Таємничий сад
XIII. “I Am Colin”
“Doyouthinkyouwon’tlive?”sheasked,partlybecauseshewascuriousandpartlyinhopeofmakinghimforgetthegarden.
“Idon’tsupposeIshall,”heansweredasindifferentlyashehadspokenbefore.“EversinceIrememberanythingIhaveheardpeoplesayIshan’t.AtfirsttheythoughtIwastoolittletounderstandandnowtheythinkIdon’thear.ButIdo.Mydoctorismyfather’scousin.HeisquitepoorandifIdiehewillhaveallMisselthwaitewhenmyfatherisdead.Ishouldthinkhewouldn’twantmetolive.”
“Doyouwanttolive?”inquiredMary.
“No,”heanswered,inacross,tiredfashion.“ButIdon’twanttodie.WhenIfeelillIliehereandthinkaboutituntilIcryandcry.”
“Ihaveheardyoucryingthreetimes,”Marysaid,“butIdidnotknowwhoitwas.Wereyoucryingaboutthat?”Shedidsowanthimtoforgetthegarden.
“Idaresay,”heanswered.“Letustalkaboutsomethingelse.Talkaboutthatgarden.Don’tyouwanttoseeit?”
“Yes,”answeredMary,inquitealowvoice.
“Ido,”hewentonpersistently.“Idon’tthinkIeverreallywantedtoseeanythingbefore,butIwanttoseethatgarden.Iwantthekeydugup.Iwantthedoorunlocked.Iwouldletthemtakemethereinmychair.Thatwouldbegettingfreshair.Iamgoingtomakethemopenthedoor.”
Hehadbecomequiteexcitedandhisstrangeeyesbegantoshinelikestarsandlookedmoreimmensethanever.
“Theyhavetopleaseme,”hesaid.“IwillmakethemtakemethereandIwillletyougo,too.”
Mary’shandsclutchedeachother.
