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 run - and 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 I - could 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 Craven'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.