Page 78 - Secret Garden

Colin remembered Mary’s words the next day as he stood in
the sunny garden. He suddenly announced: “I feel so strong today I could lift the sun and moon out of the sky, one in each hand!
I feel wonderful! I want to shout out . . . Thank yoooou!”
Then all three gave a start: “What’s – ?”
The gate was rattling. Someone was coming in! Had they made too much noise? Had Colin’s ‘thank you’ been too loud?
“It’s Mother, that’s who!” Dickon laughed.
A woman stepped through the gate. Dickon had talked about her
so often; now here she was!
Mary and Colin showed her everything in the garden, feeling
as if she already understood them both, just as Dickon understood his animals.
Colin thrust out a hand to touch Mrs Sowerby and prove she was real. “Eh! Dear lad,” she said and took the hand in hers.
“Are you surprised I’m so well?” he asked.
“That I am. And so like thy dear mother!”
“So, do you think . . . do you think my father might like me better now?”
Mrs Sowerby smiled. “I think he’d be right proud o’ thee.”
“I wish you were my mother – as well as Dickon’s,” Colin confessed. “Mine, too!” said Mary.
Mrs Sowerby hugged them close. “Eh, my dear ones. I think thy
own mothers are here in this very garden this very minute . . . an’ thee can call me ‘friend’ always.”