Таємничий сад
XX. “I Shall Live Forever—and Ever—and Ever!”
TheyoungRajahturnedandlookedhisservitorover—atleastthatwaswhattheheadgardenerfelthappened.
“Oh,youareRoach,areyou?”hesaid.“Isentforyoutogiveyousomeveryimportantorders.”
“Verygood,sir,”answeredRoach,wonderingifhewastoreceiveinstructionstofellalltheoaksintheparkortotransformtheorchardsintowater-gardens.
“Iamgoingoutinmychairthisafternoon,”saidColin.“IfthefreshairagreeswithmeImaygoouteveryday.WhenIgo,noneofthegardenersaretobeanywhereneartheLongWalkbythegardenwalls.Nooneistobethere.Ishallgooutabouttwoo’clockandeveryonemustkeepawayuntilIsendwordthattheymaygobacktotheirwork.”
“Verygood,sir,”repliedMr.Roach,muchrelievedtohearthattheoaksmightremainandthattheorchardsweresafe.
“Mary,”saidColin,turningtoher,“whatisthatthingyousayinIndiawhenyouhavefinishedtalkingandwantpeopletogo?”
“Yousay,‘Youhavemypermissiontogo,’”answeredMary.
TheRajahwavedhishand.
“Youhavemypermissiontogo,Roach,”hesaid.“But,remember,thisisveryimportant.”
“Caw—Caw!”remarkedthecrowhoarselybutnotimpolitely.
“Verygood,sir.Thankyou,sir,”saidMr.Roach,andMrs.Medlocktookhimoutoftheroom.
Outsideinthecorridor,beingarathergood-naturedman,hesmileduntilhealmostlaughed.
“Myword!”hesaid,“he’sgotafinelordlywaywithhim,hasn’the?You’dthinkhewasawholeRoyalFamilyrolledintoone—PrinceConsortandall.”
“Eh!”protestedMrs.
