straight into a lion s den. If he d been like he is most times he d
have throwed himself into one of his tantrums and roused th house. He
won t let strangers look at him.
He let me look at him. I looked at him all the time and he looked at
me. We stared! said Mary.
I don t know what to do! cried agitated Martha. If Mrs. Medlock
finds out, she ll think I broke orders and told thee and I shall be
packed back to mother.
He is not going to tell Mrs. Medlock anything about it yet. It s to be
a sort of secret just at first, said Mary firmly. And he says
everybody is obliged to do as he pleases.
Aye, that s true enough th bad lad! sighed Martha, wiping her
forehead with her apron.
He says Mrs. Medlock must. And he wants me to come and talk to him
every day. And you are to tell me when he wants me.
Me! said Martha; I shall lose my place I shall for sure!
You can t if you are doing what he wants you to do and everybody is
ordered to obey him, Mary argued.
Does tha mean to say, cried Martha with wide open eyes, that he was
nice to thee!
I think he almost liked me, Mary answered.
Then tha must have bewitched him! decided Martha, drawing a long
breath.
Do you mean Magic? inquired Mary. I ve heard about Magic in India,
but I can t make it. I just went into his room and I was so surprised
to see him I stood and stared. And then he turned round and stared at
me. And he thought I was a ghost or a dream and I thought perhaps he
was. And it was so queer being there alone together in the middle of
the night and not knowing about each other. And we began to ask each
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