〃India　is　quite　different　from　Yorkshire；〃　Mary　said　slowly；　as　she　thought　the　matter　over。　　〃I　never　thought　of　that。　Did　Dickon　and　your　mother　like　to　hear　you　talk　about　me？〃
  〃Why；　our　Dickon's　eyes　nearly　started　out　o'　his　head；　they　got　that　round；〃　answered　Martha。　　〃But　mother；　she　was　put　out　about　your　seemin'　to　be　all　by　yourself　like。　She　said；　'Hasn't　Mr。　Craven　got　no　governess　for　her；　nor　no　nurse？'　and　I　said；　'No；　he　hasn't；　though　Mrs。　Medlock　says　he　will　when　he　thinks　of　it；　but　she　says　he　mayn't　think　of　it　for　two　or　three　years。'〃
  〃I　don't　want　a　governess；〃　said　Mary　sharply。
  〃But　mother　says　you　ought　to　be　learnin'　your　book　by　this　time　an'　you　ought　to　have　a　woman　to　look　after　you；　an'　she　says：　‘Now；　Martha；　you　just　think　how　you'd　feel　yourself；　in　a　big　place　like　that；　wanderin'　about　all　alone；　an'　no　mother。　You　do　your　best　to　cheer　her　up；'　she　says；　an'　I　said　I　would。〃
  Mary　gave　her　a　long；　steady　look。
  〃You　do　cheer　me　up；〃　she　said。　　〃I　like　to　hear　you　talk。〃
  Presently　Martha　went　out　of　the　room　and　came　back　with　something　held　in　her　hands　under　her　apron。
  〃What　does　tha'　think；〃　she　said；　with　a　cheerful　grin。　〃I've　brought　thee　a　present。〃
  〃A　present！〃　exclaimed　Mistress　Mary。　　How　could　a　cottage　full　of　fourteen　hungry　people　give　any　one　a　present！
  〃A　man　was　drivin'　across　the　moor　peddlin'；〃　Martha　explained。　〃An'　he　stopped　his　cart　at　our　door。　　He　had　pots　an'　pans　an'　odds　an'　ends；　but　mother　had　no　money　to　buy　anythin'。　Just　as　he　was　goin'　away　our　'Lizabeth　Ellen　called　out；　‘Mother；　he's　got　skippin'…ropes　with　red　an'　blue　handles。'　An'　mother　she　calls　out　quite　sudden；　‘Here；　stop；　mister！　How　much　are　they？'　An'　he　says　‘Tuppence'；　an'　mother　she　began　fumblin'　in　her　pocket　an'　she　says　to　me；　‘Martha；　tha's　brought　me　thy　wages　like　a　good　lass；　an'　I've　got　four　places　to　put　every　penny；　but　I'm　just　goin'　to　take　tuppence　out　of　it　to　buy　that　child　a　skippin'…rope；'　an'　she　bought　one　an'　here　it　is。〃
  She　brought　it　out　from　under　her　apron　and　exhibited　it　quite　proudly。　　It　was　a　strong；　slender　rope　with　a　striped　red　and　blue　handle　at　each　end；　but　Mary　Lennox　had　never　seen　a　skipping…rope　before。　She　gazed　at　it　with　a　mystified　expression。
  〃What　is　it　for？〃　she　asked　curiously。
  〃For！〃　cried　out　Martha。　　〃Does　tha'　mean　that　they've　not　got　skippin'…ropes　in　India；　for　all　they've　got　elephants　and　tigers　and　camels！　No　wonder　most　of　'em's　black。　This　is　what　it's　for；　just　watch　me。〃
  And　she　ran　into　the　middle　of　the　room　and；　taking　a　handle　in　each　hand；　began　to　skip；　and　skip；　and　skip；　while　Mary　turned　in　her　chair　to　stare　at　her；　and　the　queer　faces　in　the　old　portraits　seemed　to　stare　at　her；　too；　and　wonder　what　on　earth　this　common　little　cottager　had　the　impudence　to　be　doing　under　their　very　noses。　But　Martha　did　not　even　see　them。　　The　interest　and　curiosity　in　Mistress　Mary's　face　delighted　her；　and　she　went　on　skipping　and　counted　as　she　skipped　until　she　had　reached　a　hundred。
  〃I　could　skip　longer　than　that；〃　she　said　when　she　stopped。　〃I've　skipped　as　much　as　five　hundred　when　I　was　twelve；　but　I　wasn't　as　fat　then　as　I　am　now；　an'　I　was　in　practice。〃
  Mary　got　up　from　her　chair　beginning　to　feel　excited　herself。
  〃It　looks　nice；〃　she　said。　　〃Your　mother　is　a　kind　woman。　Do　you　think　I　could　ever　skip　like　that？〃
  〃You　just　try　it；〃　urged　Martha；　handing　her　the　skipping…　rope。　〃You　can't　skip　a　hundred　at　first；　but　if　you　practice　you'll　mount　up。　　That's　what　mother　said。　　She　says；　‘Nothin'　will　do　her　more　good　than　skippin'　rope。　　It's　th'　sensiblest　toy　a　child　can　have。　　Let　her　play　out　in　th'　fresh　air　skippin'　an'　it'll　stretch　her　legs　an'　arms　an'　give　her　some　strength　in　'em。'〃
  It　was　plain　that　there　was　not　a　great　deal　of　strength　in　Mistress　Mary's　arms　and　legs　when　she　first　began　to　skip。　　She　was　not　very　clever　at　it；　but　she　liked　it　so　much　that　she　did　not　want　to　stop。
  〃Put　on　tha'　things　and　run　an'　skip　out　o'　doors；〃　said　Martha。　　〃Mother　said　I　must　tell　you　to　keep　out　o'　doors　as　much　as　you　could；　even　when　it　rains　a　bit；　so　as　tha'　wrap　up　warm。〃
  Mary　put　on　her　coat　and　hat　and　took　her　skipping…rope　over　her　arm。　　She　opened　the　door　to　go　out；　and　then　suddenly　thought　of　something　and　turned　back　rather　slowly。
  〃Martha；〃　she　said；　〃they　were　your　wages。　　It　was　your　two…pence　really。　　Thank　you。〃　She　said　it　stiffly　because　she　was　not　used　to　thanking　people　or　noticing　that　they　did　things　for　her。　　〃Thank　you；〃　she　said；　and　held　out　her　hand　because　she　did　not　know　what　else　to　do。
  Martha　gave　her　hand　a　clumsy　little　shake；　as　if　she　was　not　accustomed　to　this　sort　of　thing　either。　Then　she　laughed。
  〃Eh！　th'　art　a　queer；　old…womanish　thing；〃　she　said。　〃If　tha'd　been　our　'Lizabeth　Ellen　tha'd　have　given　me　a　kiss。〃
  Mary　looked　stiffer　than　ever。
  〃Do　you　want　me　to　kiss　you？〃
  Martha　laughed　again。
  〃Nay；　not　me；〃　she　answered。　　〃If　tha'　was　different；　p'raps　tha'd　want　to　thysel'。　But　tha'　isn't。　Run　off　outside　an'　play　with　thy　rope。〃
  Mistress　Mary　felt　a　little　awkward　as　she　went　out　of　the　room。　　Yorkshire　people　seemed　strange；　and　Martha　was　always　rather　a　puzzle　to　her。　　At　first　she　had　disliked　her　very　much；　but　now　she　did　not。　　The　skipping…rope　was　a　wonderful　thing。　　She　counted　and　skipped；　and　skipped　and　counted；　until　her　cheeks　were　quite　red；　and　she　was　more　interested　than　she　had　ever　been　since　she　was　born。　　The　sun　was　shining　and　a　little　wind　was　blowingnot　a　rough　wind；　but　one　which　came　in　delightful　little　gusts　and　brought　a　fresh　scent　of　newly　turned　earth　with　it。　　She　skipped　round　the　fountain　garden；　and　up　one　walk　and　down　another。　　She　skipped　at　last　into　the　kitchen…garden　and　saw　Ben　Weatherstaff　digging　and　talking　to　his　robin；　which　was　hopping　about　him。　She　skipped　down　the　walk　toward　him　and　he　lifted　his　head　and　looked　at　her　with　a　curious　expression。　She　had　wondered　if　he　would　notice　her。　　She　wanted　him　to　see　her　skip。
  〃Well！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Upon　my　word。　　P'raps　tha'　art　a　young　'un；　after　all；　an'　p'raps　tha's　got　child's　blood　in　thy　veins　instead　of　sour　buttermilk。　Tha's　skipped　red　into　thy　cheeks　as　sure　as　my　name's　Ben　Weatherstaff。　　I　wouldn't　have　believed　tha'　could　do　it。〃
  〃I　never　skipped　before；〃　Mary　said。　　〃I'm　just　beginning。　I　can　only　go　up　to　twenty。〃
  〃Tha'　keep　on；〃　said　Ben。　　〃Tha'　shapes　well　enough　at　it　for　a　young　'un　that's　lived　with　heathen。　　Just　see　how　he's　watchin'　thee；〃　jerking　his　head　toward　the　robin。　〃He　followed　after　thee　yesterday。　　He'll　be　at　it　again　today。　He'll　be　bound　to　find　out　what　th'　skippin'…rope　is。　He's　never　seen　one。　　Eh！〃　shaking　his　head　at　the　bird；　〃tha'　curiosity　will　be　th'　death　of　thee　sometime　if　tha'　doesn't　look　sharp。〃
  Mary　skipped　round　all　the　gardens　and　round　the　orchard；　resting　every　few　minutes。　　At　length　she　went　to　her　own　special　walk　and　made　up　her　mind　to　try　if　she　could　skip　the　whole　length　of　it。　　It　was　a　good　long　skip　and　she　began　slowly；　but　before　she　had　gone　half…way　down　the　path　she　was　so　hot　and　breathless　that　she　was　obliged　to　stop。　　She　did　not　mind　much；　because　she　had　already　counted　up　to　thirty。　She　stopped　with　a　little　laugh　of　pleasure；　and　there；　lo　and　behold；　was　the　robin　swaying　on　a　long　branch　of　ivy。　He　had　followed　her　and　he　greeted　her　with　a　chirp。　As　Mary　had　skipped　toward　him　she　felt　something　heavy　in　her　pocket　strike　against　her　at　each　jump；　and　when　she　saw　the　robin　she　laughed　again。
  〃You　showed　me　where　the　key　was　yesterday；〃　she　said。　〃You　ought　to　show　me　the　door　today；　but　I　don't　believe　you　know！〃
  The　robin　flew　from　his　swinging　spray　of　ivy　on　to　the　top　of　the　wall　and　he　opened　his　beak　and　sang　a　loud；　lovely　trill；　merely　to　show　off。　　Nothing　in　the　world　is　quite　as　adorably　lovely　as　a　robin　when　he　shows　offand　they　are　nearly　always　doing　it。
  Mary　Lennox　had　heard　a　great　deal　about　Magic　in　her　Ayah's　stories；　and　she　always　said　that　what　happened　almost　at　that　moment　was　Magic。
  One　of　the　nice　little　gusts　of　wind　rushed　down　the　walk；　and　it　was　a　stronger　one　than　the　rest。　It　was　strong　enough　to　wave　the　branches　of　the　trees；　and　it　was　more　than　strong　enough　to　sway　the　trailing　sprays　of　untrimmed　ivy　hanging　from　the　wall。　　Mary　had　stepped　close　to　the　robin；　and　suddenly　the　gust　of　wind　swung　aside　some　loose　ivy　trails；　and　more　suddenly　still　she　jumped　toward　it　and　caught　it　in　her　hand。　This　she　did　because　she　had　seen　something　under　ita　round　knob　which　had　been　covered　by　the　leaves　hanging　over　it。　It　was　the　knob　of　a　door。
  She　put　her　hands　under　the　leaves　and　began　to　pull　and　push　them　aside。　　Thick　as　the　ivy　hung；　it　nearly　all　was　a　loose　and　swinging　curtain；　though　some　had　crept　over　wood　and　iron。　　Mary's　heart　began　to　thump　and　her　hands　to　shake　a　little　in　her　delight　and　excitement。　The　robin　kept　singing　and　twittering　away　and　tilting　his　head　on　one　side；　as　if　he　were　as　excited　as　she　was。　What　was　this　under　her　hands　which　was　square　and　made　of　iron　and　which　her　fingers　found　a　hole　in？
  It　was　the　lock　of　the　doo