"Well, if tha' doesn't go out tha'lt have to stay
in, an' what has tha' got to do?"

Mary glanced about her. There was nothing
to do. When Mrs. Medlock had prepared the
nursery she had not thought of amusement. Perhaps
it would be better to go and see what the
gardens were like.

"Who will go with me?" she inquired.

Martha stared.

"You'll go by yourself," she answered.
"You'll have to learn to play like other children
does when they haven't got sisters and brothers.
Our Dickon goes off on th' moor by himself an'
plays for hours. That's how he made friends
with th' pony. He's got sheep on th' moor that
knows him, an' birds as comes an' eats out of his
hand. However little there is to eat, he always
saves a bit o' his bread to coax his pets."

It was really this mention of Dickon which made
Mary decide to go out, though she was not aware
of it. There would be birds outside though there
would not be ponies or sheep. They would be
different from the birds in India and it might
amuse her to look at them.

Martha found her coat and hat for her and a
pair of stout little boots and she showed her her
way down-stairs.

"If tha' goes round that way tha'll come to

[[41]]

p040 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p041w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p042

v?