and shown all the mysterious riches it contained.
I wonder if we shall see the robin? said Colin.
Tha ll see him often enow after a bit, answered Dickon. When th
eggs hatches out th little chap he ll be kep so busy it ll make his
head swim. Tha ll see him flyin backward an for ard carryin worms
nigh as big as himsel an that much noise goin on in th nest when he
gets there as fair flusters him so as he scarce knows which big mouth
to drop th first piece in. An gapin beaks an squawks on every side.
Mother says as when she sees th work a robin has to keep them gapin
beaks filled, she feels like she was a lady with nothin to do. She
says she s seen th little chaps when it seemed like th sweat must be
droppin off em, though folk can t see it.
This made them giggle so delightedly that they were obliged to cover
their mouths with their hands, remembering that they must not be heard.
Colin had been instructed as to the law of whispers and low voices
several days before. He liked the mysteriousness of it and did his
best, but in the midst of excited enjoyment it is rather difficult
never to laugh above a whisper.
Every moment of the afternoon was full of new things and every hour the
sunshine grew more golden. The wheeled chair had been drawn back under
the canopy and Dickon had sat down on the grass and had just drawn out
his pipe when Colin saw something he had not had time to notice before.
That s a very old tree over there, isn t it? he said.
Dickon looked across the grass at the tree and Mary looked and there
was a brief moment of stillness.
Yes, answered Dickon, after it, and his low voice had a very gentle
sound.
Mary gazed at the tree and thought.
The branches are quite gray and there s not a single leaf anywhere,
Colin went on. It s quite dead, isn t it?
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