[00:00.10] Chapter 5.
[00:02.00] Dickon.
[00:04.73] A few days later, Dickon was waiting for her as she crossed the grounds between the house and the walled gardens.
[00:11.54] He had glorious rust-colored hair and blue eyes the color of the sky.
[00:16.95] He was sitting beneath a tree, perfectly still.
[00:21.78] Around him, rabbits and pheasants and squirrels had gathered.
[00:27.78] As she approached, he put his fingers to his lips to warn her to be quiet.
[00:34.91] Once, if someone ordered her to do something, she would have flown into a rage.
[00:41.64] But she wasn't the old Mary from before, and she obeyed.
[00:48.49] Mary liked him at once.
[00:51.48] I've brought these for you, he said.
[00:55.53] He held a large package wrapped in brown paper.
[01:00.39] Here's a spade, and a fork, and a hoe, he told her.
[01:07.24] And seeds?
[01:09.61] Ay, and seeds.
[01:13.90] Thank you, she said.
[01:16.27] She hesitated and looked at Dickon.
[01:20.52] Dickon, she began, I, do you know much about gardening?
[01:28.97] I guess.
[01:31.99] And can you keep a secret?
[01:36.75] Huh.
[01:37.85] Half the birds and foxes round here would be dead if I couldn't.
[01:43.67] Mary made up her mind to trust him.
[01:48.60] Follow me, she said.
[01:54.60] Dickon stared at the secret garden in wonder, just as Mary had on her first visit.
[02:02.93] We often talked about it at home, Dickon whispered, but we never knew where it was.
[02:12.91] A Robin showed me where the key was buried.
[02:17.73] Dickon nodded, as if Robins did that kind of thing every day.
[02:23.73] It's the roses I want to know most about, Mary said, as she took him round.
[02:30.75] Are they all dead?
[02:34.99] Dickon took a knife from his belt and cut deep into some of the branches.
[02:41.78] A few are, he said, but not all.
[02:46.25] See these green bits.
[02:49.73] They'll shoot up if we cut them right back and give them some space.
[02:56.34] Will they?
[02:58.09] Really?
[02:59.90] Mary asked, staring at the faint green sap inside one of the branches.
[03:06.56] Really.
[03:11.77] Mary felt her heart race.
[03:14.90] Dickon, will you come back and help me?
[03:19.62] Help me make the garden beautiful again.
[03:26.91] If you want, Dickon agreed, and gave her a lopsided grin.
[03:36.35] Mary ran back to the manner full of excitement.
[03:41.77] I've met Dickon.
[03:43.96] He brought me things for the garden, she gasped, hurling herself into her chair at her dining table.
[03:52.58] Martha smiled.
[03:54.47] I, I knew he wouldn't take long.
[04:00.49] I like him so much.
[04:04.83] There's nowt not to like with our Dickon.
[04:10.57] I can't wait to get started on the garden now, Mary said, as she bolted her soup.
[04:18.46] Right, I'm off.
[04:21.91] But Martha shook her head.
[04:25.78] Sorry, miss.
[04:29.96] You're needed in the house this afternoon.
[04:34.32] Mr. Craven's asked to see you.
[04:38.37] Mr. Craven?
[04:41.98] Mary asked in astonishment.
[04:45.60] He's just back for the day.
[04:48.63] He's setting off for his travels again tomorrow, but he sent for you before he goes.
[04:55.60] You'd best get changed.
[05:01.62] Mary changed into her best dress.
[05:06.04] She felt nervous.
[05:09.96] Then Mrs. Medlock stormed in, the usual scale nailed to her face.
[05:17.44] Look at that hair.
[05:18.94] What a mess.
[05:21.74] Never mind, come on.
[05:26.13] We can't keep Mr. Craven waiting.
[05:30.74] Mary was hurried along all the corridors and passageways she had been told to keep away from.
[05:40.10] She didn't have time to catch her breath before Mrs. Medlock was knocking on a door and being told to enter.
[05:51.14] This is Miss Mary, sir, she said.
[05:56.55] You may leave now, Mrs. Medlock, a voice from behind a high-backed chair replied.
[06:05.83] Mary waited.
[06:09.80] A head dipped round the side of the chair.
[06:14.96] Come, child, Mr. Craven said, his voice more gentle than she had thought it would be.
[06:23.59] In fact, everything about her uncle was gentler than she thought it would be.
[06:31.02] Even his back was not as bad as people had said.
[06:35.94] His shoulders just seemed a little higher and a little more rounded than most.
[06:42.39] That was all.
[06:46.37] As she stepped before him, she saw her uncle had a kind, almost handsome face, but it was full of sadness.
[06:56.64] He looked at her.
[06:58.76] You are very thin, he said.
[07:04.12] But I'm not so pale, she told him.
[07:07.66] Martha says so.
[07:11.90] There was a pause, and then her uncle said, Do you have everything you need, Mary?
[07:19.34] Toys, books?
[07:22.72] Yes, thank you.
[07:26.98] Are you sure?
[07:29.89] You only have to ask.
[07:32.70] Perhaps a doll.
[07:35.88] I'm not keen on dolls, she said, but I would like one thing.
[07:42.32] Yes?
[07:44.99] Mary took a deep breath.
[07:49.07] A little bit of earth.
[07:53.91] Mr. Craven looked puzzled.
[07:57.49] What do you mean?
[08:00.96] A little bit of earth to grow things in.
[08:08.46] He smiled a sad smile.
[08:13.86] You remind me of, he began, then stopped.
[08:22.11] Well, there is plenty of earth at Missweight.
[08:27.01] Take as much as you like.
[08:32.87] From, from anywhere, as long as no one's using it.
[08:39.91] From anywhere, her uncle agreed.
[08:44.63] Oh, thank you, she beamed.
[08:50.16] Mr. Craven sighed then and rang for Mrs. Medlock.
[08:56.36] I must ask you to leave now, Mary.
[09:01.68] I am going away for a long time and have much to do.
[09:09.27] Mary almost galloped out of the room.
[09:13.54] She had her uncle's permission.
[09:17.83] She could go in the secret garden.
[09:25.33] As she brushed past Mrs. Medlock, she shot her a meaningful look.
[09:32.58] Mr. Craven was a kind man.
[09:36.51] If anyone in this house was as sour as a crab apple, it was her.