Page 21 - Secret Garden

And yet somehow Mary found herself listening to chatter about games and washdays and laughter and Dickon’s pony . . .
“Your brother has a pony? Where did he get it?”
“Found it on’t moor. A wild one. Animals love Dickon. All kinds. Talks to ’em – don’t ask me how. Tames ’em till them trust him: foxes, crows, rabbits . . . Dickon’s out on’t moor from dawn till dust watchin’ and learnin’ their secrets . . . Tha’ll never waste that breakfast, Miss!
The little ones at home would wolf that down an’ be joyful. Not hungry? Tha’ must get out in’t fresh air – work up an appetite. Just don’t you go bothering grumpy old Ben Weatherstaff.”
Mary did not want to work up an appetite or go out of doors. But there were no toys in her room and nothing to do indoors. So she let Martha fetch coat and boots and they ventured out into the cold.