[00:00.67] Chapter eight.
[00:03.62] A tantrum.
[00:07.46] By the Monday, the rain had cleared, and Mary couldn't wait to get outside.
[00:14.92] Nice as it was to talk to Colin, she had missed the secret garden.
[00:21.46] She had missed Dickon, too.
[00:26.78] Right, I'm going digging in my garden, she decided after breakfast.
[00:34.65] Aren't you going to see Master Colin first?" Martha asked.
[00:40.59] No, I've got to grab the sunshine while it's out.
[00:46.05] I'll call in later.
[00:48.74] But what if he needs you?
[00:51.65] Later, Mary repeated.
[00:56.52] She ran as fast as the Morewind across the grounds, down the side of the long walk, past the kitchen gardens and through to the secret garden.
[01:10.25] Dickon was already there.
[01:13.59] You beat me, she said.
[01:17.39] There's work to be done, Dickon replied.
[01:22.41] He began to whistle a tune.
[01:29.40] Together, they dug and pruned and cleared.
[01:36.59] Green shoots were sprouting everywhere now.
[01:42.59] Mary was especially pleased to see that the seeds she had planted were growing.
[01:50.87] The garden was coming alive.
[01:55.93] It's grand, isn't it, Mary said.
[02:01.01] It's nature.
[02:03.89] All nature's grand.
[02:09.25] Mary went back to the Manner House in such a good mood.
[02:14.56] She couldn't wait to see Colin and tell him about her morning.
[02:21.86] Martha, I'm starving, she announced.
[02:28.21] Sorry, Miss Mary, lunch is a bit late today, Martha apologized.
[02:35.61] She looked hot and bothered.
[02:39.97] What's wrong?" Mary asked.
[02:44.90] It's Master Colin.
[02:47.80] He's working his way up to a right tantrum.
[02:56.73] Mary frowned and listened.
[03:00.35] Sure enough, the sound of shouting and wailing could be heard along the corridor.
[03:08.92] Why?
[03:11.59] What's upset him?
[03:14.94] Martha looked embarrassed.
[03:19.28] It's because you didn't come when he asked for you, Miss Mary.
[03:27.12] What?
[03:29.85] How silly.
[03:34.05] Mary felt a wave of anger sweep over her.
[03:42.77] Mary strode into Colin's room.
[03:46.88] His face was crimson from screeching.
[03:53.61] What's the matter with you?" she demanded.
[03:58.69] Colin glared at her.
[04:02.96] You didn't come to see me.
[04:07.97] How could I?
[04:10.30] I've been in the garden.
[04:14.78] You come when I say.
[04:19.45] I am the master of this house.
[04:24.48] I am more important than some stupid garden and some stupid boy.
[04:35.65] Mary's face turned to thunder.
[04:39.33] I'll come to see you when I please, she declared.
[04:45.89] And if you ever speak to me like this again, I shan't come at all.
[04:56.39] She spent the rest of the day in the garden, working twice as hard as she had in the morning.
[05:04.27] She was still furious.
[05:08.91] Dickon tried to calm her down and make her see things from Colin's point of view.
[05:17.01] It's not much of a life for him in there, especially as he has no ma, and his dad's always away.
[05:29.10] Mary did not care one bit.
[05:32.99] So, I have no one either, but I don't cry like a baby all day.
[05:44.53] She decided she wouldn't see Colin until she felt like it, which might be never.
[05:56.05] Never came sooner than Mary thought.
[06:01.41] In the middle of the night, she was awoken by Martha shaking her arm.
[06:08.71] Miss Mary, Miss Mary, come quick, she begged.
[06:16.13] What is it?" Mary asked.
[06:20.56] She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
[06:25.35] It's Master Colin.
[06:29.20] He's having hysterics.
[06:33.54] What are hysterics?
[06:38.45] They're like a paddy, only 20 times worse.
[06:43.48] Like that time when the gardener's lad stared at him.
[06:48.37] Oh, come quick, Miss Mary.
[06:51.50] Nurse thinks you're the only one who can get through to him.
[06:56.23] Even Mrs. Medlock thinks so.
[07:00.51] He'll set off one of his fevers otherwise, and it might kill him.
[07:07.76] Now, she was fully awake, Mary could hear Colin screaming.
[07:14.42] It was different from before, higher and louder and more urgent.
[07:22.63] The sound set her teeth on edge.
[07:26.95] She put her hands over her ears, but it didn't stop the noise from getting through.
[07:35.16] Oh, for goodness sake, she snapped, tugging on her shawl and following Martha down the cold corridor.
[07:46.62] The nurse looked at Mary with pure relief when she arrived.
[07:52.04] Oh, Miss Mary, can you please talk to him?
[07:57.97] He'll do himself harm if he keeps on like this.
[08:05.17] Mary felt herself growing angrier and angrier.
[08:11.32] How dare this boy make everyone do what he wanted?
[08:17.66] Who did he think he was?
[08:22.07] She strode up to the screaming boy and stamped her foot.
[08:27.23] Colin Craven, shut up this minute!" she shouted.
[08:34.76] Colin flung himself over, so his face was buried in the pillow.
[08:41.39] He continued to wail and began banging his stick-like arms and legs.
[08:50.51] Fine.
[08:53.25] Scream yourself to death for all I care, Mary fumed.
[08:59.82] Behind her, someone gasped, but no one dared to try and stop her.
[09:07.43] You're just a spoiled brat.
[09:11.12] There's nothing wrong with you, nothing.
[09:16.83] There is.
[09:19.52] I felt the lumps.
[09:22.24] I felt them.
[09:25.56] What lumps?
[09:29.86] On my back, I'm going to be a hunchback.
[09:36.94] Where?" Mary asked.
[09:41.46] She climbed onto the bed and started prodding Colin's back.
[09:50.40] There, he said and pointed to the back of his neck.
[09:55.93] There are lumps all down there.
[10:00.28] Mary tutted out loud.
[10:05.65] They're not lumps, you silly thing.
[10:09.99] That's just your backbone.
[10:13.83] Everybody's got that.
[10:18.22] Yours just feels lumpy because you're so thin.
[10:25.92] She got off the bed, and Colin turned round.
[10:31.95] Is that is that true?" he asked the nurse.
[10:39.20] Yes, Master Colin, the nurse nodded.
[10:42.99] It is.
[10:45.69] I'm sorry.
[10:49.70] I I didn't know that's what was bothering you.
[10:55.44] I would have said.
[10:59.51] Oh, he sniffed.
[11:04.49] He ran his fingers along the top of his back.
[11:09.64] So I'm just like everyone else.
[11:16.85] Yes, the nurse agreed.
[11:20.10] And will I live?
[11:24.92] I don't see why you shouldn't live to be as old as the hills, she told him.
[11:34.12] The look of relief on the boy's face was heartbreaking.
[11:42.12] Oh, he said.
[11:47.57] So can we all get some sleep now?" Mary asked.
[11:53.47] Colin looked at her.
[11:57.53] He blinked the rest of his tears away.
[12:01.91] Will you will you stay a bit longer, Mary?" He swallowed hard.
[12:10.19] Please, he added.
[12:14.75] Mary agreed.
[12:18.15] Her temper had gone now.
[12:21.02] She saw that Colin had been really scared.
[12:26.82] It's all right, she said to Martha and the nurse and Mrs. Medlock.
[12:33.18] You go.
[12:35.89] I'll stay until he goes to sleep.
[12:42.47] The three of them shot her grateful looks and disappeared.
[12:51.06] Tell me about the garden, Colin said.
[12:56.65] So Mary told him about the garden, about how it was turning from gray to green.
[13:07.55] About all the birds that felt it was a place so safe, they could build their nests there.
[13:16.71] About the buds beginning to show on the rose trees.
[13:23.56] I can see it, Colin smiled, his voice sounding far away.
[13:32.09] I can see it.