Таємничий сад
XXVI. “It’s Mother!”
Dickonansweredwithhisall-perceivinganimalcharmer’ssmile.
“Theysingiti’church,”hesaid.“Mothersaysshebelievesth’skylarkssingsitwhentheygetsupi’th’mornin’.”
“Ifshesaysthat,itmustbeanicesong,”Colinanswered.“I’veneverbeeninachurchmyself.Iwasalwaystooill.Singit,Dickon.Iwanttohearit.”
Dickonwasquitesimpleandunaffectedaboutit.HeunderstoodwhatColinfeltbetterthanColindidhimself.Heunderstoodbyasortofinstinctsonaturalthathedidnotknowitwasunderstanding.Hepulledoffhiscapandlookedroundstillsmiling.
“Tha’musttakeofftha’cap,”hesaidtoColin,“an’somuntha’,Ben—an’tha’munstandup,tha’knows.”
ColintookoffhiscapandthesunshoneonandwarmedhisthickhairashewatchedDickonintently.BenWeatherstaffscrambledupfromhiskneesandbaredhisheadtoowithasortofpuzzledhalf-resentfullookonhisoldfaceasifhedidn’tknowexactlywhyhewasdoingthisremarkablething.
Dickonstoodoutamongthetreesandrose-bushesandbegantosinginquiteasimplematter-of-factwayandinanicestrongboyvoice:
“PraiseGodfromwhomallblessingsflow,
PraiseHimallcreaturesherebelow,
PraiseHimaboveyeHeavenlyHost,
PraiseFather,Son,andHolyGhost.
Amen.”
Whenhehadfinished,BenWeatherstaffwasstandingquitestillwithhisjawssetobstinatelybutwithadisturbedlookinhiseyesfixedonColin.Colin’sfacewasthoughtfulandappreciative.
“Itisaverynicesong,”hesaid.“Ilikeit.
