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