The secret garden

IN THE GARDENArchibald Craven thought, as it was poured forthin headlong boy fashion. Mystery and Magicand wild creatures, the weird midnight meetingthe coming of the spring the passion of insultedpride which had dragged the young Rajahto his feet to defy old Ben Weatherstaff to hisface. The odd companionship, the play acting,the great secret so carefully kept. The listenerlaughed until tears came into his eyes and sometimestears came into his eyes when he was notlaughing. The Athlete, the Lecturer, the ScientificDiscoverer was a laughable, lovable, healthyyoung human thing."Now," he said at the end of the story,"itneed not be a secret any more. I dare sayit willfrighten them nearly into fits when they see mebut I am never going to get into the chair again.I shall walk back with you, Father to thehouse."Ben Weatherstaff's duties rarely took him awayfrom the gardens, but on this occasion he made an^excuse to carry some vegetables to the kitchenand being invited into the servants' hall by Mrs,Medlock to drink a glass of beer he was on thespot as he had hoped to be when the mostdramatic event Misselthwaite Manor had seenduring the present generation actually took place.