XXV. The Curtain

           Andthesecretgardenbloomedandbloomedandeverymorningrevealednewmiracles.Intherobin’snesttherewereEggsandtherobin’smatesatuponthemkeepingthemwarmwithherfeatherylittlebreastandcarefulwings.Atfirstshewasverynervousandtherobinhimselfwasindignantlywatchful.EvenDickondidnotgoneartheclose-growncornerinthosedays,butwaiteduntilbythequietworkingofsomemysteriousspellheseemedtohaveconveyedtothesoulofthelittlepairthatinthegardentherewasnothingwhichwasnotquitelikethemselves—nothingwhichdidnotunderstandthewonderfulnessofwhatwashappeningtothem—theimmense,tender,terrible,heart-breakingbeautyandsolemnityofEggs.IftherehadbeenonepersoninthatgardenwhohadnotknownthroughallhisorherinnermostbeingthatifanEggweretakenawayorhurtthewholeworldwouldwhirlroundandcrashthroughspaceandcometoanend—iftherehadbeenevenonewhodidnotfeelitandactaccordinglytherecouldhavebeennohappinesseveninthatgoldenspringtimeair.Buttheyallknewitandfeltitandtherobinandhismateknewtheyknewit.

           AtfirsttherobinwatchedMaryandColinwithsharpanxiety.ForsomemysteriousreasonheknewheneednotwatchDickon.Thefirstmomenthesethisdew-brightblackeyeonDickonheknewhewasnotastrangerbutasortofrobinwithoutbeakorfeathers.Hecouldspeakrobin(whichisaquitedistinctlanguagenottobemistakenforanyother).TospeakrobintoarobinislikespeakingFrenchtoaFrenchman.