Colin s so afraid of it himself that he won t sit up, said Mary. He
says he s always thinking that if he should feel a lump coming he
should go crazy and scream himself to death.
Eh! he oughtn t to lie there thinkin things like that, said Dickon.
No lad could get well as thought them sort o things.
The fox was lying on the grass close by him, looking up to ask for a
pat now and then, and Dickon bent down and rubbed his neck softly and
thought a few minutes in silence. Presently he lifted his head and
looked round the garden.
When first we got in here, he said, it seemed like everything was
gray. Look round now and tell me if tha doesn t see a difference.
Mary looked and caught her breath a little.
Why! she cried, the gray wall is changing. It is as if a green mist
were creeping over it. It s almost like a green gauze veil.
Aye, said Dickon. An it ll be greener and greener till th gray s
all gone. Can tha guess what I was thinkin ?
I know it was something nice, said Mary eagerly. I believe it was
something about Colin.
I was thinkin that if he was out here he wouldn t be watchin for
lumps to grow on his back; he d be watchin for buds to break on th
rose-bushes, an he d likely be healthier, explained Dickon. I was
wonderin if us could ever get him in th humor to come out here an
lie under th trees in his carriage.
I ve been wondering that myself. I ve thought of it almost every time
I ve talked to him, said Mary. I ve wondered if he could keep a
secret and I ve wondered if we could bring him here without anyone
seeing us. I thought perhaps you could push his carriage. The doctor
said he must have fresh air and if he wants us to take him out no one
dare disobey him. He won t go out for other people and perhaps they
will be glad if he will go out with us. He could order the gardeners to
keep away so they wouldn t find out.
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