gave her order first.
It wouldn t have been as wick as it is if tha hadn t done it, said
Dickon. I did wonder.
I m glad you did it, Weatherstaff, said Colin. You ll know how to
keep the secret.
Aye, I ll know, sir, answered Ben. An it ll be easier for a man wi
rheumatics to come in at th door.
On the grass near the tree Mary had dropped her trowel. Colin stretched
out his hand and took it up. An odd expression came into his face and
he began to scratch at the earth. His thin hand was weak enough but
presently as they watched him Mary with quite breathless interest he
drove the end of the trowel into the soil and turned some over.
You can do it! You can do it! said Mary to herself. I tell you, you
can!
Dickon s round eyes were full of eager curiousness but he said not a
word. Ben Weatherstaff looked on with interested face.
Colin persevered. After he had turned a few trowelfuls of soil he spoke
exultantly to Dickon in his best Yorkshire.
Tha said as tha d have me walkin about here same as other folk an
tha said tha d have me diggin . I thowt tha was just leein to please
me. This is only th first day an I ve walked an here I am diggin .
Ben Weatherstaff s mouth fell open again when he heard him, but he
ended by chuckling.
Eh! he said, that sounds as if tha d got wits enow. Tha rt a
Yorkshire lad for sure. An tha rt diggin , too. How d tha like to
plant a bit o somethin ? I can get thee a rose in a pot.
Go and get it! said Colin, digging excitedly. Quick! Quick!
It was done quickly enough indeed. Ben Weatherstaff went his way
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