Таинственный сад
IX. The Strangest House Anyone Ever Lived In
“Itisn’taquitedeadgarden,”shecriedoutsoftlytoherself.“Eveniftherosesaredead,thereareotherthingsalive.”
Shedidnotknowanythingaboutgardening,butthegrassseemedsothickinsomeoftheplaceswherethegreenpointswerepushingtheirwaythroughthatshethoughttheydidnotseemtohaveroomenoughtogrow.Shesearchedaboutuntilshefoundarathersharppieceofwoodandkneltdownanddugandweededouttheweedsandgrassuntilshemadenicelittleclearplacesaroundthem.
“Nowtheylookasiftheycouldbreathe,”shesaid,aftershehadfinishedwiththefirstones.“Iamgoingtodoeversomanymore.I’lldoallIcansee.IfIhaven’ttimetodayIcancometomorrow.”
Shewentfromplacetoplace,anddugandweeded,andenjoyedherselfsoimmenselythatshewasledonfrombedtobedandintothegrassunderthetrees.Theexercisemadehersowarmthatshefirstthrewhercoatoff,andthenherhat,andwithoutknowingitshewassmilingdownontothegrassandthepalegreenpointsallthetime.
Therobinwastremendouslybusy.Hewasverymuchpleasedtoseegardeningbegunonhisownestate.HehadoftenwonderedatBenWeatherstaff.Wheregardeningisdoneallsortsofdelightfulthingstoeatareturnedupwiththesoil.NowherewasthisnewkindofcreaturewhowasnothalfBen’ssizeandyethadhadthesensetocomeintohisgardenandbeginatonce.
MistressMaryworkedinhergardenuntilitwastimetogotohermiddaydinner.
