The secret garden

198 THE SECRET GARDENThey ran from one part of the garden to anotherand found so many wonders that they wereobliged to remind themselves that they must whisperor speak low. He showed her swelling leafbudson rose branches which had seemed dead.He showed her ten thousand new green pointspushing through the mould. They put their eageryoung noses close to the earth and sniffed itswarmed springtime breathing; they dug and pulledand laughed low with rapture until MistressMary's hair was as tumbled as Dickon's and hercheeks were almost as poppy red as his.There was every joy on earth in the secret gardenthat morning, and in the midst of them came adelight more delightful than all, because it wasmore wonderful. Swiftly something flew acrossthe wall and darted through the trees to a closegrown corner, a little flare of red-breasted birdwith something hanging from its beak. Dickonstood quite stilland put his hand on Mary almostas if they had suddenly found themselves laughingin a church.We munnot stir," he whisperedin broad"Yorkshire. We munnot scarce breathe. Iknowed he was mate-huntin' when Iseed him last.It's Ben Weatherstaff's robin. He's buildin' hisnest. He'll stay here if us don't flight him."