that if he should feel a lump coming he should
go crazy and scream himself to death."

"Eh! he oughtn't to lie there thinkin' things
like that," said Dickon. "No lad could get well
as thought them sort o' things."

The fox was lying on the grass close by him
looking up to ask for a pat now and then, and
Dickon bent down and rubbed his neck softly and
thought a few minutes in silence. Presently he
lifted his head and looked round the garden.

"When first we got in here," he said, "it
seemed like everything was gray. Look round
now and tell me if tha' doesn't see a difference."

Mary looked and caught her breath a little.

"Why!" she cried, "the gray wall is changing.
It is as if a green mist were creeping over it. It's
almost like a green gauze veil."

"Aye," said Dickon. "An' It'll be greener
and greener till th' gray's all gone. Can tha'
guess what I was thinkin'?"

"I know it was something nice," said Mary
eagerly. "I believe it was something about
Colin."

"I was thinkin' that if he was out here he
wouldn't be watchin' for lumps to grow on his
back; he'd be watchin' for buds to break on th'
rose-bushes, an' he'd likely be healthier," explained
Dickon. "I was wonderin' if us could ever get

[[203]]

p202 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p203w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p204

v?