The Hidden Garden
a retelling of The Secret Garden
edited by Jane Mouttet
Chapter 19 – Colin Meets his Match
The morning after Colin’s tantrum, Dr. Craven was sent for, just like he always was when Colin had one of his fits. When the doctor arrived, he usually found Colin pale, shaky, and so upset that he could start crying again at any moment. Dr. Craven never liked these visits, and this time, he wasn’t able to get to Misselthwaite Manor until the afternoon.
“How is he?” Dr. Craven asked Mrs. Medlock, sounding irritated. “He’s going to hurt himself badly one of these days if he keeps having these tantrums. The boy is half-crazy with hysterics and being spoiled.”
“Well, sir,” Mrs. Medlock replied, “you won’t believe it when you see him. That plain little girl—Miss Mary—has worked some sort of magic on him. I don’t know how she did it. She’s not what you’d call pretty, and she hardly talks to anyone, but last night, she ran right up to him and ordered him to stop screaming. And he actually did! Today, you wouldn’t even recognize him. Come and see for yourself, sir. It’s unbelievable.”
When Dr. Craven entered Colin’s room, what he saw was quite surprising. Colin was sitting up on his sofa, looking at a book about gardens, laughing and talking with Mary, whose face was glowing with excitement.
“We’ll have lots of those tall blue flowers,” Colin said. “They’re called Delphiniums.”
“Dickon says they look like big, fancy larkspurs,” Mary added. “There are already some growing in the garden.”
At that moment, Colin and Mary noticed Dr. Craven and stopped talking. Mary went quiet, and Colin looked a little annoyed.
“I’m sorry to hear you were unwell last night,” Dr. Craven said nervously.
“I’m feeling better now—much better,” Colin said in a rather royal tone. “I’m going to go outside in my wheelchair soon if the weather is nice. I want some fresh air.”
Dr. Craven sat down beside him, feeling Colin’s pulse and looking at him closely.
“It will have to be a very nice day, and you’ll need to be careful not to overdo it,” Dr. Craven advised.
“Fresh air won’t make me tired,” Colin replied confidently.
This surprised Dr. Craven. After all, Colin had often screamed about how fresh air would make him sick or even kill him, so hearing this change in attitude was a bit shocking.
“I thought you didn’t like fresh air?” the doctor asked.
“I don’t when I’m alone,” Colin said. “But my cousin is coming with me.”
“And the nurse, too?” Dr. Craven suggested.
“No, I don’t need the nurse,” Colin replied, sounding like a young prince giving orders. “My cousin can take care of me, and I always feel better when she’s around. She made me feel better last night. And a very strong boy I know will push my wheelchair.”
Dr. Craven was worried. If Colin suddenly started getting better, he might lose his chance to inherit Misselthwaite Manor. Still, he didn’t want Colin to be in any real danger, either.
“He must be a very strong and reliable boy,” Dr. Craven said. “I need to know more about him. What’s his name?”
“It’s Dickon,” Mary chimed in. She thought everyone who knew the moor should know Dickon. And she was right—Dr. Craven’s serious face relaxed, and he smiled.
“Oh, Dickon!” he said. “If it’s Dickon, then you’ll be safe. He’s as strong as a moor pony.”
“And he’s trustworthy,” Mary added. “He’s the most trustworthy boy in Yorkshire.”
“Did Dickon teach you to talk like that?” Dr. Craven asked with a laugh.
“I’m learning it like a language,” Mary said proudly. “It’s like learning a native language in India. Colin and I like it.”
“Well, if it makes you happy, it can’t hurt,” Dr. Craven said. “Did you take your medicine last night, Colin?”
“No,” Colin replied. “I didn’t want to, and after Mary helped calm me down, she talked me to sleep by telling me about the spring coming to a garden.”
“That sounds peaceful,” said Dr. Craven, glancing at Mary. “You do seem much better, but remember—”
“I don’t want to remember!” Colin interrupted. “When I think about being sick, I start to feel pain, and I get upset. If there were a doctor who could make me forget I’m ill, I’d bring him here. Mary makes me forget, and that’s why I’m getting better.”
Dr. Craven didn’t stay long this time. Usually, he had to give Colin medicine and leave instructions, but this time, there was no need for that. He left the room looking thoughtful and later shared his surprise with Mrs. Medlock in the library.
“Well, sir, can you believe it?” Mrs. Medlock asked.
“It’s definitely a new situation,” Dr. Craven replied. “But it’s better than before.”
“I think Susan Sowerby was right,” Mrs. Medlock said. “I spoke to her yesterday, and she told me, ‘She may not be a perfect child, but children need other children.’ We went to school together, Susan and I.”
“She’s a wise woman,” Dr. Craven agreed.
“That she is,” Mrs. Medlock said with a smile. “She’s got a way of saying things that stick with you.”
That night, Colin slept peacefully, and when he woke up in the morning, he smiled without even realizing it. For once, it felt good to be awake. He stretched his arms and legs, feeling loose and comfortable. Instead of feeling trapped, his mind was full of happy thoughts—thoughts of the garden, of Dickon and his animals, and of all the plans he and Mary had made. He hadn’t been awake for more than ten minutes when he heard footsteps running down the corridor. Mary burst into the room, bringing with her a fresh breeze that smelled of leaves and sunshine.
“You’ve been outside!” Colin exclaimed. “I can smell the fresh air!”
Mary’s hair was blown loose, and her face was bright and rosy. “It’s so beautiful!” she cried, breathless. “It’s really here now—the spring! I thought it was coming before, but now it’s truly here! Dickon says so!”
“Has it really come?” Colin asked, his heart racing with excitement. He sat up in bed. “Open the window! Maybe we’ll hear golden trumpets!”
Mary laughed and rushed to open the window. A soft breeze filled the room, along with the sweet scent of flowers and the sound of birds singing.
“That’s fresh air,” she said. “Lie back and take deep breaths. That’s what Dickon does. He says it makes him feel strong like he could live forever.”
Colin lay back, breathing deeply. “Does it really make him feel like that?” he asked.
“Yes,” Mary said, and Colin felt something new and wonderful stirring inside him as he filled his lungs with fresh air.
“The garden is changing so fast!” Mary continued, her excitement bubbling over. “The flowers are blooming, the buds are opening, and everything’s turning green. The birds are busy building their nests, and the rose bushes are coming to life! Dickon even brought his fox, the crow, the squirrels, and a newborn lamb!”
Just then, the nurse came in, surprised to see the window wide open. She had always kept the room stuffy because Colin had been so afraid of catching a cold.
“Are you sure you’re not cold, Master Colin?” she asked.
“No,” Colin said, smiling. “I’m breathing in the fresh air, and I’m going to get up and have breakfast with my cousin.”
The nurse left to arrange breakfast, smiling to herself. She knew there was something special going on upstairs. Meanwhile, in the servants’ hall, everyone was talking about how different Colin had become. The cook even joked, “He’s finally met his match!”
After Colin had his breakfast, he made a significant announcement.
“Today, a boy, a fox, a crow, two squirrels, and a newborn lamb are coming to see me,” he said. “I want them brought straight to my room.”
The nurse gasped. “Yes, sir,” she said.
“And tell Martha to bring them. The boy’s her brother. His name is Dickon, and he’s an animal charmer.”
Not long after that, they heard the sound of boots coming down the hallway.
“Listen!” Mary said. “Do you hear that?”
Colin listened closely. He could hear a “caw-caw” sound from down the corridor.
“That’s Soot, Dickon’s crow!” Mary whispered. “And listen again! Did you hear a tiny bleat? That’s the newborn lamb!”
A moment later, Martha opened the door. “If you please, sir,” she said with a smile, “here’s Dickon and his creatures.”
Dickon entered the room with a big smile, carrying the tiny lamb in his arms. The red fox, Captain, trotted by his side, Nut sat on his shoulder, and Shell peeked out of his pocket. Soot flew in through the window, cawing as he landed.
Colin stared in amazement, overwhelmed with wonder and joy. He had never imagined meeting someone like Dickon, let alone seeing such friendly animals up close.
Dickon walked over to the sofa and gently placed the lamb in Colin’s lap. The little creature immediately nuzzled against Colin’s dressing gown, looking for warmth. Colin couldn’t help but speak.
“What’s it doing?” he asked, eyes wide with excitement.
“It’s looking for its mother,” Dickon explained. “I brought it a bit hungry so you could feed it.”
Dickon pulled out a small feeding bottle and handed it to Colin, who fed the lamb as it eagerly drank.
After that, the room was filled with questions and stories. Dickon told Colin all about the lamb and how he had found it on the moor. Colin and Mary listened, completely enchanted.
As they sat together, with the sounds of the animals and the fresh air flowing in, Colin finally knew what it felt like to be truly happy. And he wasn’t going to let that feeling go.
Chapter 20 – Colin Sees the Garden
Colin had to wait more than a week before he could finally go to the garden. First, there were days when the wind blew too hard, and then he caught a bit of a cold. Usually, this would have made him angry, but there was so much to plan for his secret adventure that he didn’t mind. Every day, Dickon would come, even if just for a few minutes, to tell Colin and Mary about the moor and the animals. He would talk about the otters, badgers, water rats, birds, and little mice, all working hard to build their nests and burrows. It made Colin feel excited to think about how busy and alive the world outside was.
“They’re just like us,” Dickon said. “They have to build their homes every year, and it keeps them so busy, they’re always scrambling to get it done.”
But the most important thing was planning how to get Colin to the secret garden without anyone knowing. No one must see them once they turned a certain corner near the ivy-covered walls. Every day, Colin became more certain that the mystery of the garden made it even more special. It had to remain a secret. No one could find out. They talked about their route, planning it like soldiers planning a big adventure. They decided which paths to take, where to pretend they were looking at flowers, and how to avoid the gardeners. It was almost like planning a mission!
Rumors about strange things happening in Colin’s room spread through the servants’ hall and the garden. However, Mr. Roach, the head gardener, was still surprised when he was summoned to see Colin. He had never seen the boy before and had heard all kinds of wild stories about him.
“Well, what’s going on now?” he thought as he changed his coat. “The boy who no one’s allowed to look at is calling for me?”
When Mrs. Medlock led him to Colin’s room, she warned him, “Don’t be shocked if you find yourself in the middle of a zoo and young Dickon Sowerby looking more at home than any of us.”
Mr. Roach smiled. He had heard about Dickon before. “That lad would be at home anywhere, from a palace to a coal mine,” he said. “But it’s not because he’s cheeky—he’s just a good lad.”
When they entered the room, the first thing Mr. Roach saw was a large crow sitting on the back of a chair, loudly saying, “Caw—Caw!” Startled, Mr. Roach almost jumped back.
Colin wasn’t in bed; he was sitting in a chair. A lamb stood beside him, wiggling its tail as Dickon fed it from a bottle. A squirrel sat on Dickon’s shoulder, nibbling on a nut, while Mary sat nearby on a footstool, watching.
“Here’s Mr. Roach, Master Colin,” said Mrs. Medlock.
Colin, sitting like a little prince, looked Mr. Roach over.
“Oh, you’re Roach, are you?” Colin said. “I’ve got some important orders for you.”
“Yes, sir,” Mr. Roach replied, unsure of what to expect.
“I’m going out in my chair this afternoon. If the fresh air helps, I’ll go out every day. But when I do, no gardeners are to be near the Long Walk by the garden walls. No one is to be there. I’ll go out around two o’clock, and you can let them return to their work after I send word.”
“Yes, sir,” Mr. Roach said, relieved that Colin wasn’t asking for the trees to be cut down or the garden changed.
“Mary,” Colin said, turning to her, “what’s that thing you say in India when you’re done talking and want people to leave?”
“You say, ‘You have my permission to go,’” Mary answered.
Colin waved his hand. “You have my permission to go, Roach.”
The crow added, “Caw—Caw!” as if agreeing with Colin.
Mr. Roach and Mrs. Medlock left the room. Outside, Mr. Roach chuckled. “He’s got a fine, royal way about him, doesn’t he? Like he’s the whole Royal Family rolled into one!”
Mrs. Medlock smiled. “He’s been bossing us all around since he could talk, and he thinks that’s what people are for.”
“Maybe he’ll grow out of it,” Mr. Roach suggested.
Inside the room, Colin leaned back against his cushions. “It’s all set. This afternoon, I’ll see it—the hidden garden!”
Dickon went back to the garden, and Mary stayed with Colin. He seemed quiet but not tired. He was deep in thought.
“Your eyes are huge when you’re thinking,” Mary said. “What are you thinking about now?”
“I’m thinking about the garden,” Colin replied. “I’ve never really seen spring before. I never went outside, and when I did, I didn’t pay attention. I didn’t even think about it.”
“I never saw spring in India either,” said Mary. “There wasn’t any.”
Colin had spent so much time looking at books that his imagination was bigger than Mary’s. “When you ran in and said, ‘It’s here! It’s here!’ you made me feel like it was a parade or something. Like spring was coming with music and people dancing and singing.”
“That’s exactly what it feels like,” Mary said, laughing. “If all the flowers, birds, and animals danced by at once, what a parade it would be!”
They both laughed, not because it was funny, but because they liked the idea so much.
Later, the nurse helped Colin get dressed. She noticed that he wasn’t just lying still—he was sitting up and even trying to help a little. “He’s having a good day,” she told Dr. Craven, who came to check on him.
“I’ll check on him after he comes in,” Dr. Craven said. “Let’s see how he handles going outside.”
The strongest footman in the house carried Colin downstairs and put him in his wheeled chair. Dickon was waiting outside, ready to push it. Once Colin was settled with his cushions and blankets, he waved his hand like a prince. “You have my permission to go,” he said to the footman and nurse.
Dickon began pushing the chair slowly, and Mary walked beside them. Colin leaned back, looking up at the sky, which seemed so high and blue, with little clouds floating like white birds. The wind blew softly, and Colin breathed in deep, lifting his chest with every breath.
“There are so many sounds,” Colin said, “singing and humming and calling. What’s that sweet smell?”
“It’s the gorse blooming on the moor,” Dickon answered. “The bees love it today.”
They wound through the paths, following their secret route, making sure no gardeners saw them. When they finally reached the Long Walk by the ivy-covered wall, they began to speak in whispers.
“This is it,” Mary whispered. “This is where I used to wonder about the garden.”
“I don’t see a door,” Colin whispered back.
“Neither did I,” Mary replied.
They moved on quietly, and Mary pointed out where the robin had flown over the wall and perched on a little pile of earth.
“There!” she said. “That’s where the robin showed me the key.”
Colin’s eyes grew wide. “Where?” he asked eagerly.
Dickon stopped pushing the chair. Mary stepped up to the ivy-covered wall and pointed. “This is where the wind blew the ivy back,” she said, pulling the ivy aside. “And here’s the door handle!”
Colin gasped in excitement. “Oh! Is it really? Quick, Dickon, push me in!”
With one strong push, Dickon rolled the chair into the secret garden, and Colin covered his eyes with his hands. He didn’t open them until the chair had stopped and the door had closed behind them.
When he finally lowered his hands and looked around, he saw the green leaves everywhere. The trees were blooming, and there were splashes of color from flowers popping up all around. Birds flitted from branch to branch, and the air was filled with soft humming and sweet smells. The warm sun touched his face, making him feel like he had never felt before.
Colin looked at Mary and Dickon, his eyes bright with excitement. His face, once pale, now glowed with a pink flush of happiness.
“I shall get well!” he cried. “I shall live forever—forever and ever and ever!”
Miss previous chapters of The Hidden Garden? You can read them here.
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