"I'm glad you said that," answered Mary,
"because -- because --"

Quite suddenly it came into her mind that this
was the minute to tell him. Colin knew something
new was coming.

"Because what?" he cried eagerly.

Mary was so anxious that she got up from her
stool and came to him and caught hold of both
his hands.

"Can I trust you? I trusted Dickon because
birds trusted him. Can I trust you -- for sure
-- _for_sure_?" she implored.

Her face was so solemn that he almost whispered
his answer.

"Yes -- yes!"

"Well, Dickon will come to see you to-morrow
morning, and he'll bring his creatures with him."

"Oh! Oh!" Colin cried out in delight.

"But that's not all," Mary went on, almost pale
with solemn excitement. "The rest is better.
There is a door into the garden. I found it. It
is under the ivy on the wall."

If he had been a strong healthy boy Colin would
probably have shouted "Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!"
but he was weak and rather hysterical; his
eyes grew bigger and bigger and he gasped for
breath.

"Oh! Mary!" he cried out with a half sob.
"Shall I see it? Shall I get into it? Shall I

[[237]]

p236 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p237w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p238

v?