The secret garden

252 THE SECRET GARDENand that his fox and his crow and his squirrels andhis lamb were so near to him and hisfriendlinessthat they seemed almost to be part of himself.Colin had never talked to a boy in his life and hewas so overwhelmed by his own pleasure and curiositythat he did not even think of speaking.But Dickon did not feel the least shy or awkward.He had not felt embarrassed because thecrow had not known his language and had onlystared and had not spoken to him the first timethey met. Creatures were always like that untilthey found out about you. He walked over toColin's sofa and put the new-born lamb quietly onhis lap, and immediately the little creature turnedto the warm velvet dressing-gown and began tonuzzle and nuzzle into its folds and butt itstight-curled head with soft impatience against hisside. Of course no boy could have helped speakingthen.cried Colin. "What"What is itdoing?"does it want? '" It wants its mother," said Dickon, smilingmore and more.u I brought it to thee a bit hungrybecause I knowed tha'd like to see it feed."He knelt down by the sofa and took a feedingbottlefrom his" pocket.Come on, little 'un," he said, turning the smallwoollv white head with a gentlebrown hand.