Таємничий сад
XIII. “I Am Colin”
HewantedtoknowhowlongshehadbeenatMisselthwaite;hewantedtoknowwhichcorridorherroomwason;hewantedtoknowwhatshehadbeendoing;ifshedislikedthemoorashedislikedit;whereshehadlivedbeforeshecametoYorkshire.Sheansweredallthesequestionsandmanymoreandhelaybackonhispillowandlistened.HemadehertellhimagreatdealaboutIndiaandabouthervoyageacrosstheocean.Shefoundoutthatbecausehehadbeenaninvalidhehadnotlearnedthingsasotherchildrenhad.Oneofhisnurseshadtaughthimtoreadwhenhewasquitelittleandhewasalwaysreadingandlookingatpicturesinsplendidbooks.
Thoughhisfatherrarelysawhimwhenhewasawake,hewasgivenallsortsofwonderfulthingstoamusehimselfwith.Heneverseemedtohavebeenamused,however.Hecouldhaveanythingheaskedforandwasnevermadetodoanythinghedidnotliketodo.
“Everyoneisobligedtodowhatpleasesme,”hesaidindifferently.“Itmakesmeilltobeangry.NoonebelievesIshalllivetogrowup.”
Hesaiditasifhewassoaccustomedtotheideathatithadceasedtomattertohimatall.HeseemedtolikethesoundofMary’svoice.Asshewentontalkinghelistenedinadrowsy,interestedway.Onceortwiceshewonderedifhewerenotgraduallyfallingintoadoze.Butatlastheaskedaquestionwhichopenedupanewsubject.
“Howoldareyou?”heasked.
“Iamten,”answeredMary,forgettingherselfforthemoment,“andsoareyou.”
“Howdoyouknowthat?”hedemandedinasurprisedvoice.
