Colin looked fretful and kept his strange black-lashed eyes fixed on
Dr. Craven s face.
I _want_ to forget it, he said at last. She makes me forget it. That
is why I want her.
Dr. Craven did not look happy when he left the room. He gave a puzzled
glance at the little girl sitting on the large stool. She had become a
stiff, silent child again as soon as he entered and he could not see
what the attraction was. The boy actually did look brighter,
however and he sighed rather heavily as he went down the corridor.
They are always wanting me to eat things when I don t want to, said
Colin, as the nurse brought in the tea and put it on the table by the
sofa. Now, if you ll eat I will. Those muffins look so nice and hot.
Tell me about Rajahs.
CHAPTER XV.
NEST BUILDING
After another week of rain the high arch of blue sky appeared again and
the sun which poured down was quite hot. Though there had been no
chance to see either the secret garden or Dickon, Mistress Mary had
enjoyed herself very much. The week had not seemed long. She had spent
hours of every day with Colin in his room, talking about Rajahs or
gardens or Dickon and the cottage on the moor. They had looked at the
splendid books and pictures and sometimes Mary had read things to
Colin, and sometimes he had read a little to her. When he was amused
and interested she thought he scarcely looked like an invalid at all,
except that his face was so colorless and he was always on the sofa.
You are a sly young one to listen and get out of your bed to go
following things up like you did that night, Mrs. Medlock said once.
But there s no saying it s not been a sort of blessing to the lot of
us. He s not had a tantrum or a whining fit since you made friends. The
nurse was just going to give up the case because she was so sick of
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