The secret garden

66 THE SECRET GARDENhalf-drowned young crow another time an' hebrought it home, too, an' tamed it. It's namedSoot because it's so black, an' ithops an' flies aboutwith him everywhere."The time had come when Mary had forgottento resent Martha's familiar talk. She had evenbegun to find it interesting and to be sorry whenshe stopped or went away. The stories she hadbeen told by her Ayah when she lived in Indiahad been quite unlike those Martha had to tellabout themoorland cottage which held fourteenpeople who lived in four little rooms and neverhad quite enough to eat. The children seemed totumble about and amuse themselves like a litterMary wasof rough, good-natured collie puppies.most attracted by the mother and Dickon. WhenMartha told stories of what " mother ' said ordid they always sounded comfortable." If I had a raven or a fox cub I could play"with it," said Mary. But I have nothing."Martha looked perplexed." Can tha' knit?" she asked." No," answered Mary."Can tha' sew?"" No.""Can tha' read?"" Yes."" Then why doesn't tha' read something or