The secret garden

MaryDICKON 121remained motionless. Hestopped playinghis pipe and began to rise from the ground.He moved so slowly that it scarcely seemed asthough he were moving at all, but at last he stoodon his feet and then the squirrel scampered backup into the branches of his tree, the pheasant withdrewhis head and the rabbits dropped on all foursand began to hop away, though not at all as if theywere frightened." I'm Dickon," the boy said. " I know tha'rtMiss Mary."Then Mary realized that somehow she Aadknown at first that he was Dickon. Who elsecould have been charming rabbits and pheasantsas the natives charm snakes in India? He hada wide, red, curving mouth and his smile spread'all over his face." " I got up slow," he explained, because if tha*makes a quick move it startles 'em. A body 'asto move gentle an' speak low when wild thingsis about."He did not speak to her as if they had neverseen each other before but as if he knew her quitewell. Mary knew nothing about boys and shespoketo him a little stifflybecause she felt rathershy. " Did you get Martha's letter? " she asked.He nodded his curly, rust-colored head.