Таємничий сад
XXVI. “It’s Mother!”
Sheputherhandonhisshoulderandsmiledthemistoutofhereyes.
“Aye,thatIam!”shesaid;“buttha’rtsolikethymothertha’mademyheartjump.”
“Doyouthink,”saidColinalittleawkwardly,“thatwillmakemyfatherlikeme?”
“Aye,forsure,dearlad,”sheansweredandshegavehisshoulderasoftquickpat.“Hemuncomehome—hemuncomehome.”
“SusanSowerby,”saidBenWeatherstaff,gettingclosetoher.“Lookatth’lad’slegs,wilttha’?Theywaslikedrumsticksi’stockin’twomonth’ago—an’Iheardfolktellastheywasbandyan’knock-kneedbothatth’sametime.Lookat’emnow!”
SusanSowerbylaughedacomfortablelaugh.
“They’regoin’tobefinestronglad’slegsinabit,”shesaid.“Lethimgoonplayin’an’workin’inthegardenan’eatin’heartyan’drinkin’plentyo’goodsweetmilkan’there’llnotbeafinerpairi’Yorkshire,thankGodforit.”
SheputbothhandsonMistressMary’sshouldersandlookedherlittlefaceoverinamotherlyfashion.
“An’thee,too!”shesaid.“Tha’rtgrownnearasheartyasour’LisabethEllen.I’llwarranttha’rtlikethymothertoo.OurMarthatoldmeasMrs.Medlockheardshewasaprettywoman.Tha’ltbelikeablushrosewhentha’growsup,mylittlelass,blessthee.”
ShedidnotmentionthatwhenMarthacamehomeonher“dayout”anddescribedtheplainsallowchildshehadsaidthatshehadnoconfidencewhateverinwhatMrs.Medlockhadheard.
