'There's nothing wrong with your back!' Mary said at last.
'There's nothing wrong with your back!' she said at
last. 'Nothing at all! It's as straight as mine!'
Only Colin knew how important those crossly
spoken, childish words were. All his life he had been afraid to ask about his back, and his
terrible fear had made him ill. Now an angry little girl told
him his back was straight, and he believed her. He was no
longer afraid.
They were both calmer now. He gave Mary his hand. 'I
think - I'm almost sure I will live, if we can go out in the garden together sometimes. I'm very tired now. Will you
stay with me until I go to sleep?'
The servants went out very quietly.
'I'll tell you all about the secret garden,' whispered Mary. 'I think it's full of roses and beautiful flowers. Birds
like making their nests there because it's so quiet and safe. And perhaps our robin... '
But Colin was already asleep.
The next day Mary met Dickon as usual in the secret garden, and told him about Colin. Mary loved Dickon's
Yorkshire dialect and was trying to learn it herself. She spoke a little now.