Таємничий сад
XVI. “I Won’t!” Said Mary
”
IfshehadbeenfriendswithColinshewouldhaveruntoshowhimherpresentsatonce,andtheywouldhavelookedatthepicturesandreadsomeofthegardeningbooksandperhapstriedplayingthegames,andhewouldhaveenjoyedhimselfsomuchhewouldneveroncehavethoughthewasgoingtodieorhaveputhishandonhisspinetoseeiftherewasalumpcoming.Hehadawayofdoingthatwhichshecouldnotbear.Itgaveheranuncomfortablefrightenedfeelingbecausehealwayslookedsofrightenedhimself.Hesaidthatifhefeltevenquitealittlelumpsomedayheshouldknowhishunchhadbeguntogrow.SomethinghehadheardMrs.Medlockwhisperingtothenursehadgivenhimtheideaandhehadthoughtoveritinsecretuntilitwasquitefirmlyfixedinhismind.Mrs.Medlockhadsaidhisfather’sbackhadbeguntoshowitscrookednessinthatwaywhenhewasachild.HehadnevertoldanyonebutMarythatmostofhis“tantrums”astheycalledthemgrewoutofhishystericalhiddenfear.Maryhadbeensorryforhimwhenhehadtoldher.
“Healwaysbegantothinkaboutitwhenhewascrossortired,”shesaidtoherself.“Andhehasbeencrosstoday.Perhaps—perhapshehasbeenthinkingaboutitallafternoon.”
Shestoodstill,lookingdownatthecarpetandthinking.
“IsaidIwouldnevergobackagain—”shehesitated,knittingherbrows—“butperhaps,justperhaps,Iwillgoandsee—ifhewantsme—inthemorning.Perhapshe’lltrytothrowhispillowatmeagain,but—Ithink—I’llgo.”
