〃But　how　could　it　have　been　done？〃　said　Mary。
  He　was　examining　a　branch　of　a　standard　rose　and　he　shook　his　head。
  〃Aye！　how　could　it！〃　he　murmured。　　〃With　th'　door　locked　an'　th'　key　buried。〃
  Mistress　Mary　always　felt　that　however　many　years　she　lived　she　should　never　forget　that　first　morning　when　her　garden　began　to　grow。　　Of　course；　it　did　seem　to　begin　to　grow　for　her　that　morning。　　When　Dickon　began　to　clear　places　to　plant　seeds；　she　remembered　what　Basil　had　sung　at　her　when　he　wanted　to　tease　her。
  〃Are　there　any　flowers　that　look　like　bells？〃　she　inquired。
  〃Lilies　o'　th'　valley　does；〃　he　answered；　digging　away　with　the　trowel；　〃an'　there's　Canterbury　bells；　an'　campanulas。〃
  〃Let's　plant　some；〃　said　Mary。　　〃There's　lilies　o'　th；　valley　here　already；　I　saw　'em。　They'll　have　growed　too　close　an'　we'll　have　to　separate　'em；　but　there's　plenty。　Th'　other　ones　takes　two　years　to　bloom　from　seed；　but　I　can　bring　you　some　bits　o'　plants　from　our　cottage　garden。　Why　does　tha'　want　'em？〃
  Then　Mary　told　him　about　Basil　and　his　brothers　and　sisters　in　India　and　of　how　she　had　hated　them　and　of　their　calling　her　〃Mistress　Mary　Quite　Contrary。〃
  〃They　used　to　dance　round　and　sing　at　me。　　They　sang
  ‘Mistress　Mary；　quite　contrary；　　　　　　　　　　How　does　your　garden　grow？　　　　　　　　　　With　silver　bells；　and　cockle　shells；　　　　　　　　　　And　marigolds　all　in　a　row。'
  I　just　remembered　it　and　it　made　me　wonder　if　there　were　really　flowers　like　silver　bells。〃
  She　frowned　a　little　and　gave　her　trowel　a　rather　spiteful　dig　into　the　earth。
  〃I　wasn't　as　contrary　as　they　were。〃
  But　Dickon　laughed。
  〃Eh！〃　he　said；　and　as　he　crumbled　the　rich　black　soil　she　saw　he　was　sniffing　up　the　scent　of　it。　　〃There　doesn't　seem　to　be　no　need　for　no　one　to　be　contrary　when　there's　flowers　an'　such　like；　an'　such　lots　o'　friendly　wild　things　runnin'　about　makin'　homes　for　themselves；　or　buildin'　nests　an'　singin'　an'　whistlin'；　does　there？〃
  Mary；　kneeling　by　him　holding　the　seeds；　looked　at　him　and　stopped　frowning。
  〃Dickon；〃　she　said；　〃you　are　as　nice　as　Martha　said　you　were。　　I　like　you；　and　you　make　the　fifth　person。　I　never　thought　I　should　like　five　people。〃
  Dickon　sat　up　on　his　heels　as　Martha　did　when　she　was　polishing　the　grate。　　He　did　look　funny　and　delightful；　Mary　thought；　with　his　round　blue　eyes　and　red　cheeks　and　happy　looking　turned…up　nose。
  〃Only　five　folk　as　tha'　likes？〃　he　said。　　〃Who　is　th'　other　four？〃
  〃Your　mother　and　Martha；〃　Mary　checked　them　off　on　her　fingers；　〃and　the　robin　and　Ben　Weatherstaff。〃
  Dickon　laughed　so　that　he　was　obliged　to　stifle　the　sound　by　putting　his　arm　over　his　mouth。
  〃I　know　tha'　thinks　I'm　a　queer　lad；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　think　tha'　art　th'　queerest　little　lass　I　ever　saw。〃
  Then　Mary　did　a　strange　thing。　　She　leaned　forward　and　asked　him　a　question　she　had　never　dreamed　of　asking　any　one　before。　　And　she　tried　to　ask　it　in　Yorkshire　because　that　was　his　lan…　guage；　and　in　India　a　native　was　always　pleased　if　you　knew　his　speech。
  〃Does　tha'　like　me？〃　she　said。
  〃Eh！〃　he　answered　heartily；　〃that　I　does。　　I　likes　thee　wonderful；　an'　so　does　th'　robin；　I　do　believe！〃
  〃That's　two；　then；〃　said　Mary。　　〃That's　two　for　me。〃
  And　then　they　began　to　work　harder　than　ever　and　more　joyfully。　Mary　was　startled　and　sorry　when　she　heard　the　big　clock　in　the　courtyard　strike　the　hour　of　her　midday　dinner。
  〃I　shall　have　to　go；〃　she　said　mournfully。　　〃And　you　will　have　to　go　too；　won't　you？〃
  Dickon　grinned。
  〃My　dinner's　easy　to　carry　about　with　me；〃　he　said。　〃Mother　always　lets　me　put　a　bit　o'　somethin'　in　my　pocket。〃
  He　picked　up　his　coat　from　the　grass　and　brought　out　of　a　pocket　a　lumpy　little　bundle　tied　up　in　a　quite　clean；　coarse；　blue　and　white　handkerchief。　　It　held　two　thick　pieces　of　bread　with　a　slice　of　something　laid　between　them。
  〃It's　oftenest　naught　but　bread；〃　he　said；　〃but　I've　got　a　fine　slice　o'　fat　bacon　with　it　today。〃
  Mary　thought　it　looked　a　queer　dinner；　but　he　seemed　ready　to　enjoy　it。
  〃Run　on　an'　get　thy　victuals；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　be　done　with　mine　first。　　I'll　get　some　more　work　done　before　I　start　back　home。〃
  He　sat　down　with　his　back　against　a　tree。
  〃I'll　call　th'　robin　up；〃　he　said；　〃and　give　him　th'　rind　o'　th'　bacon　to　peck　at。　　They　likes　a　bit　o'　fat　wonderful。〃
  Mary　could　scarcely　bear　to　leave　him。　　Suddenly　it　seemed　as　if　he　might　be　a　sort　of　wood　fairy　who　might　be　gone　when　she　came　into　the　garden　again。　He　seemed　too　good　to　be　true。　　She　went　slowly　half…way　to　the　door　in　the　wall　and　then　she　stopped　and　went　back。
  〃Whatever　happens；　youyou　never　would　tell？〃　she　said。
  His　poppy…colored　cheeks　were　distended　with　his　first　big　bite　of　bread　and　bacon；　but　he　managed　to　smile　encouragingly。
  〃If　tha'　was　a　missel　thrush　an'　showed　me　where　thy　nest　was；　does　tha'　think　I'd　tell　any　one？　Not　me；〃　he　said。　〃Tha'　art　as　safe　as　a　missel　thrush。〃
  And　she　was　quite　sure　she　was。
  CHAPTER　XII
  〃MIGHT　I　HAVE　A　BIT　OF　EARTH？〃
  Mary　ran　so　fast　that　she　was　rather　out　of　breath　when　she　reached　her　room。　　Her　hair　was　ruffled　on　her　forehead　and　her　cheeks　were　bright　pink。　　Her　dinner　was　waiting　on　the　table；　and　Martha　was　waiting　near　it。
  〃Tha's　a　bit　late；〃　she　said。　　〃Where　has　tha'　been？〃
  〃I've　seen　Dickon！〃　said　Mary。　　〃I've　seen　Dickon！〃
  〃I　knew　he'd　come；〃　said　Martha　exultantly。　　〃How　does　tha'　like　him？〃
  〃I　thinkI　think　he's　beautiful！〃　said　Mary　in　a　determined　voice。
  Martha　looked　rather　taken　aback　but　she　looked　pleased；　too。
  〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃he's　th'　best　lad　as　ever　was　born；　but　us　never　thought　he　was　handsome。　　His　nose　turns　up　too　much。〃
  〃I　like　it　to　turn　up；〃　said　Mary。
  〃An'　his　eyes　is　so　round；〃　said　Martha；　a　trifle　doubtful。　〃Though　they're　a　nice　color。〃　〃I　like　them　round；〃　said　Mary。　　〃And　they　are　exactly　the　color　of　the　sky　over　the　moor。〃
  Martha　beamed　with　satisfaction。
  〃Mother　says　he　made　'em　that　color　with　always　lookin'　up　at　th'　birds　an'　th'　clouds。　　But　he　has　got　a　big　mouth；　hasn't　he；　now？〃
  〃I　love　his　big　mouth；〃　said　Mary　obstinately。　　〃I　wish　mine　were　just　like　it。〃
  Martha　chuckled　delightedly。
  〃It'd　look　rare　an'　funny　in　thy　bit　of　a　face；〃　she　said。　〃But　I　knowed　it　would　be　that　way　when　tha'　saw　him。　How　did　tha'　like　th'　seeds　an'　th'　garden　tools？〃
  〃How　did　you　know　he　brought　them？〃　asked　Mary。
  〃Eh！　I　never　thought　of　him　not　bringin'　'em。　He'd　be　sure　to　bring　'em　if　they　was　in　Yorkshire。　He's　such　a　trusty　lad。〃
  Mary　was　afraid　that　she　might　begin　to　ask　difficult　questions；　but　she　did　not。　　She　was　very　much　interested　in　the　seeds　and　gardening　tools；　and　there　was　only　one　moment　when　Mary　was　frightened。　This　was　when　she　began　to　ask　where　the　flowers　were　to　be　planted。
  〃Who　did　tha'　ask　about　it？〃　she　inquired。
  〃I　haven't　asked　anybody　yet；〃　said　Mary；　hesitating。　〃Well；　I　wouldn't　ask　th'　head　gardener。　　He's　too　grand；　Mr。　Roach　is。〃
  〃I've　never　seen　him；〃　said　Mary。　　〃I've　only　seen　undergardeners　and　Ben　Weatherstaff。〃
  〃If　I　was　you；　I'd　ask　Ben　Weatherstaff；〃　advised　Martha。　〃He's　not　half　as　bad　as　he　looks；　for　all　he's　so　crabbed。　Mr。　Craven　lets　him　do　what　he　likes　because　he　was　here　when　Mrs。　Craven　was　alive；　an'　he　used　to　make　her　laugh。　She　liked　him。　　Perhaps　he'd　find　you　a　corner　somewhere　out　o'　the　way。〃
  〃If　it　was　out　of　the　way　and　no　one　wanted　it；　no　one　could　mind　my　having　it；　could　they？〃　Mary　said　anxiously。
  〃There　wouldn't　be　no　reason；〃　answered　Martha。　〃You　wouldn't　do　no　harm。〃
  Mary　ate　her　dinner　as　quickly　as　she　could　and　when　she　rose　from　the　table　she　was　going　to　run　to　her　room　to　put　on　her　hat　again；　but　Martha　stopped　her。
  〃I've　got　somethin'　to　tell　you；〃　she　said。　　〃I　thought　I'd　let　you　eat　your　dinner　first。　　Mr。　Craven　came　back　this　mornin'　and　I　think　he　wants　to　see　you。〃
  Mary　turned　quite　pale。
  〃Oh！〃　she　said。　　〃Why！　Why！　He　didn't　want　to　see　me　when　I　came。　I　heard　Pitcher　say　he　didn't。〃　〃Well；〃　explained　Martha；　〃Mrs。　Medlock　says　it's　because　o'　mother。　　She　was　walkin'　to　Thwaite　village　an'　she　met　him。　　She'd　never　spoke　to　him　before；　but　Mrs。　Craven　had　been　to　our　cottage　two　or　three　times。　　He'd　forgot；　but　mother　hadn't　an'　she　made　bold　to　stop　him。　　I　don't　know　what　she　said　to　him　about　you　but　she　said　somethin'　as　put　him　in　th'　mind　to　see　you　before　he　goes　away　again；　tomorrow。〃
  〃Oh！〃　cried　Mary；　〃is　he　going　away　tomorrow？　I　am　so　glad！〃
  〃He's　goin'　for　a　long　time。　　He　mayn't　come　back　till　autumn　or　winter。　　He's　goin'　to　travel　in　foreign　places。　He's　always　doin'　it。〃
  〃Oh！　I'm　so　gladso　glad！〃　said　Mary　thankfully。
  If　he　did　not　come　back　until　winter；　or　even　autumn；　there　would　be　time　to　watch　the　secret　garden　come　alive。　Even　if　he　found　out　then　and　took　it　away　from　her　she　would　have　had　that　much　at　least。
  〃When　do　you　think　he　will　want　to　see〃
  She　did　not　finish　the　sentence；　because　the　door　opened；　and　Mrs。　Medlock　walked　in。　　She　had　on　her　best　black　dress　and　cap；　and　her　collar　was　fastened　with　a　large　brooch　with　a　picture　of　a　man's　face　on　it。　It　was　a　colored　photograph　of　Mr。　Medlock　who　had　died　years　ago；　and　she　alw