The Secret Garden PDF (Oxford Bookworms)

 THE SECRET GARDEN Stage 3 'We're alike, you and me,' old Ben Weatherstaff said to Mary. 'We're not pretty to look at and we're both very disagreeable.' Poor Mary! Nobody wants her, nobody likes her. Her parents have died, and she is sent home from India to live i...

 THE SECRET GARDEN Stage 3 'We're alike, you and me,' old Ben Weatherstaff said to Mary. 'We're not pretty to look at and we're both very disagreeable.' Poor Mary! Nobody wants her, nobody likes her. Her parents have died, and she is sent home from India to live in her uncle's house in Yorkshire. It is a big old house, with nearly a hundred rooms, but most of them are shut and locked. Mary is cross and bored, and lonely. There is nothing to do all day, and no one to talk to, except old Ben Weatherstaff, the gardener. But then Mary learns about the secret garden. The door is locked and hidden, and the key is lost. No one has been inside the secret garden for ten years - except the robin, who flies over the wall. Mary watches the robin, and wonders where the key i s... And then there is that strange crying in the night, somewhere in the house. It sounds like a child c r y i n g... Frances Hodgson Burnett was born in 1849 and died in 1924, From the age of sixteen she lived mostly in the USA, but often returned to England. She was a writer all her life and wrote many books, but The Secret Garden is her most famous story. OXFORD BOOKWORMS Series Editor: Jennifer Bassett  OXFORD BOOKWORMS For a full list of titles in all the Oxford Bookworms series, please refer to the Oxford English catalogue. Titles available include: Green Series Stage 2 (700 headwords) The *Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Lewis Carroll *Anne of Green Gables L. M. Montgomery The Children of the New Forest Captain Marryat Five Children and It Edith Nesbit The Jungle Book Rudyard Kipling Marty Doolin Catherine Cookson *Robinson Crusoe Daniel Defoe A Stranger at Green Knowe Lucy M. Boston Secret Garden *Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain Too Old to Rock and Roll Jan Mark (short stories) Frances Hodgson Burnett Stage3(1000 headwords) *The Call of the Wild Jack London "The Prisoner of Zenda Anthony Hope A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens *The Railway Children Edith Nesbit The Crown of Violet Geoffrey Trease *The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett Kidnapped Robert Louis Stevenson Through the Looking-Glass Lewis Carroll Moondial Helen Cresswell 'Who Sir, Me Sir?' K.M.Veyton On the Edge Gillian Cross The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame retold by Clare West Stage 4 (1400 headwords Black Beauty Anna Sewell The Silver Sword Ian Serraillier The Eagle of the Ninth Rosemary Sutcliff A Tale of Two Cities Charles Dickens Illustrated by * Gulliver's Travels Jonathan Swift *Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson * Little Women Louisa May Alcott We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea Arthur Ransome Jenny Brackley Lorna Doone R. D. Blackmore The Whispering Knights Penelope Lively Black Series Suggested lilies for younger readers from the main Bookworms list: Stage 1 (400 headwords) The Elephant Man Tim Vicary *The Phantom of the Opera Jennifer Bassett The Monkey's Paw W. W. Jacobs Under the Moon Rowena Akinyemi Stage 2 (700 headwords) *Dead Man's Island John Escott Ear-rings from Frankfurt Reg Wright *Dracula Bram Stoker *Voodoo Island Michael Duckworth Stage 3 (1000 headwords) Chemical Secret Tim Vicary The Star Zoo Harry Gilbert Skyjack! Tim Vicary Wyatt's Hurricane Desmond Bagley *Cassettes available for these titles. O X F O R D U N I V E R S I T Y PRESS  1 Oxford University Press Great Clarendon Street, Oxford 0X2 6DP Little Miss Mary Oxford New York N Athens Auckland Bangkok Bogota Buenos Aires Calcutta Cape Town Chennai Dares Salaam Delhi obody seemed to care about Mary. She was born in Florence Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Mumbai Nairobi Paris India, where her father was a British official. He was Sao Paulo Singapore Taipei Tokyo Toronto Warsaw busy with his work, and her mother, who was very beautiful, and associated companies in Berlin Ibadan spent all her time going to parties. So an Indian woman, Kamala, was paid to take care of the little girl. Mary was OXFORD and OXFORD ENGLISH are trade marks of Oxford University Press not a pretty child. She had a thin angry face and thin yellow ISBN 0 19 422721 9 hair. She was always giving orders to Kamala, who had to obey. Mary never thought of other people, but only of This simplified edition © Oxford University Press 1993 herself. In fact, she was a very selfish, disagreeable, bad- First published 1994 tempered little girl. Seventh impression 1999 One very hot morning, when she was about nine years No unauthorized photocopying old, she woke up and saw that instead of Kamala there was All rights reserved. No part of this publication may a different Indian servant by her bed. be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Oxford University Press, This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Typeset by Wyvern Typesetting Ltd, Bristol Printed in England by Clays Ltd, St Ives plc Mary saw that there was a different Indian servant by her bed. 1  The Secret Garden Little Miss Mary 'What are you doing here?' she asked crossly. 'Go away! And send Kamala to me at once!' The woman looked afraid. 'I'm sorry, Miss Mary, she - she - she can't come!' Something strange was happening that day. Some of the house servants were missing and everybody looked frightened. But nobody told Mary anything, and Kamala still did not come. So at last Mary went out into the garden, and played by herself under a tree. She pretended she was making her own flower garden, and picked large red flowers to push into the ground. All the time she was saying crossly to herself, 'I hate Kamala! I'll hit her when she comes back!' Just then she saw her mother coming into the garden, with a young Englishman. They did not notice the child, who listened to their conversation. 'It's very bad, is it?' her mother asked the young man in a worried voice. 'Very bad,' he answered seriously. 'People are dying like flies. It's dangerous to stay in this town. You should go to the hills, where there's no disease.' 'You didn't tell me the disease is here, in your house!' 'Oh, I know!' she cried. 'We must leave soon!' Suddenly they heard loud cries coming from the servants' And together they ran into the house. rooms, at the side of the house. Now Mary understood what was wrong. The terrible 'What's happened?' cried Mary's mother wildly, disease had already killed many people in the town, and in 'I think one of your servants has just died. You didn't tell all the houses people were dying. In Mary's house it was me the disease is here, in your house!' Kamala who had just died. Later that day three more 'I didn't know!' she screamed. 'Quick, come with me!' servants died there. 2 3  The Secret Garden Little Miss Mary All through the night and the next day people ran in and not died had run away in the night. No one had remembered out of the house, shouting and crying. Nobody thought of little Miss Mary. She was all alone. Mary. She hid in her bedroom, frightened by the strange Because she had never known her parents well, she did and terrible sounds that she heard around her. Sometimes not miss them at all. She only thought of herself, as she had she cried and sometimes she slept. always done. When she woke the next day, the house was silent. 'Where will I live?' she wondered. 'I hope I'll stay with 'Perhaps the disease has gone,' she thought, 'and people who'll let me do what I want.' everybody is well again. I wonder who will take care of me At first she was taken to an English family who had instead of Kamala? Why doesn't someone bring me some known her parents. She hated their untidy house and noisy food? It's strange the house is so quiet.' children, and preferred playing by herself in the garden. But just then she heard men's voices in the hall. One day she was playing her favourite game, pretending to 'How sad!' said one. 'That beautiful woman!' make a garden, when one of the children, Basil, offered to 'There was a child too, wasn't there?' said the other. help. 'Although none of us ever saw her.' 'Go away!' cried Mary. 'I don't want your help!' Mary was standing in the middle of her room when they For a moment Basil looked angry, and then he began to opened the door a few minutes later. The two men jumped laugh. He danced round and round Mary, and sang a funny back in surprise. little song about Miss Mary and her stupid flowers. This 'My name is Mary Lennox,' she said crossly. 'I was made Mary very cross indeed. No one had ever laughed at asleep when everyone was ill, and now I'm hungry.' her so unkindly. 'It's the child, the one nobody ever saw!' said the older 'You're going home soon,' said Basil. 'And we're all very man to the other. 'They've all forgotten her!' pleased you're leaving!' 'Why was I forgotten?' asked Mary angrily. 'Why has 'I'm pleased too,' replied Mary. 'But where's home?' nobody come to take care of me?' 'You're stupid if you don't know that!' laughed Basil. The younger man looked at her very sadly. 'Poor child!' 'England, of course! You're going to live with your uncle, he said. 'You see, there's nobody left alive in the house. So Mr Archibald Craven.' nobody can come.' 'I've never heard of him,' said Mary coldly. In this strange and sudden way Mary learnt that both her 'But I know about him because I heard Father and mother and her father had died. The few servants who had Mother talking,' said Basil. 'He lives in a big lonely old 4 5  The Secret Garden Little Miss Mary house, and has no friends, because he's so bad-tempered. 'I can tell you a bit about your uncle if you like,' she said He's got a crooked back, and he's horrid!' aloud. 'He lives in a big old house, a long way from anywhere. 'I don't believe you!' cried Mary. But the next day Basil's There are nearly a hundred rooms, but most of them are shut parents explained that she was going to live with her uncle and locked. There's a big park round the house, and all kinds in Yorkshire, in the north of England. Mary looked bored of gardens. Well, what do you think of that?' and cross and said nothing. 'Nothing,' replied Mary. 'It doesn't matter to me.' Mrs Medlock laughed. 'You're a hard little girl! Well, if you don't care, Mr Craven doesn't either. He never spends time on anyone. He's got a crooked back, you see, and although he's always been rich, he was never really happy until he married.' 'Married?' repeated Mary in surprise. 'Yes, he married a sweet, pretty girl, and he loved her deeply. So when she died—' 'Oh! Did she die?' asked Mary, interested. 'Yes, she did. And now he doesn't care about anybody. If he's at home, he stays in his room and sees nobody. He won't want to see you, so you must stay out of his way and do what you're told.' Mary stared out of the train window at the grey sky and After the long sea journey, she was met in London by Mr the rain. She was not looking forward to life at her uncle's Craven's housekeeper, Mrs Medlock. Together they house. travelled north by train. Mrs Medlock was a large woman, The train journey lasted all day, and it was dark when with a very red face and bright black eyes. Mary did not like they arrived at the station. Then there was a long drive to her, but that was not surprising, because she did not usually get to the house. It was a cold, windy night, and it was like people. Mrs Medlock did not like Mary either. raining heavily. After a while Mary began to hear a strange, 'What a disagreeable child!' thought the housekeeper. wild noise. She looked out of the window, but could see 'But perhaps I should talk to her.' nothing except the darkness. 6 7  The Secret Garden Mary in Yorkshire 'What's that noise?' she asked Mrs Medlock. 'It's - It's not the sea, is it?' 'What is a moor?' 'No, that's the moor. It's the sound the wind makes, 'It's just miles and miles of wild land, with no trees or blowing across the moor.' houses. Your uncle's house is right on the edge of the moor.' Mary listened to the strange, frightening sound. 'I don't like it,' she thought. 'I don't like it.' She looked more disagreeable than ever. 2 Mary in Yorkshire T hey arrived at a very large old house. It looked dark and unfriendly from the outside. Inside, Mary looked around the big shadowy hall, and felt very small and lost. They went straight upstairs. Mary was shown to a room where there was a warm fire and food on the table. 'This is your room,' said Mrs Medlock. 'Go to bed when you've had some supper. And remember, you must stay in your room! Mr Craven doesn't want you to wander all over the house!' When Mary woke up the next morning, she saw a young servant girl cleaning the fireplace. The room seemed dark and rather strange, with pictures of dogs and horses and ladies on the walls. It was not a child's room at all. From the 'It's the sound the wind makes, blowing across the moor.' window she could not see any trees or houses, only wild land, which looked like a kind of purple sea. 8 9  The Secret Garden Mary in Yorkshire 'Who are you?' she asked the servant coldly. themselves, even if they're rich and important.' 'Martha, miss,' answered the girl with a smile. Little Miss Mary was furious with Martha. 'It's different 'And what's that outside?' Mary continued. in India where I come from! You don't know anything 'That's the moor,' smiled Martha. 'Do you like it?' about India, or about servants, or about anything! You... 'No,' replied Mary immediately. 'I hate it.' y o u... ' She could not explain what she meant. Suddenly 'That's because you don't know it. You will like it. I love she felt very confused and lonely. She threw herself down it. It's lovely in spring and summer when there are flowers. on the bed and started crying wildly. It always smells so sweet. The air's so fresh, and the birds sing so beautifully, I never want to leave the moor.' Mary was feeling very bad-tempered. 'You're a strange servant,' she said. 'In India we don't have conversations with servants. We give orders, and they obey, and that's that.' Martha did not seem to mind Mary's crossness. 'I know I talk too much!' she laughed. 'Are you going to be my servant?' asked Mary. 'Well, not really. I work for Mrs Medlock. I'm going to clean your room and bring you your food, but you won't need a servant except for those things.' 'But who's going to dress me?' Martha stopped cleaning, and stared at Mary. 'Tha' canna' dress thysen?' she asked, shocked. 'What do you mean? I don't understand your language!' 'Oh, I forgot. We all speak the Yorkshire dialect here, but of course you don't understand the... I meant to say, can't you put on your own clothes?' 'Of course not! My servant always used to dress me.' 'Well! I think you should learn to dress yourself. My mother always says people should be able to take care of Martha stopped cleaning, and stared at Mary. 10 11  Mary in Yorkshire The Secret Garden 'Now, now, don't cry like that,' Martha said gently. 'I'm very sorry. You're right, I don't know anything about anything. Please stop crying, miss.' She sounded kind and friendly, and Mary began to feel better and soon stopped crying. Martha went on talking as she finished her cleaning, but Mary looked out of the window in a bored way, and pretended not to listen. 'I've got eleven brothers and sisters, you know, miss. There's not much money in our house. And they all eat so much food! Mother says it's the good fresh air on the moor that makes them so hungry. My brother Dickon, he's always out on the moor. He's twelve, and he's got a horse 7 don't want it,' said Mary. 'I'm not hungry.' which he rides sometimes.' 'Where did he get it?' asked Mary. She had always Martha. 'It'll do you good to be in the fresh air.' wanted an animal of her own, and so she began to feel a Mary looked out of the window at the cold grey sky. little interest in Dickon. 'Why should I go out on a day like this?' she asked. 'Well, there's nothing to play with indoors, is there?' 'Oh, it's a wild horse, but he's a kind boy, and animals like him, you see. Now you must have your breakfast, miss. Mary realized Martha was right. 'But who will go with Here it is on the table.' me?' she said. 'I don't want it,' said Mary. 'I'm not hungry.' Martha stared at her. 'Nobody. You'll have to learn to 'What!' cried Martha. 'My little brothers and sisters would play by yourself. Dickon plays by himself on the moors for eat all this in five minutes!' hours, with the wild birds, and the sheep, and the other 'Why?' asked Mary coldly. animals.' She looked away for a moment. 'Perhaps I shouldn't tell you this, but - but one of the walled gardens 'Because they don't get enough to eat, that's why, and is locked up. Nobody's been in it for ten years. It was Mrs they're always hungry. You're very lucky to have the food, miss.' Mary said nothing, but she drank some tea and ate a Craven's garden, and when she died so suddenly, Mr little bread. Craven locked it and buried the key - Oh, I must go, I can hear Mrs Medlock's bell ringing for me.' 'Now put a coat on and run outside to play,' said 12 13  The Secret Garden Mary in Yorkshire Mary went downstairs and wandered through the great pretty little bird hopped on the ground near them. empty gardens. Many of the fruit and vegetable gardens 'He's my friend, he is,' said the old man. 'There aren't any had walls round them, but there were no locked doors. She other robins in the garden, so he's a bit lonely.' He spoke in saw an old man digging in one of the vegetable gardens, but strong Yorkshire dialect, so Mary had to listen carefully to he looked cross and unfriendly, so she walked on. understand him. 'How ugly it all looks in winter!' she thought. 'But what She looked very hard at the robin. 'I'm lonely too,' she a mystery the locked garden is! Why did my uncle bury the said. She had not realized this before. key? If he loved his wife, why did he hate her garden? 'What's your name?' she asked the gardener. Perhaps I'll never know. I don't suppose I'll like him if I ever 'Ben Weatherstaff. I'm lonely myself. The robin's my meet him. And he won't like me, so I won't be able to ask him.' only friend, you see.' 'I haven't got any friends at all,' said Mary. Just then she noticed a robin singing to her from a tree on Yorkshire people always say what they are thinking, and the other side of a wall. 'I think that tree's in the secret old Ben was a Yorkshire moor man. 'We're alike, you and garden!' she told herself. 'There's an extra wall here, and me,' he told Mary. 'We're not pretty to look at, and we're there's no way in.' both very disagreeable.' She went back to where the gardener was digging, and Nobody had ever said this to Mary before. 'Am I really spoke to him. At first he answered in a very bad-tempered as ugly and disagreeable as Ben?' she wondered. way, but suddenly the Suddenly the robin flew to a tree near Mary and started robin flew down near singing to her. Ben laughed loudly. them, and the old man 'Well!' he said. 'He wants to be your friend!' began to smile. He 'Oh! Would you please be my friend?' she whispered to looked a different the robin. She spoke in a soft, quiet voice and old Ben person then, and Mary looked at her in surprise. thought how much 'You said that really nicely!' he said. 'You sound like nicer people looked Dickon, when he talks to animals on the moor.' when they smiled. The gardener spoke gently 'Do you know Dickon?' asked Mary. But just then the Just then she noticed a robin. to the robin, and the robin flew away. 'Oh look, he's flown into the garden with no door! Please, Ben, how can I get into it?' 14 15  The Secret Garden Mary in Yorkshire Ben stopped smiling and picked up his spade. 'You can't, excitedly. 'And the robin lives there! But where's the door?' and that's that. It's not your business. Nobody can find the That evening she asked Martha to stay and talk to her door. Run away and play, will you? I must get on with my beside the fire after supper. They could hear the wind work.' And he walked away. He did not even say goodbye. blowing round the old house, but the room was warm and comfortable. Mary only had one idea in her head. 'Tell me about the secret garden,' she said. 'Well, all right then, miss, but we aren't supposed to talk about it, you know. It was Mrs Craven's favourite garden, and she and Mr Craven used to take care of it themselves. They spent hours there, reading and talking. Very happy, they were. They used the branch of an old tree as a seat. But one day when she was sitting on the branch, it broke, and she fell. She was very badly hurt and the next day she died. That's why he hates the garden so much, and won't let anyone go in there.' 'How sad!' said Mary. 'Poor Mr Craven!' It was the first time that she had ever felt sorry for anyone. Just then, as she was listening to the wind outside, she Ben stopped smiling and picked up his spade. heard another noise, in the house. 'Can you hear a child crying?' she asked Martha. In the next few days Mary spent almost all her time in the Martha looked confused. 'Er - no,' she replied. 'No, I gardens. The fresh air from the moor made her hungry,-and think... it must be the wind.' she was becoming stronger and healthier. One day she But at that moment the wind blew open their door and noticed the robin again. He was on top of a wall, singing to they heard the crying very clearly. her. 'Good morning! Isn't this fun! Come this way!' he 'I told you!' cried Mary. seemed to say, as he hopped along the wall Mary began to At once Martha shut the door. 'It was the wind,' she laugh as she danced along beside him. 'I know the secret repeated. But she did not speak in her usual natural way, garden's on the other side of this wall!' she thought and Mary did not believe her. 16 17  The Secret Garden Finding the secret garden The next day it was very rainy, so Mary did not go out 'You didn't hear anything! Go back to your room now. Instead she decided to wander round the house, looking into And if you don't stay there, I'll lock you in!' some of the hundred rooms that Mrs Medlock had told her Mary hated Mrs Medlock for this. There was someone about. She spent all morning going in and out of dark, silent crying, I know there was!' she said to herself. 'But I'll rooms, which were full of heavy furniture and old pictures discover who it is soon!' She was almost beginning to enjoy She saw no servants at all, and was on her way back to her herself in Yorkshire. room for lunch, when she heard a cry. 'It's a bit like the cry that I heard last night!' she thought. Just then the housekeeper, Mrs Medlock, appeared, with her keys in her hand. 3 Finding the secret garden W hen Mary woke up two days later, the wind and rain had all disappeared, and the sky was a beautiful blue. 'Spring'll be here soon,' said Martha happily. 'You'll love the moor then, when it's full of flowers and birds.' 'Could I get to the moor?' asked Mary. 'You've never done much walking, have you? I don't think you could walk the five miles to our cottage!' 'But I'd like to meet your family,' Mary said. Martha looked at the little girl for a moment. She remembered how disagreeable Mary had been when she first arrived. But now, Mary looked interested and friendly. Just then Mrs Medlock appeared. 'I'll ask Mother,' said Martha. 'She can always think of a good plan. She's sensible and hardworking and kind - I 'What are you doing here?' she asked crossly. know you'll like her.' 'I didn't know which way to go, and I heard someone 'I like Dickon, although I've never seen him.' crying,' answered Mary. 'I wonder what Dickon will think of you?' 18 19  The Secret Garden Finding the secret garden 'He won't like me,' said Mary, 'No one does.' Ten years was a long time, Mary thought. She had been 'But do you like yourself? That's what Mother would born ten years ago. She walked away, thinking. She had ask.' begun to like the gardens, and the robin, and Martha and 'No, not really. I've never thought of that.' Dickon and their mother. Before she came to Yorkshire, 'Well, I must go now. It's my day off, so I'm going home she had not liked anybody. to help Mother with the housework. Goodbye, miss. See She was walking beside the long wall of the secret you tomorrow.' garden, when a most wonderful thing happened. She Mary felt lonelier than ever when Martha had gone, so suddenly realized the robin was following her. She felt very she went outside. The sunshine made the gardens look pleased and excited by this, and cried out, 'You like me, different. And the change in the weather had even made don't you? And I like you too!' As he hopped along beside Ben Weatherstaff easier to talk to. her, she hopped and sang too, to show him that she was his 'Can you smell spring in the air?' he asked her. 'Things friend. Just then he stopped at a place where a dog had dug are growing, deep down in the ground. Soon you'll see little a hole in the ground. As Mary looked at the hole, she green shoots coming up - young plants, they are. You noticed something almost buried there. She put her hand in watch them.' and pulled it out. It was an old key. 'I will,' replied Mary. 'Oh, 'Perhaps it's been buried there's the robin!' The little bird for ten years,' she whispered hopped on to Ben's spade, 'Are to herself. 'Perhaps it's the things growing in the garden key to the secret garden!' where he lives?' She looked at it for a long 'What garden?' said Ben, in his time. How lovely it would bad-tempered voice. be to find the garden, and 'You know, the secret garden. see what had happened to it Are the flowers dead there?' She in the last ten years! She really wanted to know the answer. could play in it all by herself, 'Ask the robin,' said Ben and nobody would know crossly. He's the only one who's 'Soon you'll see little green she was there. She put the shoots coming up.' been in there for the last ten years.' key safely in her pocket. It was an old key. 20 21  The Secret Garden Finding the secret garden The next morning Martha was back at Misselthwaite 'A present!' repeated Mary. How could a family of Manor, and told Mary all about her day with her family. fourteen hungry people give anyone a present! 'I really enjoyed myself. I helped Mother with the whole 'Mother bought it from a man who came to the door to week's washing and baking. And I told the children about sell things. She told me, "Martha, you've brought me your you. They wanted to know about your servants, and the pay, like a good girl, and we need it all, but I'm going to buy ship that brought you to England, and everything!' something for that lonely child at the Manor," and she 'I can tell you some more for next time,' offered Mary. bought one, and here it is!' 'They'd like to hear about riding on elephants and camels It was a skipping-rope. Mary stared at it. wouldn't they?' ' 'What is it?'she asked. 'Oh, that would be kind of you, miss! And look, Mother 'Don't they have skipping-ropes in India? Well, this is has sent you a present!' how you use it. Just watch me.' Martha took the rope and ran into the middle of the room. She counted up to a hundred as she skipped. 'That looks lovely,' said Mary. 'Your mother is very kind. Do you think I could ever skip like that?' 'Just try,' said Martha. 'Mother says it'll make you strong and healthy. Skip outside in the fresh air.' Mary put her coat on and took the skipping-rope. As she was opening the door, she thought of something and turned round. 'Martha, it was your money really. Thank you.' She never thanked people usually and she did not know how to do it. So she held out her hand, because she knew that adults did that. Martha shook her hand and laughed. 'You're a strange child,' she said. 'Like an old woman! Now run away and They'd like to hear about riding on elephants play!' and camels, wouldn't they?' The skipping-rope was wonderful. Mary counted and 22 23  The Secret Garden finding the secret garden The robin hopped on to an old climbing plant on the wall, and sang his most beautiful song. Suddenly the wind made the plant move, and Mary saw something under the dark green leaves. The thick, heavy plant was covering a door. Mary's heart was beating fast and her hands were shaking as she pushed the leaves away and found the key- hole. She took the key out of her pocket, and it fitted the hole. Using both hands, she managed to unlock the door. Then she turned round to see if anyone was watching. But there was no one, so she pushed the door, which opened, slowly, for the first time in ten years. She walked quickly in and shut the door behind her. At last she was inside the secret garden! It was the loveliest, most exciting place she had ever Mary skipped and counted until her face was hot and red. seen. There were old rose trees everywhere, and the walls skipped, skipped and counted, until her face was hot and were covered with climbing roses. She looked carefully at red. She was having more fun than she had ever had before. the grey branches. Were the roses still alive? Ben would She skipped through the gardens until she found Ben know. She hoped they weren't all dead. But she was inside Weatherstaff, who was digging and talking to his robin. the wonderful garden, in a world of her own. It seemed very She wanted them both to see her skip. strange and silent, but she did not feel lonely at all. Then she 'Well!' said Ben. 'You're looking fine and healthy today! noticed some small green shoots coming up through the Go on skipping. It's good for you.' grass. So something was growing in the garden after all! Mary skipped all the way to the secret garden wall. And When she found a lot more shoots in different places, she there was the robin! He had followed her! Mary was very decided they needed more air and light, so she began to pull pleased. out the thick grass around them. She worked away, clearing 'You showed me where the key was yesterday,' she the ground, for two or three hours, and had to take her coat laughed. 'I've got it in my pocket. So you ought to show me off because she got so hot. The robin hopped around, the door today!' pleased to see someone gardening. 24 25  The Secret Garden Finding the secret garden She almost forgot about lunch, and when she arrived back in her room, she was very hungry and ate twice as much as usual. 'Martha,' she said as she was eating, 'I've been thinking. This is a big, lonely house, and there isn't much for me to do. Do you think, if I buy a little spade, I can make my own garden?' 'That's just what Mother said,' replied Martha. 'You'd enjoy digging and watching plants growing. Dickon can get you a spade, and some seeds to plant, if you like.' ' O h , t h a n k you, Martha! I've got some money that Mrs Medlock gave me. Will you write and ask Dickon to buy them for me?' 'I will. And he'll bring 'Dickon can get you some them to you himself.' seeds to plant.' 'Oh! Then I'll see him.' Mary looked very excited. Then she remembered something. 'I heard that cry in the house again, Martha. It wasn't the wind this time. I've heard it three times now. Who is it?' Martha looked uncomfortable. 'You mustn't go wandering around the house, you know. Mr Craven wouldn't like it. Now I must go and help the others downstairs. I'll see you at tea-time.' As the door closed behind Martha, Mary thought to herself, This really is the strangest house that anyone ever It was the loveliest, most evening place Mary had ever seen lived in.' 26  Meeting Dickon 4 Meeting Dickon gardens. Suddenly she heard a strange noise, and there in M ary spent nearly a week working in the secret garden. Each day she found new shoots coming out of the ground. Soon, there would be flowers everywhere - front of her was a boy. He was sitting under a tree, playing on a wooden pipe. He was about twelve, with a healthy red face and bright blue eyes. There was a squirrel and a crow thousands of them. It was an exciting game to her. When in the tree, and two rabbits sitting on the grass near him. she was inside those beautiful old walls, no one knew where she was. During that week she became more friendly with Ben, who was often digging in one of the vegetable gardens. 'What are your favourite flowers, Ben?' she asked him one day. 'Roses. I used to work for a young lady who loved roses, you see, and she had a lot in her garden. That was ten years ago. But she died. Very sad, it was.' 'What happened to the roses?' asked Mary. 'They were left there, in the garden.' 'If rose branches look dry and grey, are they still alive?' asked Mary. It was so important to know! 'In the spring they'll show green shoots, and then - But why are you so interested in roses?' he asked. Mary's face went red. 'I just... wanted to pretend I've got a garden. I haven't got anyone to play with.' 'Well, that's true,' said Ben. He seemed to feel sorry for her. Mary decided she liked old Ben, although he was sometimes bad-tempered. She skipped along and into the wood at the end of the There was a squirrel and a crow in the tree, and two 28 rabbits sitting on the grass near him. 29  The Secret Garden Meeting Dickon 'They're listening to the music!' thought Mary. 'I mustn't frighten them!' She stood very still. 'Don't cry,' said Dickon gently. 'Where is it?' 'Come with me and I'll show you,' said Miss Mary. The boy stopped playing. 'That's right,' he said. 'Animals They went to the secret garden and entered it together. don't like it if you move suddenly. I'm Dickon and you must be Dickon walked round, looking at everything. Miss Mary. I've brought you the spade and the seeds.' 'Martha told me about this place, but I never thought I'd He spoke in an easy, friendly way. Mary liked him at see it,' he said. 'It's wonderful!' once. As they were looking at the seed packets together, the robin hopped on to a branch near them. Dickon listened 'What about the roses?' asked Mary worriedly. 'Are carefully to the robin's song. they still alive? What do you think?' 'Look at these shoots on the branches. Most of them are 'He's saying he's your friend,' he told Mary. alive ail right.' He took out his knife and cut away some of 'Really? Oh, I am pleased he likes me. Can you understand everything that birds say?' the dead wood from the rose trees. Mary showed him the work she had done in the garden, and they talked as they 'I think I do, and they think I do. I've lived on the moor cut and cleared. with them for so long. Sometimes I think I am a bird or an 'Dickon,' said Mary suddenly, 'I like you. I never thought animal, not a boy at all!' His smile was the widest she had ever seen. I'd like as many as five people!' 'Only five!' laughed Dickon. He explained how to plant the seeds. Suddenly he said, 'I He did look funny when he laughed, thought Mary. can help you plant them! Where's your garden?' 'Yes, your mother, Martha, the robin, Ben, and you.' Mary went red, then white. She had never thought of this. What was she going to say? Then she asked him a question in Yorkshire dialect, because that was his language. 'Could you keep a secret? It's a great secret. If anyone discovers it, I'll...I'll die!' 'Does tha' like me?' was her question. 'Of course! I likes thee wonderful!' replied Dickon, a big 'I keep secrets for all the wild birds and animals on the smile on his round face. Mary had never been so happy. moor. So I can keep yours too,' he replied. When she went back to the house for her lunch, she told 'I've stolen a garden,' she said very fast. 'Nobody goes Martha about Dickon's visit. into it, nobody wants it. I love it and nobody takes care of it! They're letting it die!' And she threw her arms over her 'I've got news for you too,' said Martha. 'Mr Craven's face and started crying. come home, and wants to see you! He's going away again tomorrow, for several months.' 30 31  The Secret Garden Meeting Dickon 'Oh!' said Mary. That was good news. She would have 'What do you want to do, in this big empty house?' all summer in the secret garden before he came back. Bur ' I... I just want to play outside - I enjoy that.' she must be careful. He mustn't guess her secret now. 'Yes, Martha's mother, Susan Sowerby, spoke to me the Just then Mrs Medlock arrived, in her best black dress, other day. She's a sensible woman - and she said you to take Mary down to Mr Craven's room. needed fresh air. But where do you play?' Mary's uncle had black hair with some white in it, and 'Everywhere! I just skip and run - and look for green high, crooked shoulders. His face was not ugly, but very shoots. I don't damage anything!' sad. During their conversation he watched her in a worried 'Don't look so frightened! Of course a child like you way. Perhaps he was thinking of other things at the same couldn't damage anything. Play where you like. Is there time. anything that you want?' He looked at the thin child. 'Are you well?' he asked. Mary came a step nearer to him, and her voice shook a Mary tried to keep her voice calm as she replied, little as she spoke. 'Could I - could I have a bit of garden?' 'I'm getting stronger and healthier.' Mr Craven looked very surprised. 'To plant seeds in... to make them come alive!' Mary went on bravely. 'It was too hot in India, so I was always ill and tired there. But here it's different. I... I love the garden!' He passed a hand quickly over his eyes. Then he looked kindly at Mary. 'I knew someone once who loved growing things, like you. Yes, child, take as much of the garden as you want.' He smiled gently at her. 'Now leave me. I'm very tired.' Mary ran all the way back to her room. 'Martha!' she shouted. 'Mr Craven's really a nice man, but he looks very unhappy, He said I can have my own garden!' Mary's uncle had black hair with some white in it, She was planning to work in the garden with Dickon and high, crooked shoulders. every day, to make it beautiful for the summer. 32  Meeting Colin 5 'No, I'm not. I'm Mary Lennox. Mr Craven's my uncle.' Meeting Colin 'He's my father,' said the boy. 'I'm Colin Craven.' I n the middle of the night Mary woke up. Heavy rain had started falling again, and the wind was blowing violently round the walls of the old house. Suddenly she heard crying 'No one ever told me he had a son!' said Mary, very surprised. 'Well, no one ever told me you'd come to live here. I'm ill, you see. I don't want people to see me and talk about me. again. This time she decided to discover who it was. She left If I live, I may have a crooked back like my father, but I'll her room, and in the darkness followed the crying sound, round corners and through doors, up and down stairs, to probably die.' the other side of the big house. At last she found the right 'What a strange house this is!' said Mary. 'So many room. She pushed the door open and went in. secrets! Does your father come and see you often?' 'Not often. He doesn't like seeing me because it makes It was a big room with beautiful old furniture and pictures. In the large bed was a boy, who looked tired and him remember my mother. She died when I was born, so he cross, with a thin, white, tearful face. He stared at Mary. almost hates me, I think.' 'Who are you?' he whispered. 'Are you a dream?' 'Why do you say you're going to die?' asked Mary. 'I've always been ill. I've nearly died several times, and my back's never been strong. My doctor feels sure that I'm going to die. But he's my father's cousin, and very poor, so he'd like me to die. Then he'd get all the money when my lather dies. He gives me medicine and tells me to rest. We had a grand doctor from London once, who told me to go out in the fresh air and try to get well. But I hate fresh air. And another thing, all the servants have to do what I want, because if I'm angry, I become ill.' Mary thought she liked this boy, although he seemed so strange. He asked her lots of questions, and she told him all about her life in India. 'How old are you?' he asked suddenly. 'Who are you?' the boy whispered. 'I'm ten, and so are you,' replied Mary, forgetting to be 34 35  The Secret Garden Meeting Colin careful, 'because when you were born the garden door was locked and the key was buried. And I know that was ten 'I'll sing you a song. My servant Kamala used to do that years ago.' in India,' said Mary, and very soon Colin was asleep. The next afternoon Mary visited Colin again, and he Colin sat up in bed and looked very interested. 'What seemed very pleased to see her. He had sent his nurse away door? Who locked it? Where's the key? I want to see it. Ill make the servants tell me where it is. They'll take me there and had told nobody about Mary's visit. Mary had not told and you can come too.' anybody either. They read some of his books together, and told each other stories. They were enjoying themselves and 'Oh, please! Don't - don't do that!' cried Mary. laughing loudly when suddenly the door opened. Dr Craven Colin stared at her. 'Don't you want to see it?' and Mrs Medlock came in. They almost fell over in 'Yes, but if you make them open the door, it will never be a secret again. You see, if only we know about it, if we - if surprise. we can find the key, we can go and play there every day. We 'What's happening here?' asked Dr Craven. can help the garden come alive again. And no one will Colin sat up straight. To Mary he looked just like an know about i t - except us!' Indian prince. 'This is my cousin, Mary Lennox,' he said calmly. 'I like her. She must visit me often.' 'I see,' said Colin slowly. 'Yes, I'd like that. It'll be our secret. I've never had a secret before.' 'Oh, I'm sorry, sir,' said poor Mrs Medlock to the 'And perhaps,' added Mary cleverly, 'we can find a boy to push you in your wheelchair, if you can't walk, and we can go there together without any other people. You'll feel better outside. I know I do.' 'I'd like that,' he said dreamily. 'I think I'd like fresh air, in a secret garden.' Then Mary told him about the moor, and Dickon, and Ben Weatherstaff, and the robin, and Colin listened to it all with great interest. He began to smile and look much happier. 'I like having you here,' he said. 'You must come and see me every day. But I'm tired now.' To Mary he looked just like an Indian prince. 36 37  The Secret Garden Colin is afraid doctor. 'I don't know how she discovered him. I told the servants to keep it a secret.' there, digging hard, with the crow and a young fox beside him. 'Have you seen the robin?' he asked Mary. The little bird 'Don't be stupid, Medlock,' said the Indian prince coldly. 'Nobody told her. She heard me crying and found was flying busily backwards and forwards as fast as he me herself. Bring our tea up now.' could, carrying pieces of dry grass. 'I'm afraid you're getting too hot and excited, my boy,' 'He's building a nest!' whispered Mary. They watched said Dr Craven. 'That's not good for you. Don't forget the robin for a moment. Then Mary said, you're ill.' 'I must tell you something. You probably know about 'I want to forget!' said Colin. 'I'll be angry if Mary Colin Craven, don't you? Well, I've met him, and I'm going doesn't visit me! She makes me feel better.' to help him to get better.' Dr Craven did not look happy when he left the room. 'What a change in the boy, sir!' said the housekeeper. 'He's usually so disagreeable with all of us. He really seems to like that strange little girl. And he does look better.' Dr Craven had to agree. 6 Colin is afraid B ecause it rained all the next week, Mary went to talk to Colin every day instead of visiting the garden. But she woke early one morning to see the sun shining into her room, and she ran out to the secret garden at once. She did not even wait to have her breakfast. It was beautifully sunny and warm, and a thousand more shoots were pushing their way out of the ground. Dickon was already 'He's building a nest!' whispered Mary. 38 39  The Secret Garden Colin is afraid 'That's good news.' There was a big smile on Dickon's honest face. 'We all knew he was ill.' you. I won't look at you. I'll stare at the floor!' 'He's afraid he'll have a crooked back like his father. I 'You selfish girl!' cried Colin. think that's what's making him ill.' 'You're more selfish than I am. You're the most selfish 'Perhaps we can bring him here and Jet him rest under the boy I've ever met!' trees. That'll do him good. That's what we'll do.' 'I'm not as selfish as your fine Dickon! He keeps you They had a Jot of gardening and planning to do and playing outside when he knows I'm ill and alone!' Mary did not have time to visit Colin that day. When she Mary had never been so furious. 'Dickon is nicer than came back to the house in the evening, Martha told her that any other boy in the world! He's like an angel!' the servants had had trouble with Colin. 'An angel! Don't make me laugh! He's just a poor 'He's been very bad-tempered all afternoon with all of country boy, with holes in his shoes!' us, because you didn't come, miss,' 'He's a thousand times better than you are!' 'Well, I was busy. He'll have to learn not to be so selfish,' Colin had never argued with anyone like himself in his replied Mary coldly. She forgot how selfish she had been life, and in fact it was good for him. But now he was when she was ill in India. 'I'll go and see him now.' beginning to feel sorry for himself. When she went into his room, he was lying in bed, 'I'm always ill,' he said, and started to cry. 'I'm sure my looking tired. He did not turn to look at her. back is a bit crooked. And I'm going to die!' 'What's the matter with you?' she asked crossly. 'My back aches and my head hurts. Why didn't you 'No, you're not!' said Mary crossly. come this afternoon?' Colin opened his eyes very wide. Nobody had said that to him before. He was angry, but a bit pleased at the same 'I was working in the garden with Dickon.' time. 'What do you mean? You know I'm going to die! 'I won't let that boy come to the garden if you stay with him instead of talking to me!' Everybody says I'm going to die!' 'I don't believe it!' said Mary in her most disagreeable Mary suddenly became very angry. 'If you send Dickon away, I'll never come into this room again!' voice, 'You just say that to make people feel sorry for you. 'You'll have to, if I say so. I'll make the servants bring You're too horrid to die!' you in here.' Colin forgot about his painful back and sat up in bed, 'Oh, will you, prince! But no one can make me talk to Get out of the room at once!' he shouted, and threw a book at her. 'Im going,' Mary shouted in reply, 'and I won't come 40 41  The Secret Garden Colin is afraid 'It's Colin!' thought Mary. 'He'll go on screaming until he makes himself really ill! How selfish he is! Somebody should stop him!' Just then Martha ran into the room. 'We don't know what to do!' she cried. 'He likes you, miss! Come and see if you can make him calmer, please!' 'Well, I'm very cross with him,' said Mary, and jumped out of bed. 'I'm going to stop him!' 'That's right,' said Martha. 'He needs someone like you, to argue with. It'll give him something new to think about.' Mary ran into Colin's room, right up to his bed. 'Stop screaming!' she shouted furiously. 'Stop at once! I hate you! Everybody hates you! You'll die if you go on screaming like this, and I hope you will!' The screams stopped immediately. This was the first 'Get out of the room at once!' Colin shouted. time that anyone had spoken so angrily to Colin, and he back!' The door banged shut behind her. was shocked. But he went on crying quietly to himself. 'My back's becoming crooked, I can feel it! I know I'm When she reached her own room, she had decided never to tell him her great secret. 'He can stay in his room and die going to die!' Large tears ran down his face. if he wants!' she thought. But soon she began to remember 'Don't be stupid!' cried Mary. 'There's nothing the how ill he had been, and how frightened he was, frightened matter with your horrid back! Martha, come here and help that one day his back would become as crooked as his me look at his back!' father's. 'Perhaps... perhaps I'll go back and see him Martha and Mrs Medlock were standing at the door, tomorrow!' staring at Mary, their mouths half open. They both looked That night she was woken by the most terrible screams very frightened. Martha came forward to help, and Miss that she had ever heard. Servants were opening and shutting Mary looked carefully at Colin's thin white back, up and doors and running about. down. Her face was serious and angry at the same time. The room was very quiet. 42 43  The Secret Garden Colin is afraid 'There's nothing wrong 'We mun get poor Colin out here in th' sunshine - an' we with your back!' she said at munnot lose no time about it!' last. 'Nothing at all! It's as Dickon laughed. 'Well done! I didn't know you could straight as mine!' speak Yorkshire! You're right. We must bring Colin to the Only Colin knew how garden as soon as we can,' important those crossly So that afternoon she went to see Colin. spoken, childish words were. 'I'm sorry I said I'd send Dickon away,' he said. 'I hated All his life he had been afraid you when you said he was like an angel!' to ask about his back, and his 'Well, he's a funny kind of angel, but he understands wild terrible fear had made him ill. animals better than anyone.' Suddenly, Mary knew that this Now an angry little girl told was the right moment to tell him. She caught hold of his hands. 'There's nothing wrong with him his back was straight, and 'Colin, this is important. Can you keep a secret?' your back!' Mary said at last. he believed her. He was no 'Yes-yes!' he whispered excitedly. 'What is it?' longer afraid. 'We've found the door into the secret garden!' They were both calmer now. He gave Mary his hand. 'I 'Oh Mary! Will I live long enough to see it?' think - I'm almost sure I will live, if we can go out in the 'Of course you will! Don't be stupid!' said Mary crossly. garden together sometimes. I'm very tired now. Will you stay with me until I go to sleep?' Hut it was a very natural thing to say, and they both The servants went out very quietly. laughed. 'I'll tell you all about the secret garden,' whispered Colin told Mrs Medlock and the doctor that he wanted Mary. 'I think it's full of roses and beautiful flowers. Birds to go out in his wheelchair. At first the doctor was worried like making their nests there because it's so quiet and safe. the boy would get too tired, but when he heard that Dickon And perhaps our r o b i n... ' would push the wheelchair, he agreed. But Colin was already asleep. 'Dickon's a sensible boy,' he told Colin. 'But don't The next day Mary met Dickon as usual in the secret forgot-—' garden, and told him about Colin. Mary loved Dickon's 'I've told you, I want to forget that I'm ill,' said Colin Yorkshire dialect and was trying to learn it herself. She in his prince's voice. 'Don't you understand? It's because spoke a little now. my cousin makes me forget that I feel better when I'm with her.' 44  Colin and the garden 7 he told Colin the names of all the plants. The sun shone, the Colin and the garden birds sang, and in every corner of the garden there was O f course, it was most important that no one should see Colin, Mary, or Dickon entering the secret garden. So Colin gave orders to the gardeners that they must all keep something interesting to look at. The three children talked and laughed, and by the end of the afternoon all three were speaking Yorkshire together. away from that part of the garden in future. 'I'll come back here every afternoon,' said Colin. 'I want to watch things growing.' The next afternoon Colin was carried downstairs by a 'Soon you'll be strong enough to walk and dig. You'll be man servant, and put in his wheelchair outside the front door. Dickon arrived, with his crow, two squirrels and the fox, and started pushing the wheelchair gently away from the house, and into the gardens. Mary walked beside the chair. Spring had really arrived now and it seemed very exciting to Colin, who had lived indoors for so long. He smelt the warm air from the moor, and watched the little white clouds in the blue sky. In a very short time he heard Mary say, 'This is where I found the key... and this is the door... and t h i s.. , this is the secret garden!' Colin covered his eyes with his hands until he was inside the four high walls, and the door was shut again. Then he looked round at the roses climbing the old red walls, the pink and white flowers on the fruit trees, and the birds and the butterflies everywhere. The sun warmed his face, and he suddenly knew he felt different. 'Mary! Dickon!' he cried. 'I'm going to get better! I'm going to live for ever and ever and ever!' As Dickon pushed the wheelchair all round the garden, Dickon pushed the wheelchair all round the garden. 46 47  The Secret Garden Colin and the garden able to help us with the gardening,' said Dickon kindly, 'Come here, Dickon!' he shouted, and threw off his 'Do you really think I'll be able t o... to walk a n d... dig?' asked Colin. blanket. Dickon was by his side in a second. Mary felt sick with fear. Could Colin stand? 'Of course you will. You've got legs, like us!' Then Colin's thin feet were on the grass and he was 'But they're not very strong,' answered Colin. 'They shake, and... and I'm afraid to stand on them.' standing, holding Dickon's arm. He looked strangely tall, and he held his head very high. 'When you want to use them, you'll be able to,' said 'Look at me!' he shouted at Ben. 'Just look at me!' Dickon. The garden was quiet for a moment. 'He's as straight as any boy in Yorkshire!' said Dickon. Suddenly Colin said, 'Who's that?' Mary turned her Tears were running down Ben's brown old face. 'They head, and noticed Ben Weatherstaff's angry face looking at her over the garden wall, said you were going to die!' he whispered. 'Well, you can see that's not true,' said Colin. 'Now, get 'What are you doing in that garden, young miss?' he down from the wall and come here. I want to talk to you. shouted, He had not seen Colin or Dickon. You've got to help us keep the garden a secret.' 'The robin showed me the way, Ben,' she replied. 'Yes, sir,' said old Ben, as he dried his eyes. 'You... you—' He stopped shouting and his mouth dropped open as he saw Dickon pushing a boy in a wheelchair over the grass towards him. 'Do you know who I am?' asked the boy in the chair. Old Ben stared. 'You've got your mother's eyes,' he said in a shaking voice. 'Yes, I know you. You're Mr Craven's son, the little boy with the crooked back.' Colin forgot that he had ever had backache. 'My back's as straight as yours is!' he shouted. Ben stared and stared. He only knew what he had heard from the servants. 'You haven't got a crooked back?' he asked. 'Or crooked legs?' That was too much. Colin was furious, and it made him feel strong. 'Look at me!' Colin shouted at Ben. 'Just took at me!' 48 49  The Secret Garden Colin and the garden That was the first of many beautiful afternoons in the Now began a difficult time for Colin and Mary. Dickon secret garden. Colin was brought there by Dickon and told his mother about it one evening as he was digging the Mary nearly every day, and he saw all the changes that cottage garden. happened there during the spring and early summer. Ben 'You see, mother, they don't want the doctor or the Weatherstaff, now in the secret, joined them as often as he servants to guess that Colin can walk and is getting better. could. So they have to pretend he's still ill and just as disagreeable One day Colin spoke to all of them. 'Listen, everybody. as he used to be!' I think there's something like magic that makes gardens 'If they're running about all day in the fresh air, that'll grow and things happen. Perhaps if I believe in it, the magic make them hungry, I should think!' will make me strong. Let's all sit down in a circle and ask 'Yes, that's the problem. They're both getting fatter and the magic to work.' healthier, and they really enjoy their food now. But they So they all sat on the grass in a circle, Dickon with his have to send some of it back to the kitchen, uneaten. If they crow, his fox and the two squirrels, Mary, Colin, and Ben. cat it all, people will realize how healthy they are! Sometimes Colin repeated these words several times, 'The sun's shining. they're very hungry!' That's the magic. Being strong. That's the magic. Magic! 'I know what we can do,' said Mrs Sowerby. 'You can Help me! Magic! Help me!' lake some fresh milk and some of my newly baked At last Colin stopped. 'Now I'm going to walk round the bread to the garden in the mornings. If they have that, it'll garden,' he said, and took Dickon's arm. Slowly he walked do them a lot of good! What from one wall to another, followed closely by Mary and a game those children are Ben. And when he had walked all the way round, he said, playing!' And she laughed 'You see! I can walk now! The magic worked!' and tears came to her eyes. 'It's wonderful!' cried Mary. 'Your father will think he is One afternoon when they dreaming when he sees you!' were all working in the 'I won't tell him yet. I'm going to keep it a secret from garden, the door opened and everybody. I'll come to the garden and walk and run a little a woman came quietly in. more every day until I'm as healthy as any other boy. Then, 'It's Mother!' cried when my father comes home, I'll walk up to him and say, Dickon, and ran towards "Here I am, Father. You see? I'm not going to die!" her. '1 told her where the 'It's Mother!' 50 51  The Secret Garden door was, because I knew she would keep the secret.' 8 Colin held out his hand to her. 'I've wanted to see you for Mr Craven comes home a long time,'he said. 'Dear boy!' Susan Sowerby whispered, holding his hand. 'You're so like your mother!' 'Do you think.' asked Colin carefully, 'that will make my father like me?' W hile the secret garden was returning to life, a man with high crooked shoulders was wandering round the most beautiful places in Europe. For ten years he had lived this lonely life his heart full of sadness and his head 'I'm sure it will,' she answered warmly. 'He must see you full of dark dreams. Everywhere he went, he carried his - he must come home now.' unhappiness with him like a black cloud. Other travellers 'You see how healthy the boy is, Susan?' asked old Ben. thought he was half mad or a man who could not forget 'Look how strong and straight his legs are now!' some terrible crime. His name was Archibald Craven. 'Yes,' she laughed. 'Playing and working outside, and But one day, as he sat by a mountain stream, he actually eating good Yorkshire food, has made him strong. And looked at a flower, and for the first time in ten years he Miss Mary too,' she added, turning to Mary. 'Mrs Medlock realized how beautiful something living could be. The heard that your mother was a pretty woman. You'll soon valley seemed very quiet as he sat there, staring at the be as pretty as she was.' Mower. He felt strangely calm. 'Do you believe in magic?' Colin asked her. 'I do,' she answered,' but everybody gives it a different name. It makes the sun shine and the seeds grow - and it has made you healthy.' She sat down on the grass and stayed for a while, talking and laughing with the children in the quiet, sunny garden. When she stood up to leave, Colin suddenly put out a hand to her. 'I wish - you were my mother!' he whispered. Mrs Sowerby put her arms round him and held him to her. 'Dear boy! You're as close to your mother as you could But one day, as he sat by a mountain stream, be, here in her garden. And your father'll come back soon!' he actually looked at a flower. 53  The Secret Garden Mr Craven comes home 'What is happening to me?' he whispered. 'I feel different home, so perhaps she thinks I can help him.' -I almost feel I'm alive again!' When he arrived home, he found the housekeeper very At that moment, hundreds of miles away in Yorkshire, confused about Colin's health. Colin was seeing the secret garden for the first time, and 'He's very strange, sir,' said Mrs Medlock. 'He looks saying, 'I'm going to live for ever and ever and ever!' But Mr better, it's true, but some days he eats nothing at all, and Craven did not know this. other days he eats just like a healthy boy. He used to scream That night, in his hotel room, he slept better than usual. even at the idea of fresh air, but now he spends all his time As the weeks passed, he even began to think a little about outside in his wheelchair, with Miss Mary and Dickon his home and his son. One evening in late summer, as he Sowerby. He's in the garden at the moment.' was sitting quietly beside a lake, he felt the strange calmness 'In the garden!' repeated Mr Craven. Those were the again. He fell asleep, and had a dream that seemed very words of the dream! He hurried out of the house and real. He heard a voice calling him. It was sweet and clear towards the place which he had not visited for so long. He and happy, the voice of his young wife. found the door with the climbing plant over it, and stood 'Archie! Archie! Archie!' outside, listening, for a moment. 'My dear!' He jumped up. 'Where are you?' 'Surely I can hear voices inside the garden?' he thought. 'In the garden!' called the beautiful voice. 'Aren't there children whispering, laughing, running in And then the dream ended. In the morning, when he there? Or am I going mad?' woke, he remembered the dream. And then the moment came, when the children could not 'She says she's in the garden!' he thought. 'But the door's stay quiet. There was wild laughing and shouting, and the locked and the key's buried.' door was thrown open. A boy ran out, a tall, healthy, That morning he received a letter from Susan Sowerby. handsome boy, straight into the man's arms. Mr Craven In it she asked him to come home, but she did not give a stared into the boy's laughing eyes. reason. Mr Craven thought of his dream, and decided to 'Who