The Secret Garden by Linda Chapman

Author:Linda Chapman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2020-01-06T00:00:00+00:00

12

Dickon

Mary waited until Mrs. Medlock came back along the path, looking cranky as she retraced her steps. Once she had vanished from sight, Mary emerged from the bush and continued on her way, calling for Jemima.

The dog didn’t appear, but Mary caught sight of a figure in the mist. It was Martha’s brother, Dickon. Anger surged through her. She was sure he was the one who was responsible for setting the trap—for injuring Jemima!

“Dickon? Stop!” she said, marching toward him.

Dickon started to step away.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Mary cried. “Unless you want me to instruct your sister to box your ears. . . .”

Dickon stopped. “Martha wouldn’t do that. She loves me plenty more than you.”

“And would she still love you if she knew you’d been setting traps and poaching?” Mary demanded furiously.

Dickon marched toward her indignantly, and she saw there was a white stoat poking its head out of the top pocket of his green jacket. “Poaching? I were not. I’ve never set a trap in me life!”

“You have,” said Mary but with less certainty. “You must have done. You set a trap on the moors. My dog, Jemima, found it.”

“Jemima?” Dickon raised his eyebrows. “If you’re meaning the brown dog that hangs around these grounds, I’m not sure it’ll be too fond of that name, seeing as it’s a boy.”

“A boy?” echoed Mary in astonishment. “Jemima’s a boy dog?”

Dickon nodded.

“Oh.” Mary chewed her lip for a moment. Whether Jemima was a boy or a girl didn’t seem so important right then. She—or he—was hurt and it seemed that Dickon hadn’t been responsible for the trap. “Well, that doesn’t matter. Not really. What’s important is that he’s hurt.”

“Hurt?” Dickon’s voice changed in an instant. “Where is he? Can you take me to him?”

“I could.” Mary gave him a wary look. “But why should I trust you?”

“I know how to make him better,” said Dickon simply. “Trust that.”

Mary met his dark brown eyes and saw the honesty there. “Very well, but if I’m going to show you, I need you to agree to keep a secret.”

Dickon nodded and spat on his hand. “On me honor I’ll keep it,” he said gravely and held his hand out.

Mary was puzzled. “Why have you just spat on yourself?”

Dickon looked surprised. “You spit too,” he explained. “Then we shake. Then we’re bonded. But if you’re too much of a fine lady . . .”

Mary tossed her head. “I am no lady, sir!” she declared. She spat on her hand and shook his firmly. She gave him an impish grin, and he grinned back.

“Now, where’s this dog?”

Mary took Dickon to the wall. “We have to climb over here,” she said. “We can use the branches of this tree.” She pulled herself up.

Dickon followed her, and as they reached the top, a look of delight crossed his face as he gazed at the secret garden spread out on the other side.

Mary’s heart swelled with happiness at being able to share her find. “This is my secret,” she said, “and you are to keep it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.