XVI. “I Won’t!” Said Mary

           TheyfoundagreatdealtodothatmorningandMarywaslateinreturningtothehouseandwasalsoinsuchahurrytogetbacktoherworkthatshequiteforgotColinuntilthelastmoment.

           “TellColinthatIcan’tcomeandseehimyet,”shesaidtoMartha.“I’mverybusyinthegarden.”

           Marthalookedratherfrightened.

           “Eh!MissMary,”shesaid,“itmayputhimalloutofhumorwhenItellhimthat.”

           ButMarywasnotasafraidofhimasotherpeoplewereandshewasnotaself-sacrificingperson.

           “Ican’tstay,”sheanswered.“Dickon’swaitingforme;”andsheranaway.

           Theafternoonwasevenlovelierandbusierthanthemorninghadbeen.Alreadynearlyalltheweedswereclearedoutofthegardenandmostoftherosesandtreeshadbeenprunedordugabout.DickonhadbroughtaspadeofhisownandhehadtaughtMarytouseallhertools,sothatbythistimeitwasplainthatthoughthelovelywildplacewasnotlikelytobecomea“gardener’sgarden”itwouldbeawildernessofgrowingthingsbeforethespringtimewasover.

           “There’llbeappleblossomsan’cherryblossomsoverhead,”Dickonsaid,workingawaywithallhismight.“An’there’llbepeachan’plumtreesinbloomagainstth’walls,an’th’grass’llbeacarpeto’flowers.”

           Thelittlefoxandtherookwereashappyandbusyastheywere,andtherobinandhismateflewbackwardandforwardliketinystreaksoflightning.Sometimestherookflappedhisblackwingsandsoaredawayoverthetree-topsinthepark.