Таємничий сад
XII. “might I Have A BIt Of Earth?”
“Doyouwanttoys,books,dolls?”
“MightI,”quaveredMary,“mightIhaveabitofearth?”
Inhereagernessshedidnotrealizehowqueerthewordswouldsoundandthattheywerenottheonesshehadmeanttosay.Mr.Cravenlookedquitestartled.
“Earth!”herepeated.“Whatdoyoumean?”
“Toplantseedsin—tomakethingsgrow—toseethemcomealive,”Maryfaltered.
Hegazedatheramomentandthenpassedhishandquicklyoverhiseyes.
“Doyou—careaboutgardenssomuch,”hesaidslowly.
“Ididn’tknowabouttheminIndia,”saidMary.“Iwasalwaysillandtiredanditwastoohot.Isometimesmadelittlebedsinthesandandstuckflowersinthem.Buthereitisdifferent.”
Mr.Cravengotupandbegantowalkslowlyacrosstheroom.
“Abitofearth,”hesaidtohimself,andMarythoughtthatsomehowshemusthaveremindedhimofsomething.Whenhestoppedandspoketoherhisdarkeyeslookedalmostsoftandkind.
“Youcanhaveasmuchearthasyouwant,”hesaid.“Youremindmeofsomeoneelsewholovedtheearthandthingsthatgrow.Whenyouseeabitofearthyouwant,”withsomethinglikeasmile,“takeit,child,andmakeitcomealive.”
“MayItakeitfromanywhere—ifit’snotwanted?”
“Anywhere,”heanswered.“There!Youmustgonow,Iamtired.”HetouchedthebelltocallMrs.Medlock.“Good-by.Ishallbeawayallsummer.”
Mrs.MedlockcamesoquicklythatMarythoughtshemusthavebeenwaitinginthecorridor.
“Mrs.Medlock,”Mr.Cravensaidtoher,“nowIhaveseenthechildIunderstandwhatMrs.Sowerbymeant.
