4 Meeting Dickon

　　Mary spent nearly a week working in the secret garden． Each day she found new shoots coming out of the ground．Soon，there would be flowers everywhere—thousands of them．It was an exciting game to her．When she was inside those beautiful old walls，no one knew where she was．

　　During that week she became more friendly with Ben，who was often digging in one of the vegetable gardens．

　　‘What are your favourite flowers，Ben？’she asked him one day．

　　‘Roses．I used to work for a young lady who loved roses，you see，and she had a lot in her garden．That was ten years ago． But she died．Very sad，it was．’

　　‘What happened to the roses？’asked Mary．

　　‘They were left there，in the garden．’

　　‘If rose branches look dry and grey，are they still alive？’ asked Mary．It was so important to know！

　　‘In the spring they'll show green shoots，and then—But why are you so interested in roses？’he asked．

　　Mary's face went red．‘I just…wanted to pretend I've got a garden．I haven't got anyone to play with．’

　　‘Well，that's true，’said Ben．He seemed to feel sorry for her．Mary decided she liked old Ben，although he was sometimes badtempered．

　　She skipped along and into the wood at the end of the gardens．Suddenly she heard a strange noise，and there in front of her was a boy．He was sitting under a tree，playing on a wooden pipe．He was about twelve，with a healthy red face and bright blue eyes．There was a squirrel and a crow in the tree， and two rabbits sitting on the grass near him．

　　‘They're listening to the music！’thought Mary．‘I mustn't frighten them！’She stood very still．

　　The boy stopped playing．‘That's right，’he said．‘Animals don't like it if you move suddenly．I'm Dickon and you must be Miss Mary．I've brought you the spade and the seeds．’

　　He spoke in an easy，friendly way．Mary liked him at once． As they were looking at the seed packets together，the robin hopped on to a branch near them．Dickon listened carefully to the robin's song．

　　‘He's saying he's your friend，he told Mary．

　　‘Really？Oh，I am pleased he likes me．Can you understand everything that birds say？’

　　‘I think I do，and they think I do．I've lived on the moor with them for so long．Sometimes I think I am a bird or an animal，not a boy at all！’His smile was the widest she had ever seen．

　　He explained how to plant the seeds．Suddenly he said，‘I can help you plant them！Where's your garden？’

　　Mary went red，then white．She had never thougt of this． What was she going to say？

　　‘Could you keep a secret？It's a great secret．If anyone discovers it，I'll…I'll die！’

　　‘I keep secrets for all the wild birds and animals on the moor．So I can keep yours too，’he replied．

　　‘I've stolen a garden，’she said very fast．‘Nobody goes into it，nobody wants it．I love it and nobody takes care of it！ They're letting it die！’And she threw her arms over her face and started crying．

　　‘Don't cry，’said Dickon gently．‘Where is it？’

　　‘Come with me and I'll show you，’said Miss Mary．

　　They went to the secret garden and entered it together． Dickon walked round，looking at everything．

　　‘Martha told me about this place，but I never thought I'd see it，’he said．‘It's wonderful！’

　　‘What about the roses？’asked Mary worriedly．‘Are they still alive？What do you think？’

　　‘Look at these shoots on the branches．Most of them are alive all right．’He took out his knife and cut away some of the dead wood from the rose trees．Mary showed him the work she had done in the garden，and they talked as they cut and cleared．

　　‘Dickon，’said Mary suddenly，‘I like you．I never thought I'd like as many as five people！’

　　‘Only five！’laughed Dickon．

　　He did look funny when he laughed，thought Mary．

　　‘Yes，your mother，Martha，the robin，Ben，and you．’Then she asked him a question in Yorkshire dialect，because that was his language．

　　‘Does tha’like me？’was her question．

　　‘Of course！I likes thee wonderful！’replied Dickon，a big smile on his round face．Mary had never been so happy．

　　When she went back to the house for her lunch，she told Martha about Dickon's visit．

　　‘I've got news for you too，’said Martha．‘Mr Craven's come home，and wants to see you！He's going away again tomorrow，for several months．’

　　‘Oh！’said Mary．That was good news．She would have all summer in the secret garden before he came back．But she must be careful．He mustn't guess her secret now．

　　Just then Mrs Medlock arrived，in her best black dress，to take Mary down to Mr Craven's room．

　　Mary's uncle had black hair with some white in it，and high， crooked shoulders．His face was not ugly，but very sad．During their conversation he watched her in a worried way．Perhaps he was thinking of other things at the same time．

　　He looked at the thin child．‘Are you well？’he asked．Mary tried to keep her voice calm as she replied，

　　‘I'm getting stronger and healthier．’

　　‘What do you want to do，in this big empty house？’

　　‘I…I just want to play outside—I enjoy that．’

　　‘Yes，Martha's mother，Susan Sowerby，spoke to me the other day．She's a sensible woman—and she said you needed fresh air．But where do you play？’ ‘Everywhere！I just skip and runand look for green shoots．I don't damage anything！’

　　‘Don't look so frightened！Of course a child like you couldn't damage anything．Play where you like．Is there anything that you want？’

　　Mary came a step nearer to him，and her voice shook a little as she spoke．‘Could Icould I have a bit of garden？’

　　Mr Craven looked very surprised．

　　‘To plant seeds in…to make them come alive！’Mary went on bravely．‘It was too hot in India，so I was always ill and tired there．But here it's different．I…I love the garden！’

　　He passed a hand quickly over his eyes．Then he looked kindly at Mary．‘I knew someone once who loved growing things，like you．Yes，child，take as much of the garden as you want．’He smiled gently at her．‘Now leave me．I'm very tired．’

　　Mary ran all the way back to her room．

　　‘Martha！’she shouted．‘Mr Graven's really a nice man，but he looks very unhappy．He said I can have my own garden！’

　　She was planning to work in the garden with Dickon every day，to make it beautiful for the summer．

　　4 见到狄肯

　　玛丽花了将近一个星期的时间在秘密花园里干活儿。每天，她都看到新的嫩芽从土里冒出来，很快，到处都将开满成千上万的花朵。对她来说，这是一个让她兴奋不已的游戏。她一走进那道美丽的旧围墙，就没人知道她去了哪儿。

　　那个星期她开始对经常不停地在那块菜地里挖土的本更加友好了。

　　一天，她问他，“本，你最喜欢什么花？”

　　“玫瑰。我曾经给一位喜爱玫瑰的女士干活儿，她的花园里有好多玫瑰，那都是10年前的事了。可是她死了，很惨，是不是？”

　　“那些玫瑰怎么样了？”玛丽问。

　　“它们就留在花园里了。”

　　“要是玫瑰的枝子看上去又干又暗，它们还活着吗？”玛丽问道。弄懂这个简直是太重要了！

　　“到了春天它们就会长出绿色的嫩芽，然后——你怎么会对玫瑰有兴趣呢？”他问。

　　玛丽的脸红了。“我只是——设想自己有个花园，没人跟我一起玩儿。”

　　“嗯，那倒是真的，”本说。他似乎是在为她感到难过。玛丽知道自己喜欢本，尽管他有时脾气不大好。

　　她蹦跳着来到花园尽头的树丛中，突然，她听到一个陌生的声音，有个男孩出现在她的面前。他正坐在一棵树下，吹着一根木管。他大约十二岁，脸色健康、红润，有一双明亮的蓝眼睛。树上有一只松鼠，还有只乌鸦，他身边的草地上还有两只小兔子。

　　玛丽想，“它们都在听音乐，我可别吓着它们！”她静静地站着。

　　男孩停下来，说，“这就对了，动物们不喜欢你唐突的动作。我是狄肯，你肯定就是玛丽小姐了。我给你带铲子和花籽来了。”

　　他说话的样子轻松友善，玛丽一下子就喜欢上他了。他们一起看装着花籽的小包时，知更鸟在旁边的树枝上蹦着，狄肯仔细听着知更鸟的歌声。

　　他告诉玛丽说，“它说它是你的朋友。”

　　“真的吗？哦，它喜欢我，我真太高兴了。你能听懂鸟说的每一句话吗？”

　　“我觉得是，它们也这么想。我跟它们一起在荒原上住了这么久，有时候我觉得自己就是一只鸟或是一只动物，根本就不是个孩子！”玛丽从来没有见过像他这样开心的笑容。

　　他讲解着该怎么种那些花籽，他说，“我可以帮你种！你的花园在哪儿？”

　　玛丽脸红了，然后又变得苍白。她从没想到这一点，她该怎么说呢？

　　“你能保守秘密吗？这可是个大秘密。要是有人知道了，我就……我就得死！”

　　狄肯回答，“我在荒原上为所有的鸟和兽保密，所以我也能为你保密。”

　　“我偷了一个花园，”她说得很快。“谁都没进去过，谁也不想进去。我喜欢它，可是没人照理它，他们就由着它死掉！”她的手蒙着脸，哭了起来。

　　狄肯轻轻地说，“别哭了，它在哪儿呢？”

　　“你跟我来，我让你看看它。”玛丽说。

　　他们来到秘密花园，一起走了进去。狄肯四处走着，每样东西都看看。

　　“玛莎跟我说过这个地方，可我从没想到能见到它，”他说，“它可太棒了！”

　　“那些玫瑰怎么样？”玛丽挂念地问道。“它们还活着吗？你觉得呢？”

　　“看看枝子上的那些嫩芽，大部分已经活了。”他掏出小刀割去一些已经枯死的枝条。玛丽给他看了自己在花园里干的活儿。他们一边修剪枝条，清理残叶，一边说着话。

　　“狄肯，”玛丽说道，“我喜欢你。我从没想到能喜欢5个人！”

　　“才5个人！”狄肯笑了。

　　他笑的样子很滑稽，玛丽心里想。

　　“是的，你妈妈、玛莎、知更鸟，本和你。”然后她用约克郡的方言问了一个问题，因为他就讲这种话。

　　她的问题是．“你喜欢我吗？”

　　“当然！我很喜欢你！”狄肯回答，圆圆的脸上露出灿烂的笑容。玛丽从来没有这么开心过。

　　回去吃午饭时，她告诉玛莎狄肯来过了。

　　“我也有事要告诉你，”玛莎说。“克莱文先生回来了，而且要见你！他明天又要走了，要走几个月呢。”

　　“哦！”玛丽说。那可是好消息。在他回来之前，她可以整个夏天都呆在秘密花园里。不过她一定要小心，可不能让他这会儿就猜出她的秘密。

　　这时，梅洛太太进来了。她穿上了她最好的黑色长裙，带玛丽下楼到克莱文先生的房间。

　　玛丽的舅舅黑发中夹着银丝，高高的个子，背有些驼。他长得并不丑，但脸色阴沉。谈话中他神色忧郁的看着她，也许他同时在想着什么别的事情。

　　他看着这个瘦弱的孩子，问道，“你好吗？”玛丽在回答时尽量使自己的声音保持平静。

　　“我越来越结实、健康了。”

　　“在这样一座空荡荡的大房子里，你想做些什么呢？”

　　“我……我只是在外面玩——我喜欢那样。”

　　“是啊，玛莎的母亲，苏珊·索尔比那天也这么说。她是个聪明人——她说你需要新鲜空气。可你都在哪儿玩呢？”

　　“哪儿都玩！我跳跳绳，跑来跑去——找那些绿色的嫩芽。我什么也没弄坏！”

　　“别这么害怕！像你这样的孩子当然什么也弄不坏。喜欢哪儿就在哪儿玩儿吧。你想要什么东西吗？”

　　玛丽往他身边走了一步，说话时声音有点发抖，“我能——我能有一小块花园吗？”

　　克莱文先生显得有些不解。

　　“用来播种子，让它们长起来！”玛丽壮着胆子接着说道，“在印度天气太热了，所以我老是生病，老是觉得累。可这儿就不一样。我……我喜欢花园！”

　　克莱文先生很快地用一只手挡在眼睛前面，然后他和蔼地看着玛丽，“我曾经认识一个人，也喜欢种东西，像你一样。好吧，孩子，花园你想要多大都成。”他和善地对她笑着。“现在你可以走了，我很累了。”

　　玛丽一路小跑回到了自己的房间。

　　“玛莎！”她喊道，“克莱文先生真是个好人，可他看不上去很不开心。他说我能有自己的花园！”