwithheathen.Justseehowhe’swatchin’thee,”jerkinghisheadtowardtherobin.“Hefollowedaftertheeyesterday.He’llbeatitagaintoday.He’llbeboundtofindoutwhatth’skippin’-ropeis.He’sneverseenone.
