Таємничий сад
X. Dickon
Shefoundmanymoreofthesproutingpalegreenpointsthanshehadeverhopedtofind.Theyseemedtobestartingupeverywhereandeachdayshewassureshefoundtinynewones,somesotinythattheybarelypeepedabovetheearth.ThereweresomanythatsherememberedwhatMarthahadsaidaboutthe“snowdropsbythethousands,”andaboutbulbsspreadingandmakingnewones.Thesehadbeenlefttothemselvesfortenyearsandperhapstheyhadspread,likethesnowdrops,intothousands.Shewonderedhowlongitwouldbebeforetheyshowedthattheywereflowers.Sometimesshestoppeddiggingtolookatthegardenandtrytoimaginewhatitwouldbelikewhenitwascoveredwiththousandsoflovelythingsinbloom.
Duringthatweekofsunshine,shebecamemoreintimatewithBenWeatherstaff.Shesurprisedhimseveraltimesbyseemingtostartupbesidehimasifshesprangoutoftheearth.Thetruthwasthatshewasafraidthathewouldpickuphistoolsandgoawayifhesawhercoming,soshealwayswalkedtowardhimassilentlyaspossible.But,infact,hedidnotobjecttoherasstronglyashehadatfirst.Perhapshewassecretlyratherflatteredbyherevidentdesireforhiselderlycompany.Then,also,shewasmorecivilthanshehadbeen.Hedidnotknowthatwhenshefirstsawhimshespoketohimasshewouldhavespokentoanative,andhadnotknownthatacross,sturdyoldYorkshiremanwasnotaccustomedtosalaamtohismasters,andbemerelycommandedbythemtodothings.
“Tha’rtliketh’robin,”hesaidtoheronemorningwhenheliftedhisheadandsawherstandingbyhim.
