rs　ago；　and　she　always　wore　it　when　she　was　dressed　up。　She　looked　nervous　and　excited。
  〃Your　hair's　rough；〃　she　said　quickly。　　〃Go　and　brush　it。　　Martha；　help　her　to　slip　on　her　best　dress。　Mr。　Craven　sent　me　to　bring　her　to　him　in　his　study。〃
  All　the　pink　left　Mary's　cheeks。　　Her　heart　began　to　thump　and　she　felt　herself　changing　into　a　stiff；　plain；　silent　child　again。　　She　did　not　even　answer　Mrs。　Medlock；　but　turned　and　walked　into　her　bedroom；　followed　by　Martha。　She　said　nothing　while　her　dress　was　changed；　and　her　hair　brushed；　and　after　she　was　quite　tidy　she　followed　Mrs。　Medlock　down　the　corridors；　in　silence。　　What　was　there　for　her　to　say？　She　was　obliged　to　go　and　see　Mr。　Craven　and　he　would　not　like　her；　and　she　would　not　like　him。　She　knew　what　he　would　think　of　her。
  She　was　taken　to　a　part　of　the　house　she　had　not　been　into　before。　　At　last　Mrs。　Medlock　knocked　at　a　door；　and　when　some　one　said；　〃Come　in；〃　they　entered　the　room　together。　　A　man　was　sitting　in　an　armchair　before　the　fire；　and　Mrs。　Medlock　spoke　to　him。
  〃This　is　Miss　Mary；　sir；〃　she　said。
  〃You　can　go　and　leave　her　here。　　I　will　ring　for　you　when　I　want　you　to　take　her　away；〃　said　Mr。　Craven。
  When　she　went　out　and　closed　the　door；　Mary　could　only　stand　waiting；　a　plain　little　thing；　twisting　her　thin　hands　together。　　She　could　see　that　the　man　in　the　chair　was　not　so　much　a　hunchback　as　a　man　with　high；　rather　crooked　shoulders；　and　he　had　black　hair　streaked　with　white。　　He　turned　his　head　over　his　high　shoulders　and　spoke　to　her。
  〃Come　here！〃　he　said。
  Mary　went　to　him。
  He　was　not　ugly。　　His　face　would　have　been　handsome　if　it　had　not　been　so　miserable。　　He　looked　as　if　the　sight　of　her　worried　and　fretted　him　and　as　if　he　did　not　know　what　in　the　world　to　do　with　her。
  〃Are　you　well？〃　he　asked。
  〃Yes；〃　answered　Mary。
  〃Do　they　take　good　care　of　you？〃
  〃Yes。〃
  He　rubbed　his　forehead　fretfully　as　he　looked　her　over。
  〃You　are　very　thin；〃　he　said。
  〃I　am　getting　fatter；〃　Mary　answered　in　what　she　knew　was　her　stiffest　way。
  What　an　unhappy　face　he　had！　His　black　eyes　seemed　as　if　they　scarcely　saw　her；　as　if　they　were　seeing　something　else；　and　he　could　hardly　keep　his　thoughts　upon　her。
  〃I　forgot　you；〃　he　said。　　〃How　could　I　remember　you？　I　intended　to　send　you　a　governess　or　a　nurse；　or　some　one　of　that　sort；　but　I　forgot。〃
  〃Please；〃　began　Mary。　　〃Please〃　and　then　the　lump　in　her　throat　choked　her。
  〃What　do　you　want　to　say？〃　he　inquired。
  〃I　amI　am　too　big　for　a　nurse；〃　said　Mary。　〃And　pleaseplease　don't　make　me　have　a　governess　yet。〃
  He　rubbed　his　forehead　again　and　stared　at　her。
  〃That　was　what　the　Sowerby　woman　said；〃　he　muttered　absentmindedly。
  Then　Mary　gathered　a　scrap　of　courage。
  〃Is　sheis　she　Martha's　mother？〃　she　stammered。
  〃Yes；　I　think　so；〃　he　replied。
  〃She　knows　about　children；〃　said　Mary。　　〃She　has　twelve。　She　knows。〃
  He　seemed　to　rouse　himself。
  〃What　do　you　want　to　do？〃
  〃I　want　to　play　out　of　doors；〃　Mary　answered；　hoping　that　her　voice　did　not　tremble。　　〃I　never　liked　it　in　India。　It　makes　me　hungry　here；　and　I　am　getting　fatter。〃
  He　was　watching　her。
  〃Mrs。　Sowerby　said　it　would　do　you　good。　　Perhaps　it　will；〃　he　said。　　〃She　thought　you　had　better　get　stronger　before　you　had　a　governess。〃
  〃It　makes　me　feel　strong　when　I　play　and　the　wind　comes　over　the　moor；〃　argued　Mary。
  〃Where　do　you　play？〃　he　asked　next。
  〃Everywhere；〃　gasped　Mary。　　〃Martha's　mother　sent　me　a　skipping…rope。　I　skip　and　runand　I　look　about　to　see　if　things　are　beginning　to　stick　up　out　of　the　earth。　I　don't　do　any　harm。〃
  〃Don't　look　so　frightened；〃　he　said　in　a　worried　voice。　〃You　could　not　do　any　harm；　a　child　like　you！　You　may　do　what　you　like。〃
  Mary　put　her　hand　up　to　her　throat　because　she　was　afraid　he　might　see　the　excited　lump　which　she　felt　jump　into　it。　She　came　a　step　nearer　to　him。
  〃May　I？〃　she　said　tremulously。
  Her　anxious　little　face　seemed　to　worry　him　more　than　ever。
  〃Don't　look　so　frightened；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Of　course　you　may。　I　am　your　guardian；　though　I　am　a　poor　one　for　any　child。　I　cannot　give　you　time　or　attention。　　I　am　too　ill；　and　wretched　and　distracted；　but　I　wish　you　to　be　happy　and　comfortable。　　I　don't　know　anything　about　children；　but　Mrs。　Medlock　is　to　see　that　you　have　all　you　need。　I　sent　for　you　to…day　because　Mrs。　Sowerby　said　I　ought　to　see　you。　　Her　daughter　had　talked　about　you。　She　thought　you　needed　fresh　air　and　freedom　and　running　about。〃
  〃She　knows　all　about　children；〃　Mary　said　again　in　spite　of　herself。
  〃She　ought　to；〃　said　Mr。　Craven。　　〃I　thought　her　rather　bold　to　stop　me　on　the　moor；　but　she　saidMrs。　Craven　had　been　kind　to　her。〃　It　seemed　hard　for　him　to　speak　his　dead　wife's　name。　　〃She　is　a　respectable　woman。　Now　I　have　seen　you　I　think　she　said　sensible　things。　Play　out　of　doors　as　much　as　you　like。　　It's　a　big　place　and　you　may　go　where　you　like　and　amuse　yourself　as　you　like。　Is　there　anything　you　want？〃　as　if　a　sudden　thought　had　struck　him。　　〃Do　you　want　toys；　books；　dolls？〃
  〃Might　I；〃　quavered　Mary；　〃might　I　have　a　bit　of　earth？〃
  In　her　eagerness　she　did　not　realize　how　queer　the　words　would　sound　and　that　they　were　not　the　ones　she　had　meant　to　say。　　Mr。　Craven　looked　quite　startled。
  〃Earth！〃　he　repeated。　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
  〃To　plant　seeds　into　make　things　growto　see　them　come　alive；〃　Mary　faltered。
  He　gazed　at　her　a　moment　and　then　passed　his　hand　quickly　over　his　eyes。
  〃Do　youcare　about　gardens　so　much；〃　he　said　slowly。
  〃I　didn't　know　about　them　in　India；〃　said　Mary。　　〃I　was　always　ill　and　tired　and　it　was　too　hot。　　I　sometimes　made　littlebeds　in　the　sand　and　stuck　flowers　in　them。　But　here　it　is　different。〃
  Mr。　Craven　got　up　and　began　to　walk　slowly　across　the　room。
  〃A　bit　of　earth；〃　he　said　to　himself；　and　Mary　thought　that　somehow　she　must　have　reminded　him　of　something。　When　he　stopped　and　spoke　to　her　his　dark　eyes　looked　almost　soft　and　kind。
  〃You　can　have　as　much　earth　as　you　want；〃　he　said。　〃You　remind　me　of　some　one　else　who　loved　the　earth　and　things　that　grow。　　When　you　see　a　bit　of　earth　you　want；〃　with　something　like　a　smile；　〃take　it；　child；　and　make　it　come　alive。〃
  〃May　I　take　it　from　anywhereif　it's　not　wanted？〃
  〃Anywhere；〃　he　answered。　　〃There！　You　must　go　now；　I　am　tired。〃　He　touched　the　bell　to　call　Mrs。　Medlock。　〃Good…by。　I　shall　be　away　all　summer。〃
  Mrs。　Medlock　came　so　quickly　that　Mary　thought　she　must　have　been　waiting　in　the　corridor。
  〃Mrs。　Medlock；〃　Mr。　Craven　said　to　her；　〃now　I　have　seen　the　child　I　understand　what　Mrs。　Sowerby　meant。　She　must　be　less　delicate　before　she　begins　lessons。　Give　her　simple；　healthy　food。　　Let　her　run　wild　in　the　garden。　　Don't　look　after　her　too　much。　　She　needs　liberty　and　fresh　air　and　romping　about。　　Mrs。　Sowerby　is　to　come　and　see　her　now　and　then　and　she　may　sometimes　go　to　the　cottage。〃
  Mrs。　Medlock　looked　pleased。　　She　was　relieved　to　hear　that　she　need　not　〃look　after〃　Mary　too　much。　She　had　felt　her　a　tiresome　charge　and　had　indeed　seen　as　little　of　her　as　she　dared。　　In　addition　to　this　she　was　fond　of　Martha's　mother。
  〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　she　said。　　〃Susan　Sowerby　and　me　went　to　school　together　and　she's　as　sensible　and　good…hearted　a　woman　as　you'd　find　in　a　day's　walk。　　I　never　had　any　children　myself　and　she's　had　twelve；　and　there　never　was　healthier　or　better　ones。　　Miss　Mary　can　get　no　harm　from　them。　I'd　always　take　Susan　Sowerby's　advice　about　children　myself。　She's　what　you　might　call　healthy…mindedif　you　understand　me。〃
  〃I　understand；〃　Mr。　Craven　answered。　　〃Take　Miss　Mary　away　now　and　send　Pitcher　to　me。〃
  When　Mrs。　Medlock　left　her　at　the　end　of　her　own　corridor　Mary　flew　back　to　her　room。　　She　found　Martha　waiting　there。　Martha　had；　in　fact；　hurried　back　after　she　had　removed　the　dinner　service。
  〃I　can　have　my　garden！〃　cried　Mary。　　〃I　may　have　it　where　I　like！　I　am　not　going　to　have　a　governess　for　a　long　time！　Your　mother　is　coming　to　see　me　and　I　may　go　to　your　cottage！　He　says　a　little　girl　like　me　could　not　do　any　harm　and　I　may　do　what　I　likeanywhere！〃
  〃Eh！〃　said　Martha　delightedly；　〃that　was　nice　of　him　wasn't　it？〃
  〃Martha；〃　said　Mary　solemnly；　〃he　is　really　a　nice　man；　only　his　face　is　so　miserable　and　his　forehead　is　all　drawn　together。〃
  She　ran　as　quickly　as　she　could　to　the　garden。　　She　had　been　away　so　much　longer　than　she　had　thought　she　should　and　she　knew　Dickon　would　have　to　set　out　early　on　his　five…mile　walk。　　When　she　slipped　through　the　door　under　the　ivy；　she　saw　he　was　not　working　where　she　had　left　him。　The　gardening　tools　were　laid　together　under　a　tree。　She　ran　to　them；　looking　all　round　the　place；　but　there　was　no　Dickon　to　be　seen。　　He　had　gone　away　and　the　secret　garden　was　emptyexcept　for　the　robin　who　had　just　flown　across　the　wall　and　sat　on　a　standard　rose…bush　watching　her。　〃He's　gone；〃　she　said　woefully。　　〃Oh！　was　hewas　hewas　he　only　a　wood　fairy？〃
  Something　white　fastened　to　the　standard　rose…bush　caught　her　eye。　　It　was　a　piece　of　paper；　in　fact；　it　was　a　piece　of　the　letter　she　had　printed　for　Martha　to　send　to　Dickon。　　It　was　fastened　on　the　bush　with　a　long　thorn；　and　in　a　minute　she　knew　Dickon　had　left　it　there。　The