Now began a difficult time for Colin and Mary. Dickon told his mother about it one evening as he was digging the
cottage garden.
'You see, mother, they don't want the doctor or the
servants to guess that Colin can walk and is getting better. So they have to pretend he's still ill and just as disagreeable
as he used to be!'
'If they're running about all day in the fresh air, that'll
make them hungry, I should think!'
'Yes, that's the problem. They're both getting fatter and
healthier, and they really enjoy their food now. But they have to send some of it back to the kitchen, uneaten. If they
cat it all, people will realize how healthy they are! Sometimes
they're very hungry!'
'I know what we can do,' said Mrs Sowerby. 'You can
lake some fresh milk and some of my newly baked bread to the garden in the mornings. If they have that, it'll
do them a lot of good! What a game those children are playing!' And she laughed
and tears came to her eyes.
One afternoon when they were all working in the
garden, the door opened and a woman came quietly in.
'It's Mother!' cried
Dickon, and ran towards her. '1 told her where the
'It'sMother!'