Tha mother, answered Ben Weatherstaff.
My mother? said Colin, and he looked about him quietly. This was her
garden, wasn t it?
Aye, it was that! and Ben Weatherstaff looked about him too. She
were main fond of it.
It is my garden now. I am fond of it. I shall come here every day,
announced Colin. But it is to be a secret. My orders are that no one
is to know that we come here. Dickon and my cousin have worked and made
it come alive. I shall send for you sometimes to help but you must come
when no one can see you.
Ben Weatherstaff s face twisted itself in a dry old smile.
I ve come here before when no one saw me, he said.
What! exclaimed Colin. When?
Th last time I was here, rubbing his chin and looking round, was
about two year ago.
But no one has been in it for ten years! cried Colin.
There was no door!
I m no one, said old Ben dryly. An I didn t come through th door.
I come over th wall. Th rheumatics held me back th last two year .
Tha come an did a bit o prunin ! cried Dickon. I couldn t make
out how it had been done.
She was so fond of it she was! said Ben Weatherstaff slowly. An she
was such a pretty young thing. She says to me once, Ben, says she
laughin , if ever I m ill or if I go away you must take care of my
roses. When she did go away th orders was no one was ever to come
nigh. But I come, with grumpy obstinacy. Over th wall I come until
th rheumatics stopped me an I did a bit o work once a year. She d
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