Таємничий сад
IX. The Strangest House Anyone Ever Lived In
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“DoesDickonknowallaboutthem?”askedMary,anewideatakingpossessionofher.
“OurDickoncanmakeaflowergrowoutofabrickwalk.Mothersayshejustwhispersthingsouto’th’ground.”
“Dobulbslivealongtime?Wouldtheyliveyearsandyearsifnoonehelpedthem?”inquiredMaryanxiously.
“They’rethingsashelpsthemselves,”saidMartha.“That’swhypoorfolkcanaffordtohave’em.Ifyoudon’ttrouble’em,mostof’em’llworkawayundergroundforalifetimean’spreadoutan’havelittle’uns.There’saplaceinth’parkwoodsherewherethere’ssnowdropsbythousands.They’retheprettiestsightinYorkshirewhenth’springcomes.Nooneknowswhentheywasfirstplanted.”
“Iwishthespringwasherenow,”saidMary.“IwanttoseeallthethingsthatgrowinEngland.”
Shehadfinishedherdinnerandgonetoherfavoriteseatonthehearth-rug.
“Iwish—IwishIhadalittlespade,”shesaid.
“Whateverdoestha’wantaspadefor?”askedMartha,laughing.“Arttha’goin’totaketodiggin’?Imusttellmotherthat,too.”
Marylookedatthefireandponderedalittle.Shemustbecarefulifshemeanttokeephersecretkingdom.Shewasn’tdoinganyharm,butifMr.Cravenfoundoutabouttheopendoorhewouldbefearfullyangryandgetanewkeyandlockitupforevermore.Shereallycouldnotbearthat.
“Thisissuchabiglonelyplace,”shesaidslowly,asifshewereturningmattersoverinhermind.“Thehouseislonely,andtheparkislonely,andthegardensarelonely.Somanyplacesseemshutup.
