singin . An I come straight here. I couldn t have stayed away. Why,
th garden was lyin here waitin !
Mary put her hands on her chest, panting, as if she had been running
herself.
Oh, Dickon! Dickon! she said. I m so happy I can scarcely breathe!
Seeing him talking to a stranger, the little bushy-tailed animal rose
from its place under the tree and came to him, and the rook, cawing
once, flew down from its branch and settled quietly on his shoulder.
This is th little fox cub, he said, rubbing the little reddish
animal s head. It s named Captain. An this here s Soot. Soot he flew
across th moor with me an Captain he run same as if th hounds had
been after him. They both felt same as I did.
Neither of the creatures looked as if he were the least afraid of Mary.
When Dickon began to walk about, Soot stayed on his shoulder and
Captain trotted quietly close to his side.
See here! said Dickon. See how these has pushed up, an these an
these! An Eh! Look at these here!
He threw himself upon his knees and Mary went down beside him. They had
come upon a whole clump of crocuses burst into purple and orange and
gold. Mary bent her face down and kissed and kissed them.
You never kiss a person in that way, she said when she lifted her
head. Flowers are so different.
He looked puzzled but smiled.
Eh! he said, I ve kissed mother many a time that way when I come in
from th moor after a day s roamin an she stood there at th door in
th sun, lookin so glad an comfortable.
They ran from one part of the garden to another and found so many
wonders that they were obliged to remind themselves that they must
whisper or speak low. He showed her swelling leafbuds on rose branches
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