Таємничий сад
IX. The Strangest House Anyone Ever Lived In
IneverdidmanythingsinIndia,butthereweremorepeopletolookat—nativesandsoldiersmarchingby—andsometimesbandsplaying,andmyAyahtoldmestories.ThereisnoonetotalktohereexceptyouandBenWeatherstaff.AndyouhavetodoyourworkandBenWeatherstaffwon’tspeaktomeoften.IthoughtifIhadalittlespadeIcoulddigsomewhereashedoes,andImightmakealittlegardenifhewouldgivemesomeseeds.”
Martha’sfacequitelightedup.
“Therenow!”sheexclaimed,“ifthatwasn’toneofth’thingsmothersaid.Shesays,‘There’ssuchaloto’roominthatbigplace,whydon’ttheygiveherabitforherself,evenifshedoesn’tplantnothin’butparsleyan’radishes?She’ddigan’rakeawayan’berightdownhappyoverit.’Themwastheverywordsshesaid.”
“Werethey?”saidMary.“Howmanythingssheknows,doesn’tshe?”
“Eh!”saidMartha.“It’slikeshesays:‘AwomanasbringsuptwelvechildrenlearnssomethingbesidesherABC.Children’sasgoodas’rithmetictosetyoufindin’outthings.’”
“Howmuchwouldaspadecost—alittleone?”Maryasked.
“Well,”wasMartha’sreflectiveanswer,“atThwaitevillagethere’sashoporsoan’Isawlittlegardensetswithaspadean’arakean’aforkalltiedtogetherfortwoshillings.An’theywasstoutenoughtoworkwith,too.”
“I’vegotmorethanthatinmypurse,”saidMary.“Mrs.MorrisongavemefiveshillingsandMrs.MedlockgavemesomemoneyfromMr.Craven.”
“Didheremembertheethatmuch?”exclaimedMartha.
“Mrs.
