Chapter XXIV

"Let Them Laugh"

The secret garden was not the only one Dickon
worked in. Round the cottage on the moor
there was a piece of ground enclosed by a low wall
of rough stones. Early in the morning and late
in the fading twilight and on all the days Colin
and Mary did not see him, Dickon worked there
planting or tending potatoes and cabbages, turnips
and carrots and herbs for his mother. In the
company of his "creatures" he did wonders there
and was never tired of doing them, it seemed.
While he dug or weeded he whistled or sang bits
of Yorkshire moor songs or talked to Soot or
Captain or the brothers and sisters he had taught
to help him.

"We'd never get on as comfortable as we do,"
Mrs. Sowerby said, "if it wasn't for Dickon's
garden. Anything 'll grow for him. His 'taters
and cabbages is twice th' size of any one else's
an' they've got a flavor with 'em as nobody's has."

When she found a moment to spare she liked
to go out and talk to him. After supper there

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v?