Таємничий сад
XII. “might I Have A BIt Of Earth?”
Iskipandrun—andIlookabouttoseeifthingsarebeginningtostickupoutoftheearth.Idon’tdoanyharm.”
“Don’tlooksofrightened,”hesaidinaworriedvoice.“Youcouldnotdoanyharm,achildlikeyou!Youmaydowhatyoulike.”
Maryputherhanduptoherthroatbecauseshewasafraidhemightseetheexcitedlumpwhichshefeltjumpintoit.Shecameastepnearertohim.
“MayI?”shesaidtremulously.
Heranxiouslittlefaceseemedtoworryhimmorethanever.
“Don’tlooksofrightened,”heexclaimed.“Ofcourseyoumay.Iamyourguardian,thoughIamapooroneforanychild.Icannotgiveyoutimeorattention.Iamtooill,andwretchedanddistracted;butIwishyoutobehappyandcomfortable.Idon’tknowanythingaboutchildren,butMrs.Medlockistoseethatyouhaveallyouneed.IsentforyoutodaybecauseMrs.SowerbysaidIoughttoseeyou.Herdaughterhadtalkedaboutyou.Shethoughtyouneededfreshairandfreedomandrunningabout.”
“Sheknowsallaboutchildren,”Marysaidagaininspiteofherself.
“Sheoughtto,”saidMr.Craven.“Ithoughtherratherboldtostopmeonthemoor,butshesaid—Mrs.Cravenhadbeenkindtoher.”Itseemedhardforhimtospeakhisdeadwife’sname.“Sheisarespectablewoman.NowIhaveseenyouIthinkshesaidsensiblethings.Playoutofdoorsasmuchasyoulike.It’sabigplaceandyoumaygowhereyoulikeandamuseyourselfasyoulike.Isthereanythingyouwant?”asifasuddenthoughthadstruckhim.
