The secret garden

194 THE SECRET GARDEN" It must be very early," she said. The littleclouds are all pink and I've never seen the skylook like this. No one is up. I don't even hearthe stable boys."A sudden thought made her scramble to herfeet." I can't wait ! I am going to see the garden ! 'this timeShe had learned to dress herself byand she put on her clothes in five minutes. Sheknew a small side door which she could unbolt herselfand she flew down-stairs in her stocking feetand put on her shoes in the hall. She unchainedand unbolted and unlocked and when the door wasopen she sprang across the step with one bound,and there she was standing on the grass, whichseemed to have turned green, and with the sunpouring down on her and warm sweet wafts abouther and the fluting and twittering and singing com-bush and tree. She clasped hering from everyhands for pure joy and looked up in the sky andit was so blue and pink and pearly and white andflooded with springtime light that she felt as ifshe must flute and sing aloud herself and knew thatthrushes and robins and skylarks could not pos-She ran around the shrubs and pathssibly help it.toward the secret garden." It is all different already,"she said. Thegrass is greener and things are sticking up every-