XVIII. “Tha’ Munnot Waste No Time”

           OfcourseMarydidnotwakenearlythenextmorning.Shesleptlatebecauseshewastired,andwhenMarthabroughtherbreakfastshetoldherthatthoughColinwasquitequiethewasillandfeverishashealwayswasafterhehadwornhimselfoutwithafitofcrying.Maryateherbreakfastslowlyasshelistened.

           “Hesayshewishestha’wouldpleasegoandseehimassoonastha’can,”Marthasaid.“It’squeerwhatafancyhe’stooktothee.Tha’didgiveithimlastnightforsure—didn’ttha?Nobodyelsewouldhavedaredtodoit.Eh!poorlad!He’sbeenspoiledtillsaltwon’tsavehim.Mothersaysasth’twoworstthingsascanhappentoachildisnevertohavehisownway—oralwaystohaveit.Shedoesn’tknowwhichisth’worst.Tha’wasinafinetempertha’self,too.ButhesaystomewhenIwentintohisroom,‘PleaseaskMissMaryifshe’llpleasecomean’talktome?’Thinko’himsayingplease!Willyougo,Miss?”

           “I’llrunandseeDickonfirst,”saidMary.“No,I’llgoandseeColinfirstandtellhim—IknowwhatI’lltellhim,”withasuddeninspiration.

           ShehadherhatonwhensheappearedinColin’sroomandforasecondhelookeddisappointed.Hewasinbed.Hisfacewaspitifullywhiteandthereweredarkcirclesroundhiseyes.

           “I’mgladyoucame,”hesaid.“MyheadachesandIachealloverbecauseI’msotired.Areyougoingsomewhere?”

           Marywentandleanedagainsthisbed.

           “Iwon’tbelong,”shesaid.“I’mgoingtoDickon,butI’llcomeback.Colin,it’s—it’ssomethingaboutthegarden.