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 bad-tempered.
She skipped along and into the wood at the end of the
28
Meeting Dickon
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.