Page 69 - Secret Garden

Colin’s feet were on the grass now. He was standing upright – straight as an arrow – head thrown back. “Look at me! You just look at me, Ben Weatherstaff!”
Suddenly tears ran down Ben’s wrinkled old cheeks. He clapped his hands. “Eh! God bless thee, lad!”
Colin did not falter. “When my father is away, I’m master of this house. This is my Secret Garden. Mary will let you in now, but you must keep
it secret.”
Ben stared in disbelief. “Eh, lad!” he whispered, as his head sank below the wall. “Eh, lad!”
Mary ran to fetch Ben round to the gate.
Colin told Dickon, “I’m going to walk to that tree. I’m going to be standing when he gets here.”
So when Ben Weatherstaff came through the wooden door, he saw Colin standing there. Mary was muttering under her
breath: “You can do it! You can do it!
You can do it! You can!” It was her
kind of magic, to keep Colin standing tall.
“Everyone thought I was going to die,” said Colin. “I’m not.”
Ben looked him up and down. “Tha’ die?” he croaked. “Never!”