The secret garden

MISTRESS MARY15'Perhaps she will improve as she grows older/'"the officer's wife said good-naturedly. If shewere not so sallow and had a nicer expression, herfeatures are rather good. Children alter somuch."1She'll have to alter a good deal," answeredMrs. Medlock." And there's nothing likely toimprove children at Misselthwaite if you askme!"They thought Mary was not listening becauseshe was standing a little apart from them at thewindow of the private hotel they had gone to.She was watching the passing buses and cabs, andpeople, but she heard quite well and was made verycurious about her uncle and the place he lived in.What sort of a place was it, and what would he belike? What was a hunchback? She had neverseen one. Perhapsthere were none in India.Since she had been living in other people'shouses and had had no Ayah, she had begun tofeel lonely and to think queer thoughts which werenew to her. She had begun to wonder why shehad never seemed to belong to any one even whenher father and mother had been alive. Otherchildren seemed to belong to their fathers andmothers, but she had never seemed to really beany one's little girl.She had had servants, andfood and clothes, but no one had taken any notice