Таємничий сад
XXIII. Magic
Hehadmadehimselfbelievethathewasgoingtogetwell,whichwasreallymorethanhalfthebattle,ifhehadbeenawareofit.Andthethoughtwhichstimulatedhimmorethananyotherwasthisimaginingwhathisfatherwouldlooklikewhenhesawthathehadasonwhowasasstraightandstrongasotherfathers’sons.Oneofhisdarkestmiseriesintheunhealthymorbidpastdayshadbeenhishatredofbeingasicklyweak-backedboywhosefatherwasafraidtolookathim.
“He’llbeobligedtobelievethem,”hesaid.
“OneofthethingsIamgoingtodo,aftertheMagicworksandbeforeIbegintomakescientificdiscoveries,istobeanathlete.”
“Weshallhavetheetakin’toboxin’inaweekorso,”saidBenWeatherstaff.“Tha’ltendwi’winnin’th’Beltan’bein’championprize-fighterofallEngland.”
Colinfixedhiseyesonhimsternly.
“Weatherstaff,”hesaid,“thatisdisrespectful.Youmustnottakelibertiesbecauseyouareinthesecret.HowevermuchtheMagicworksIshallnotbeaprize-fighter.IshallbeaScientificDiscoverer.”
“Axpardon—axpardon,sir”answeredBen,touchinghisforeheadinsalute.“Ioughttohaveseeditwasn’tajokin’matter,”buthiseyestwinkledandsecretlyhewasimmenselypleased.Hereallydidnotmindbeingsnubbedsincethesnubbingmeantthattheladwasgainingstrengthandspirit.
