wanted to see her an I told her where th door was hid.
Colin held out his hand with a sort of flushed royal shyness but his
eyes quite devoured her face.
Even when I was ill I wanted to see you, he said, you and Dickon and
the secret garden. I d never wanted to see anyone or anything before.
The sight of his uplifted face brought about a sudden change in her
own. She flushed and the corners of her mouth shook and a mist seemed
to sweep over her eyes.
Eh! dear lad! she broke out tremulously. Eh! dear lad! as if she
had not known she were going to say it. She did not say, Mester
Colin, but just dear lad quite suddenly. She might have said it to
Dickon in the same way if she had seen something in his face which
touched her. Colin liked it.
Are you surprised because I am so well? he asked.
She put her hand on his shoulder and smiled the mist out of her eyes.
Aye, that I am! she said; but tha rt so like thy mother tha made my
heart jump.
Do you think, said Colin a little awkwardly, that will make my
father like me?
Aye, for sure, dear lad, she answered and she gave his shoulder a
soft quick pat. He mun come home he mun come home.
Susan Sowerby, said Ben Weatherstaff, getting close to her. Look at
th lad s legs, wilt tha ? They was like drumsticks i stockin two
month ago an I heard folk tell as they was bandy an knock-kneed both
at th same time. Look at em now!
Susan Sowerby laughed a comfortable laugh.
They re goin to be fine strong lad s legs in a bit, she said. Let
him go on playin an workin in the garden an eatin hearty an
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