"Well," explained Martha, "Mrs. Medlock
says it's because o' mother. She was walkin' to
Thwaite village an' she met him. She'd never
spoke to him before, but Mrs. Craven had been
to our cottage two or three times. He'd forgot,
but mother hadn't an' she made bold to stop him.
I don't know what she said to him about you but
she said somethin' as put him in th' mind to see
you before he goes away again, to-morrow."

"Oh!" cried Mary, "is he going away to-morrow?
I am so glad!"

"He's goin' for a long time. He mayn't come
back till autumn or winter. He's goin' to travel
in foreign places. He's always doin' it."

"Oh! I'm so glad -- so glad!" said Mary
thankfully.

If he did not come back until winter, or even
autumn, there would be time to watch the secret
garden come alive. Even if he found out then
and took it away from her she would have had
that much at least.

"When do you think he will want to see --"

She did not finish the sentence, because the door
opened, and Mrs. Medlock walked in. She had
on her best black dress and cap, and her collar
was fastened with a large brooch with a picture of
a man's face on it. It was a colored photograph
of Mr. Medlock who had died years ago, and she

[[143]]

p142 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p143w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p144

v?