questions. She was almost as curious about Dickon
as she was about the deserted garden. But just
that moment the robin, who had ended his song,
gave a little shake of his wings, spread them and
flew away. He had made his visit and had other
things to do.

"He has flown over the wall!" Mary cried out,
watching him. "He has flown into the orchard --
he has flown across the other wall -- into the
garden where there is no door!"

"He lives there," said old Ben. "He came
out o' th' egg there. If he's courtin', he's makin'
up to some young madam of a robin that lives
among th' old rose-trees there."

"Rose-trees," said Mary. "Are there rose-trees?"

Ben Weatherstaff took up his spade again and
began to dig.

"There was ten year' ago," he mumbled.

"I should like to see them," said Mary.
"Where is the green door? There must be a
door somewhere."

Ben drove his spade deep and looked as uncompanionable
as he had looked when she first saw
him.

"There was ten year' ago, but there isn't now,"
he said.

"No door!" cried Mary. "There must be."

[[53]]

p052 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p053w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p054

v?