was square and made of iron and which her fingers
found a hole in?

It was the lock of the door which had been
closed ten years and she put her hand in her
pocket, drew out the key and found it fitted the
keyhole. She put the key in and turned it. It
took two hands to do it, but it did turn.

And then she took a long breath and looked behind
her up the long walk to see if any one was
coming. No one was coming. No one ever did
come, it seemed, and she took another long breath,
because she could not help it, and she held back
the swinging curtain of ivy and pushed back the
door which opened slowly -- slowly.

Then she slipped through it, and shut it behind
her, and stood with her back against it, looking
about her and breathing quite fast with excitement,
and wonder, and delight.

She was standing _inside_ the secret garden.

[[96]]

p095 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p096w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p097

v?