XX. “I Shall Live Forever—and Ever—and Ever!”

           ButtheywereobligedtowaitmorethanaweekbecausefirsttherecamesomeverywindydaysandthenColinwasthreatenedwithacold,whichtwothingshappeningoneaftertheotherwouldnodoubthavethrownhimintoaragebutthattherewassomuchcarefulandmysteriousplanningtodoandalmosteverydayDickoncamein,ifonlyforafewminutes,totalkaboutwhatwashappeningonthemoorandinthelanesandhedgesandonthebordersofstreams.Thethingshehadtotellaboutotters’andbadgers’andwater-rats’houses,nottomentionbirds’nestsandfield-miceandtheirburrows,wereenoughtomakeyoualmosttremblewithexcitementwhenyouheardalltheintimatedetailsfromananimalcharmerandrealizedwithwhatthrillingeagernessandanxietythewholebusyunderworldwasworking.

           “They’resameasus,”saidDickon,“onlytheyhavetobuildtheirhomeseveryyear.An’itkeeps’emsobusytheyfairscuffletoget’emdone.”

           Themostabsorbingthing,however,wasthepreparationstobemadebeforeColincouldbetransportedwithsufficientsecrecytothegarden.Noonemustseethechair-carriageandDickonandMaryaftertheyturnedacertaincorneroftheshrubberyandentereduponthewalkoutsidetheiviedwalls.Aseachdaypassed,Colinhadbecomemoreandmorefixedinhisfeelingthatthemysterysurroundingthegardenwasoneofitsgreatestcharms.Nothingmustspoilthat.Noonemusteversuspectthattheyhadasecret.PeoplemustthinkthathewassimplygoingoutwithMaryandDickonbecausehelikedthemanddidnotobjecttotheirlookingathim.