〃Would　you　hate　it　ifif　a　boy　looked　at　you？〃　Mary　asked　uncertainly。
  He　lay　back　on　his　cushion　and　paused　thoughtfully。
  〃There's　one　boy；〃　he　said　quite　slowly；　as　if　he　were　thinking　over　every　word；　〃there's　one　boy　I　believe　I　shouldn't　mind。　It's　that　boy　who　knows　where　the　foxes　liveDickon。〃
  〃I'm　sure　you　wouldn't　mind　him；〃　said　Mary。
  〃The　birds　don't　and　other　animals；〃　he　said；　still　thinking　it　over；　〃perhaps　that's　why　I　shouldn't。　He's　a　sort　of　animal　charmer　and　I　am　a　boy　animal。〃
  Then　he　laughed　and　she　laughed　too；　in　fact　it　ended　in　their　both　laughing　a　great　deal　and　finding　the　idea　of　a　boy　animal　hiding　in　his　hole　very　funny　indeed。
  What　Mary　felt　afterward　was　that　she　need　not　fear　about　Dickon。
  On　that　first　morning　when　the　sky　was　blue　again　Mary　wakened　very　early。　　The　sun　was　pouring　in　slanting　rays　through　the　blinds　and　there　was　something　so　joyous　in　the　sight　of　it　that　she　jumped　out　of　bed　and　ran　to　the　window。　She　drew　up　the　blinds　and　opened　the　window　itself　and　a　great　waft　of　fresh；　scented　air　blew　in　upon　her。　The　moor　was　blue　and　the　whole　world　looked　as　if　something　Magic　had　happened　to　it。　　There　were　tender　little　fluting　sounds　here　and　there　and　everywhere；　as　if　scores　of　birds　were　beginning　to　tune　up　for　a　concert。　Mary　put　her　hand　out　of　the　window　and　held　it　in　the　sun。
  〃It's　warmwarm！〃　she　said。　　〃It　will　make　the　green　points　push　up　and　up　and　up；　and　it　will　make　the　bulbs　and　roots　work　and　struggle　with　all　their　might　under　the　earth。〃
  She　kneeled　down　and　leaned　out　of　the　window　as　far　as　she　could；　breathing　big　breaths　and　sniffing　the　air　until　she　laughed　because　she　remembered　what　Dickon's　mother　had　said　about　the　end　of　his　nose　quivering　like　a　rabbit's。　〃It　must　be　very　early；〃　she　said。　〃The　little　clouds　are　all　pink　and　I've　never　seen　the　sky　look　like　this。　　No　one　is　up。　　I　don't　even　hear　the　stable　boys。〃
  A　sudden　thought　made　her　scramble　to　her　feet。
  〃I　can't　wait！　I　am　going　to　see　the　garden！〃
  She　had　learned　to　dress　herself　by　this　time　and　she　put　on　her　clothes　in　five　minutes。　　She　knew　a　small　side　door　which　she　could　unbolt　herself　and　she　flew　downstairs　in　her　stocking　feet　and　put　on　her　shoes　in　the　hall。　She　unchained　and　unbolted　and　unlocked　and　when　the　door　was　open　she　sprang　across　the　step　with　one　bound；　and　there　she　was　standing　on　the　grass；　which　seemed　to　have　turned　green；　and　with　the　sun　pouring　down　on　her　and　warm　sweet　wafts　about　her　and　the　fluting　and　twittering　and　singing　coming　from　every　bush　and　tree。　She　clasped　her　hands　for　pure　joy　and　looked　up　in　the　sky　and　it　was　so　blue　and　pink　and　pearly　and　white　and　flooded　with　springtime　light　that　she　felt　as　if　she　must　flute　and　sing　aloud　herself　and　knew　that　thrushes　and　robins　and　skylarks　could　not　possibly　help　it。　　She　ran　around　the　shrubs　and　paths　towards　the　secret　garden。
  〃It　is　all　different　already；〃　she　said。　　〃The　grass　is　greener　and　things　are　sticking　up　every…　where　and　things　are　uncurling　and　green　buds　of　leaves　are　showing。　This　afternoon　I　am　sure　Dickon　will　come。〃
  The　long　warm　rain　had　done　strange　things　to　the　herbaceous　beds　which　bordered　the　walk　by　the　lower　wall。　There　were　things　sprouting　and　pushing　out　from　the　roots　of　clumps　of　plants　and　there　were　actually　here　and　there　glimpses　of　royal　purple　and　yellow　unfurling　among　the　stems　of　crocuses。　　Six　months　before　Mistress　Mary　would　not　have　seen　how　the　world　was　waking　up；　but　now　she　missed　nothing。
  When　she　had　reached　the　place　where　the　door　hid　itself　under　the　ivy；　she　was　startled　by　a　curious　loud　sound。　It　was　the　cawcaw　of　a　crow　and　it　came　from　the　top　of　the　wall；　and　when　she　looked　up；　there　sat　a　big　glossy…plumaged　blue…black　bird；　looking　down　at　her　very　wisely　indeed。　　She　had　never　seen　a　crow　so　close　before　and　he　made　her　a　little　nervous；　but　the　next　moment　he　spread　his　wings　and　flapped　away　across　the　garden。　She　hoped　he　was　not　going　to　stay　inside　and　she　pushed　the　door　open　wondering　if　he　would。　　When　she　got　fairly　into　the　garden　she　saw　that　he　probably　did　intend　to　stay　because　he　had　alighted　on　a　dwarf　apple…tree　and　under　the　apple…tree　was　lying　a　little　reddish　animal　with　a　Bushy　tail；　and　both　of　them　were　watching　the　stooping　body　and　rust…red　head　of　Dickon；　who　was　kneeling　on　the　grass　working　hard。
  Mary　flew　across　the　grass　to　him。
  〃Oh；　Dickon！　Dickon！〃　she　cried　out。　　〃How　could　you　get　here　so　early！　How　could　you！　The　sun　has　only　just　got　up！〃
  He　got　up　himself；　laughing　and　glowing；　and　tousled；　his　eyes　like　a　bit　of　the　sky。
  〃Eh！〃　he　said。　　〃I　was　up　long　before　him。　　How　could　I　have　stayed　abed！　Th'　world's　all　fair　begun　again　this　mornin'；　it　has。　　An'　it's　workin'　an'　hummin'　an'　scratchin'　an'　pipin'　an'　nest…buildin'　an'　breathin'　out　scents；　till　you've　got　to　be　out　on　it　'stead　o'　lyin'　on　your　back。　When　th'　sun　did　jump　up；　th'　moor　went　mad　for　joy；　an'　I　was　in　the　midst　of　th'　heather；　an'　I　run　like　mad　myself；　shoutin'　an'　singin'。　An'　I　come　straight　here。　I　couldn't　have　stayed　away。　　Why；　th'　garden　was　lyin'　here　waitin'！〃
  Mary　put　her　hands　on　her　chest；　panting；　as　if　she　had　been　running　herself。
  〃Oh；　Dickon！　Dickon！〃　she　said。　　〃I'm　so　happy　I　can　scarcely　breathe！〃
  Seeing　him　talking　to　a　stranger；　the　little　bushy…tailed　animal　rose　from　its　place　under　the　tree　and　came　to　him；　and　the　rook；　cawing　once；　flew　down　from　its　branch　and　settled　quietly　on　his　shoulder。
  〃This　is　th'　little　fox　cub；〃　he　said；　rubbing　the　little　reddish　animal's　head。　　〃It's　named　Captain。　　An'　this　here's　Soot。　　Soot　he　flew　across　th'　moor　with　me　an'　Captain　he　run　same　as　if　th'　hounds　had　been　after　him。　They　both　felt　same　as　I　did。〃
  Neither　of　the　creatures　looked　as　if　he　were　the　least　afraid　of　Mary。　　When　Dickon　began　to　walk　about；　Soot　stayed　on　his　shoulder　and　Captain　trotted　quietly　close　to　his　side。
  〃See　here！〃　said　Dickon。　　〃See　how　these　has　pushed　up；　an'　these　an'　these！　An'　Eh！　Look　at　these　here！〃
  He　threw　himself　upon　his　knees　and　Mary　went　down　beside　him。　　They　had　come　upon　a　whole　clump　of　crocuses　burst　into　purple　and　orange　and　gold。　Mary　bent　her　face　down　and　kissed　and　kissed　them。
  〃You　never　kiss　a　person　in　that　way；〃　she　said　when　she　lifted　her　head。　　〃Flowers　are　so　different。〃
  He　looked　puzzled　but　smiled。
  〃Eh！〃　he　said；　〃I've　kissed　mother　many　a　time　that　way　when　I　come　in　from　th'　moor　after　a　day's　roamin'　an'　she　stood　there　at　th'　door　in　th'　sun；　lookin'　so　glad　an'　comfortable。〃　They　ran　from　one　part　of　the　garden　to　another　and　found　so　many　wonders　that　they　were　obliged　to　remind　themselves　that　they　must　whisper　or　speak　low。　He　showed　her　swelling　leafbuds　on　rose　branches　which　had　seemed　dead。　　He　showed　her　ten　thousand　new　green　points　pushing　through　the　mould。　　They　put　their　eager　young　noses　close　to　the　earth　and　sniffed　its　warmed　springtime　breathing；　they　dug　and　pulled　and　laughed　low　with　rapture　until　Mistress　Mary's　hair　was　as　tumbled　as　Dickon's　and　her　cheeks　were　almost　as　poppy　red　as　his。
  There　was　every　joy　on　earth　in　the　secret　garden　that　morning；　and　in　the　midst　of　them　came　a　delight　more　delightful　than　all；　because　it　was　more　wonderful。　Swiftly　something　flew　across　the　wall　and　darted　through　the　trees　to　a　close　grown　corner；　a　little　flare　of　red…breasted　bird　with　something　hanging　from　its　beak。　Dickon　stood　quite　still　and　put　his　hand　on　Mary　almost　as　if　they　had　suddenly　found　themselves　laughing　in　a　church。
  〃We　munnot　stir；〃　he　whispered　in　broad　Yorkshire。　〃We　munnot　scarce　breathe。　　I　knowed　he　was　mate…huntin'　when　I　seed　him　last。　　It's　Ben　Weatherstaff's　robin。　He's　buildin'　his　nest。　　He'll　stay　here　if　us　don't　fight　him。〃　They　settled　down　softly　upon　the　grass　and　sat　there　without　moving。
  〃Us　mustn't　seem　as　if　us　was　watchin'　him　too　close；〃　said　Dickon。　　〃He'd　be　out　with　us　for　good　if　he　got　th'　notion　us　was　interferin'　now。　　He'll　be　a　good　bit　different　till　all　this　is　over。　　He's　settin'　up　housekeepin'。　He'll　be　shyer　an'　readier　to　take　things　ill。　He's　got　no　time　for　visitin'　an'　gossipin'。　Us　must　keep　still　a　bit　an'　try　to　look　as　if　us　was　grass　an'　trees　an'　bushes。　　Then　when　he's　got　used　to　seein'　us　I'll　chirp　a　bit　an'　he'll　know　us'll　not　be　in　his　way。〃
  Mistress　Mary　was　not　at　all　sure　that　she　knew；　as　Dickon　seemed　to；　how　to　try　to　look　like　grass　and　trees　and　bushes。　But　he　had　said　the　queer　thing　as　if　it　were　the　simplest　and　most　natural　thing　in　the　world；　and　she　felt　it　must　be　quite　easy　to　him；　and　indeed　she　watched　him　for　a　few　minutes　carefully；　wondering　if　it　was　possible　for　him　to　quietly　turn　green　and　put　out　branches　and　leaves。　But　he　only　sat　wonderfully　still；　and　when　he　spoke　dropped　his　voice　to　such　a　softness　that　it　was　curious　that　she　could　hear　him；　but　she　could。
  〃It's　part　o'　th'　springtime；　this　nest…buildin'　is；〃　he　said。　　〃I　warrant　it's　been　goin'　on　in　th'　same　way　every　year　since　th'　world　was　begun。　They've　got　their　way　o'　thinkin'　and　doin'　things　an'　a　body　had　better　not　meddle。　　You　can　lose　a　friend　in