The secret garden

THE STRANGE HOUSE 107You are, really! I didn't know you were sonice. I know I can print letters if I try. Let'sask Mrs. Medlock for a pen and ink and somepaper."" I've got some of my own," said Martha.bought 'em so I could print a bit of a letter tomother of a Sunday.I'llgo and get it."fireShe ran out of the room, and Mary stood by theand twisted her thin little hands together withsheer pleasure." If I have a spade," she whispered, " I car>make the earth nice and soft and dig up weeds.I have seeds and can make flowers grow the gardenwon't be dead at all it will come alive."She did not go out again that afternoon becausewhen Martha returned with her pen and ink andpaper she was obliged to clear the table and carrythe plates and dishes down-stairs and when she gotinto the kitchen Mrs. Medlock was there and toldher to do something, so Mary waited for whatseemed to her a long time before she came back.Then it was a serious piece of work to write toDickon. Mary had been taught very little becauseher governesses had disliked her too much tostay with her. She could not spell particularlywell but she found that she could print letterswhen she tried. This was the letter Martha dietatedto her:'IIf