7 Colin and the garden

　　Of course，it was most important that no one should see Colin，Mary，or Dickon entering the secret garden．So Colin gave orders to the gardeners that they must all keep away from that part of the garden in future．

　　The next afternoon Colin was carried downstairs by a man servant，and put in his wheelchair outside the front door．Dickon arrived，with his crow，two squirrels and the fox，and started pushing the wheelchair gently away from the house，and into the gardens．Mary walked beside the chair．

　　Spring had really arrived now and it seemed very exciting to Colin，who had lived indoors for so long．He smelt the warm air from the moor，and watched the little white clouds in the blue sky．In a very short time he heard Mary say，‘This is where I found the key…and this is the door…and this…this is the secret garden！’

　　Colin covered his eyes with his hands until he was inside the four high walls，and the door was shut again．Then he looked round at the roses climbing the old red walls，the pink and white flowers on the fruit trees，and the birds and the butterflies everywhere．The sun warmed his face，and he suddenly knew he felt different．

　　‘Mary！Dickon！’he cried．‘I'm going to get better！I'm going to live for ever and ever and ever！’

　　As Dickon pushed the wheelchair all round the garden，he told Colin the names of all the plants．The sun shone，the birds sang，and in every corner of the garden there was something interesting to look at．The three children talked and laughed，and by the end of the afternoon all three were speaking Yorkshire together．

　　‘I'll come back here every afternoon，’said Colin．‘I want to watch things growing．’

　　‘Soon you'll be strong enough to walk and dig．You'll be able to help us with the gardening，’said Dickon kindly．

　　‘Do you really think I'll be able to…to walk and…dig？’asked Colin．

　　‘Of course you will．You've got legs，like us！’

　　‘But they're not very strong，’answered Colin．‘They shake，and…and I'm afraid to stand on them．’

　　‘When you want to use them，you'll be able to，’said Dickon．The garden was quiet for a moment．

　　Suddenly Colin said，‘Who's that？’Mary turned her head，and noticed Ben Weatherstaff's angry face looking at her over the garden wall．

　　‘What are you doing in that garden，young miss？’he shouted．He had not seen Colin or Dickon．

　　‘The robin showed me the way，Ben，’she replied．

　　‘You…you—’He stopped shouting and his mouth dropped open as he saw Dickon pushing a boy in a wheelchair over the grass towards him．

　　‘Do you know who I am？’asked the boy in the chair．

　　Old Ben stared．‘You've got your mother's eyes，’he said in a shaking voice．‘Yes，I know you．You're Mr Craven's son，the little boy with the crooked back．’

　　Colin forgot that he had ever had backache．‘My back's as straight as yours is！’he shouted．

　　Ben stared and stared．He only knew what he had heard from the servants．‘You haven't got a crooked back？’he asked．‘Or crooked legs？’

　　That was too much．Colin was furious，and it made him feel strong．

　　‘Come here，Dickon！’he shouted，and threw off his blanket．Dickon was by his side in a second．Mary felt sick with fear．Could Colin stand？

　　Then Colin's thin feet were on the grass and he was standing，holding Dickon's arm．He looked strangely tall，and he held his head very high．

　　‘Look at me！’he shouted at Ben．‘Just look at me！’

　　‘He's as straight as any boy in Yorkshire！’said Dickon．

　　Tears were running down Ben's brown old face．‘They said you were going to die！he whispered．

　　‘Well，you can see that's not true，’said Colin．‘Now，get down from the wall and come here．I want to talk to you．You've got to help us keep the garden a secret．’

　　‘Yes，sir，’said old Ben，as he dried his eyes．

　　That was the first of many beautiful afternoons in the secret garden．Colin was brought there by Dickon and Mary nearly every day，and he saw all the changes that happened there during the spring and early summer．Ben Weatherstaff，now in the secret，joined them as often as he could．

　　One day Colin spoke to all of them．‘Listen，everybody．I think there's something like magic that makes gardens grow and things happen．Perhaps if I believe in it，the magic will make me strong．Let's all sit down in a circle and ask the magic to work．’

　　So they all sat on the grass in a circle，Dickon with his crow，his fox and the two squirrels，Mary，Colin，and Ben．Colin repeated these words several times．‘The sun's shining．That's the magic．Being strong．That's the magic．Magic！Help me！Magic！Help me！’

　　At last Colin stopped．‘Now I'm going to walk round the garden，’he said，and took Dickon's arm．Slowly he walked from one wall to another，followed closely by Mary and Ben．And when he had walked all the way round，he said，‘You see！I can walk now！The magic worked！’

　　‘It's wonderful！’cried Mary．‘Your father will think he is dreaming when he sees you！’

　　‘I won't tell him yet．I'm going to keep it a secret from everybody．I'll come to the garden and walk and run a little more every day until I'm as healthy as any other boy．Then，when my father comes home，I'll walk up to him and say，“Here I am，Father．You see？ I'm not going to die！”’

　　Now began a difficult time for Colin and Mary．Dickon told his mother about it one evening as he was digging the cottage garden．

　　‘You see，mother，they don't want the doctor or the servants to guess that Colin can walk and is getting better．So they have to pretend he's still ill and just as disagreeable as he used to be！’

　　‘If they're running about all day in the fresh air，that'll make them hungry，I should think！’

　　‘Yes，that's the problem．They're both getting fatter and healthier，and they really enjoy their food now．But they have to send some of it back to the kitchen，uneaten．If they eat it all，people will realize how healthy they are！Sometimes they're very hungry！’

　　‘I know what we can do，’said Mrs Sowerby．‘You can take some fresh milk and some of my newly baked bread to the garden in the mornings．If they have that，it'll do them a lot of good！What a game those children are playing！’And she laughed until tears came to her eyes．

　　One afternoon when they were all working in the garden，the door opened and a woman came quietly in．

　　‘It's Mother！’cried Dickon，and ran towards her．‘I told her where the door was，because I knew she would keep the secret．’

　　Colin held out his hand to her．‘I've wanted to see you for a long time，’he said．

　　‘Dear boy！’Susan Sowerby whispered，holding his hand．‘You're so like your mother！’

　　‘Do you think，’asked Colin carefully，‘that will make my father like me？’

　　‘I'm sure it will，’she answered warmly．‘He must see you —he must come home now．’

　　‘You see how healthy the boy is，Susan？’asked old Ben．‘Look how strong and straight his legs are now！’

　　‘Yes，’she laughed．‘Playing and working outside，and eating good Yorkshire food，has made him strong．And Miss Mary too，’she added，turning to Mary．‘Mrs Medlock heard that your mother was a pretty woman．You'll soon be as pretty as she was．’

　　‘Do you believe in magic？’Colin asked her．

　　‘I do，’she answered，‘but everybody gives it a different name．It makes the sun shine and the seeds grow—and it has made you healthy．’

　　She sat down on the grass and stayed for a while，talking and laughing with the children in the quiet，sunny garden．When she stood up to leave，Colin suddenly put out a hand to her．

　　‘I wish—you were my mother！’he whispered．

　　Mrs Sowerby put her arms round him and held him to her．‘Dear boy！You're as close to your mother as you could be，here in her garden．And your father'll come back soon！’

　　7 柯林在花园里

　　当然，重要的是不能让人见到柯林、玛丽和狄肯进秘密花园里面去。所以柯林吩咐园丁们以后不准到那片花园去。

　　第二天下午，柯林由一个男仆抱下楼放在大门外的轮椅上。狄肯来了，带着他的乌鸦、两只松鼠和狐狸，开始慢慢推着轮椅离开房子到花园里去。玛丽在旁边跟着。

　　春天已经来了，而柯林已经在房间里生活了那么久，所以显得十分激动。他闻到荒原上飘来的温暖的气息，看到小朵的白云在蓝天上浮动。很快，他听见玛丽小声说，“我就是在这儿找到钥匙的……门在这儿……这儿……这就是秘密花园！”

　　柯林用手捂住眼睛，直到进了那四堵高大的围墙里才松开，门又被关上了。然后他四周看了看，看见玫瑰爬满了古老的红砖墙，果树上开着粉色和白色的花儿，到处都是鸟儿和蝴蝶。阳光暖暖地照在他的脸上，他顿时感到自己与以往不一样了。

　　“玛丽！狄肯！”他喊着。“我会好起来的！我会永远永远活下去！”

　　狄肯推着轮椅在花园里转着，告诉柯林所有植物的名字，阳光明媚，鸟儿歌唱，花园的每一个角落都有有趣的东西可看。三个孩子说着笑着，到了傍晚就都说起约克郡话来。

　　“我每天下午都要来，”柯林说。“我要看着它们生长。”

　　“你很快就会强壮起来，能自己走路，自己挖土。你还能帮我们收拾园子。”狄肯友好地说道。

　　“你真的觉得我能……能走路，还能……挖土？”柯林问。

　　“你当然能！你有腿，跟我们一样！”

　　“可是我的腿没有劲，”柯林答道。“总是不稳，我……我不敢站起来。”

　　“你想用它们时，你就能。”狄肯说。这会儿花园里非常安静。

　　突然，柯林说，“那是谁？”玛丽转过头，看见本·威瑟斯塔夫生气的眼睛正从围墙上边望着她。

　　“你在花园里干嘛，小姐？”他吼道，他没看见柯林和狄肯。

　　“知更鸟带我来的，本。”她回答。

　　“你……你——”当他看见狄肯在对面的草地上用轮椅推着个男孩时，他不再吼叫，嘴巴也张得老大。

　　“知道我是谁吗？”轮椅上的男孩问。

　　本瞪大了眼睛，“你的眼睛跟你妈妈的一模一样，”他说，声音有点发抖。“是啊，我知道你，你是克莱文先生的儿子，那个驼背的小男孩。”

　　柯林忘了自己曾一度背疼。他嚷道：“我的背跟你的一样直！”

　　本从上到下仔细打量。他只是听仆人们说起过。“你的背不驼？”他问道，“你不是罗圈腿？”

　　这可太过分了。柯林生气了，这反而让他觉得强壮起来。

　　“过来，狄肯！”他叫道，甩掉了盖毯，狄肯立刻来到他身旁，玛丽感到有点担心，柯林能站起来吗？

　　柯林瘦弱的脚放在草地上，扶着狄肯的胳膊站了起来。他看上去异常高大，头高高地扬着。

　　“看我！”他冲本喊道，“看看我呀！”

　　“他像约克郡别的男孩一样直！”狄肯说。

　　泪水从本那棕色而苍老的脸上滑落下来。“他们说你要死了！”他小声说。

　　“那么，现在你该知道那不是真的，”柯林说道，“现在从墙上下来到这儿来吧。我想跟你谈谈。你得帮我们保守花园的秘密。”

　　“好的，先生。”本说着，一边擦干了泪水。

　　这是秘密花园中第一个美丽的下午，这样的下午以后还有很多。柯林几乎每天都由狄肯和玛丽带到这儿，他看到了春天和初夏这里的所有变化。本·威瑟斯塔夫，现在也是秘密的一部分，一有空就加入他们。

　　一天，柯林对大家说：“你们大家听我说。我想是什么魔法使花园里的植物生长，使很多事情发生。或许要是我相信，魔法也会使我变得强壮起来。咱们坐下来围成圈请魔法显灵吧！”

　　于是他们围坐在草地上，狄肯和他的乌鸦、狐狸以及两只松鼠，玛丽、柯林、还有本。柯林重复说着：“阳光在照耀，这就是魔法。强壮起来，这就是魔法。魔法！帮帮我！魔法！帮帮我！”

　　最后柯林停下来。“现在我得在花园里走走了。”他说。于是他扶着狄肯的胳膊，慢慢地从一面墙走到另一面墙，玛丽和本紧紧跟着他们。当他走完一圈时，他说：“看哪！我能走了！魔法显灵了！”

　　“太棒了！”玛丽叫着。“你父亲看见你一定会以为是在做梦呢！”

　　“我还不想告诉他。我要保守秘密，不让任何人知道。我要每天都到花园里散步，再跑上一小会儿，直到我像其他人一样健康。到那会儿，等我父亲回家时，我要走到他面前，说，‘我在这儿，爸爸。你看到了吗？我不会死的！’”

　　这可给玛丽和柯林出了难题。狄肯一天晚上在挖屋前的菜园时把这事告诉了妈妈。

　　“您看，妈妈，他们不想让医生或用人猜出柯林能走路，而且身体也好多了。所以他们假装他还病着，而且还像从前一样不讨人喜欢！”

　　“要是他们整天跑来跑去，呼吸新鲜空气，那样他们会感到饿的，我想。”

　　“是啊，就是这件事。他们俩都长胖了，也健康了，而且很能吃饭了。可是他们却不得不剩下一些送回厨房，要是都吃光了，人家就会知道他们很健康！所以，他们有时饿得很厉害！”

　　“我知道我们能做些什么，”索尔比太太说，“上午你带点新鲜的牛奶和我刚烤好的面包到花园去，吃了这些会对他们有很大好处的！孩子们这是在玩什么把戏啊！”她笑得眼泪都流出来了。

　　一天下午，他们正在花园里干活儿，门开了，一个女人悄悄走了进来。

　　“是妈妈！”狄肯喊道，跑了过去，“我告诉了她门在哪儿，因为我知道她会保密的。”

　　柯林伸出手，说：“我一直都想见到您。”

　　“好孩子！”苏珊·索尔比小声说着，握住他的手，“你长的可真像你妈妈。”

　　“您觉得，”柯林小心地问道，“这会让我父亲喜欢我吗？”

　　“我肯定他会的。”她热情地答道。“他得看看你——他现在应该回家了。”

　　“苏珊，瞧这孩子多健康啊！”本说，“看他的腿，现在又直又结实！”

　　“是啊，”她笑了，“在外面玩，在外面干活，加上约克郡的美食，这就让他壮实起来了。再加上有玛丽小姐。”她加了一句，转向玛丽。“梅洛太太听说你妈妈很漂亮，你很快也会像她一样漂亮的。”

　　“您相信魔法吗？”柯林问她。

　　“相信。”她回答，“不过每个人都给它起了个不同的名字。它使阳光照耀，种子生长——同样也让你健康。”

　　她在草地上坐了一会儿，和孩子们在洒满阳光、宁静的花园里说笑着。她站起身临走的时候，柯林向她伸出一只手。

　　“我真希望——您是我的妈妈！”他小声说。