秘密花园中英对照

TheSecretGarden秘密花园简介　　　“咱俩差不多，”本·威瑟斯塔夫老头对玛丽说。“长得丑，脾气也不好。”　　可怜的玛丽！谁都不要她，也没人喜欢她。父母去世以后，她被人从印度送回英国的约克郡，住在她舅舅的家里。那是一幢旧房子，很大，差不多有上百个房间，可大部分都关得严严实实，还上了锁。玛丽住在那儿，情绪很坏，她感到厌烦、孤独，整天没事可做，除了园丁本·威瑟斯塔夫老头，没人跟她说说话。　　不过后来玛丽听说了有关秘密花园的事。那花园的门紧锁着，钥匙也不知哪儿去了10年了，除了那只能够飞过围墙的知更鸟，没有一个人进过那园子。玛丽望着知更鸟，琢磨着钥匙会在哪儿……　　再后来，夜里房子中什么地方传来奇怪的哭声，听起来像是个孩子……　　弗朗西丝·霍奇森·伯内特生于1849年，卒于1924年。从16岁起她大部分时间住在美国，但经常回英格兰。她是一位终身作家，写了很多书，《秘密花园》是她的代表作。　　　　1LittleMissMary　　　NobodyseemedtocareaboutMary．ShewasborninIndia，whereherfatherwasaBritishofficial．Hewasbusywithhiswork，andhermother，whowasverybeautiful，spentallhertimegoingtoparties．SoanIndianwoman，Kamala，waspaidtotakecareofthelittlegirl．Marywasnotaprettychild．Shehadathinangryfaceandthinyellowhair．ShewasalwaysgivingorderstoKamala，whohadtoobey．Maryneverthoughtofotherpeople，butonlyofherself．Infact，shewasaveryselfish，disagreeable，bad-temperedlittlegirl．　　Oneveryhotmorning，whenshewasaboutnineyearsold，shewokeupandsawthatinsteadofKamalatherewasadifferentIndianservantbyherbed．　　‘Whatareyoudoinghere？’sheaskedcrossly．‘Goaway！AndsendKamalatomeatonce！’第1页共52页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网　　Thewomanlookedafraid．‘I'msorry，MissMary，she—she—shecan'tcome！’　　Somethingstrangewashappeningthatday．Someofthehouseservantsweremissingandeverybodylookedfrightened．ButnobodytoldMaryanything，andKamalastilldidnotcome．SoatlastMarywentoutintothegarden，andplayedbyherselfunderatree．Shepretendedshewasmakingherownflowergarden，andpickedlargeredflowerstopushintotheground．Allthetimeshewassayingcrosslytoherself，　　‘IhateKamala！I'llhitherwhenshecomesback！’　　Justthenshesawhermothercomingintothegarden，withayoungEnglishman．Theydidnotnoticethechild，wholistenedtotheirconversation．　　‘It'sverybad，isit？’hermotheraskedtheyoungmaninaworriedvoice．　　‘Verybad，’heansweredseriously．‘Peoplearedyinglikeflies．It'sdangeroustostayinthistown．Youshouldgotothehills，wherethere'snodisease．’　　‘Oh，Iknow！’shecried．‘Wemustleavesoon！’　　Suddenlytheyheardloudcriescomingfromtheservants’rooms，atthesideofthehouse．　　‘What'shappened？’criedMary'smotherwildly．　　‘Ithinkoneofyourservantshasjustdied．Youdidn'ttellmethediseaseishere，inyourhouse！’　　‘Ididn'tknow！’shescreamed．‘Quick，comewithme！’Andtogethertheyranintothehouse．　　NowMaryunderstoodwhatwaswrong．Theterriblediseasehadalreadykilledmanypeopleinthetown，andinallthehousespeopleweredying．InMary'shouseitwasKamalawhohadjustdied．Laterthatdaythreemoreservantsdiedthere．　　Allthroughthenightandthenextdaypeopleraninandoutofthehouse，shoutingandcrying．NobodythoughtofMary．Shehidinherbedroom，frightenedbythestrangeandterriblesoundsthatsheheardaroundher．Sometimesshecriedandsometimessheslept．　　Whenshewokethenextday，thehousewassilent．　　‘Perhapsthediseasehasgone，’shethought，‘andeverybodyiswellagain．IwonderwhowilltakecareofmeinsteadofKamala？Whydoesn'tsomeonebringmesomefood？It'sstrangethehouseissoquiet．’第2页共52页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网　　Butjustthensheheardmen'svoicesinthehall．　　‘Howsad！’saidone．‘Thatbeautifulwoman！’　　‘Therewasachildtoo，wasn'tthere？’saidtheother．‘Althoughnoneofuseversawher．’　　Marywasstandinginthemiddleofherroomwhentheyopenedthedoorafewminuteslater．Thetwomenjumpedbackinsurprise．　　‘MynameisMaryLennox，’shesaidcrossly．‘Iwasasleepwheneveryonewasill，andnowI'mhungry．’　　‘It'sthechild，theonenobodyeversaw！’saidtheoldermantotheother．‘They'veallforgottenher！’　　‘WhywasIforgotten？’askedMaryangrily．‘Whyhasnobodycometotakecareofme？’　　Theyoungermanlookedatherverysadly．‘Poorchild！’hesaid．‘Yousee，there'snobodyleftaliveinthehouse．Sonobodycancome．’　　InthisstrangeandsuddenwayMarylearntthatbothhermotherandherfatherhaddied．Thefewservantswhohadnotdiedhadrunawayinthenight．NoonehadrememberedlittleMissMary．Shewasallalone．　　Becauseshehadneverknownherparentswell，shedidnotmissthematall．Sheonlythoughtofherself，asshehadalwaysdone．　　‘WherewillIlive？’shewondered．‘IhopeI'llstaywithpeoplewho'llletmedowhatIwant．’　　AtfirstshewastakentoanEnglishfamilywhohadknownherparents．Shehatedtheiruntidyhouseandnoisychildren，andpreferredplayingbyherselfinthegarden．Onedayshewasplayingherfavouritegame，pretendingtomakeagarden，whenoneofthechildren，Basil，offeredtohelp．　　‘Goaway！’criedMary．‘Idon'twantyourhelp！’　　ForamomentBasillookedangry，andthenhebegantolaughHedancedroundandroundMary，andsangafunnylittlesongaboutMissMaryandherstupidflowers．ThismadeMaryverycrossindeed．Noonehadeverlaughedathersounkindly．　　‘You'regoinghomesoon，’saidBasil．‘Andwe'reallverypleasedyou'releaving！’　　‘I'mpleasedtoo，’repliedMary．‘Butwhere'shome？’第3页共52页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网　　‘You'restupidifyoudon'tknowthat！’laughedBasil．England，ofcourse！You'regoingtolivewithyouruncle，MrArchibaldGraven．’　　‘I'veneverheardofhim，’saidMarycoldly．　　‘ButIknowabouthimbecauseIheardFatherandMothertalking，’saidBasil．‘Helivesinabiglonelyoldhouse，andhasnofriends，becausehe'ssobadtempered．He'sgotacrookedback，andhe'shorrid！’　　‘Idon'tbelieveyou！’criedMary．ButthenextdayBasil'sparentsexplainedthatshewasgoingtolivewithheruncleinYorkshire，inthenorthofEngland．Marylookedboredandcrossandsaidnothing．　　Afterthelongseajourney，shewasmetinLondonbyMrCraven'shousekeeper，MrsMedlock．Togethertheytravellednorthbytrain．MrsMedlockwasalargewoman，withaveryredfaceandbrightblackeyes．Marydidnotlikeher，butthatwasnotsurprising，becauseshedidnotusuallylikepeople．MrsMedlockdidnotlikeMaryeither．　　‘Whatadisagreeablechild！’thoughtthehousekeeper．‘ButperhapsIshouldtalktoher．’　　‘Icantellyouabitaboutyouruncleifyoulike，’shesaidaloud．‘Helivesinabigoldhouse，alongwayfromanywhere．Therearenearlyahundredrooms，butmostofthemareshutandlocked．There'sabigparkroundthehouse，andallkindsofgardens．Well，whatdoyouthinkofthat？’　　‘Nothing，’repliedMary．‘Itdoesn'tmattertome．’　　MrsMedlocklaughed．‘You'reahardlittlegirl！Well，ifyoudon'tcare，MrCravendoesn'teither．Heneverspendstimeonanyone．He'sgotacrookedback，yousee，andalthoughhe'salwaysbeenrich，hewasneverreallyhappyuntilhemarried．’　　‘Married？’repeatedMaryinsurprise．　　‘Yes，hemarriedasweet，prettygirl，andhelovedherdeeply．Sowhenshedied—’　　‘Oh！Didshedie？’askedMary，interested．　　‘Yes，shedid．Andnowhedoesn'tcareaboutanybody．Ifhe'sathome，hestaysinhisroomandseesnobody．Hewon'twanttoseeyou，soyoumuststayoutofhiswayanddowhatyou'retold．’　　Marystaredoutofthetrainwindowatthegreyskyandtherain．Shewasnotlookingforwardtolifeatheruncle'shouse．第4页共52页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网　　Thetrainjourneylastedallday，anditwasdarkwhentheyarrivedatthestation．Thentherewasalongdrivetogettothehouse．Itwasacold，windynight，anditwasrainingheavily．AfterawhileMarybegantohearastrange，wildnoise．Shelookedoutofthewindow，butcouldseenothingexceptthedarkness．　　‘What'sthatnoise？’sheaskedMrsMedlock．‘It's—It'snotthesea，isit？’　　‘No，that'sthemoor．It'sthesoundthewindmakes，blowingacrossthemoor．’　　‘Whatisamoor？’　　‘It'sjustmilesandmilesofwildland，withnotreesorhouses．Youruncle'shouseisrightontheedgeofthemoor．’　　Marylistenedtothestrange，frighteningsound．‘Idon'tlikeit，’shethought．‘Idon'tlikeit．’Shelookedmoredisagreeablethanever．　1幼年的玛丽小姐　　　似乎没有人注意玛丽的存在。玛丽出生在印度，父亲是驻印的英国官员，总是忙着工作，母亲长得非常漂亮，把所有时间都花在参加聚会上。所以，一个名叫卡玛拉的印度女人被雇来照看这个小姑娘。玛丽长得不漂亮，消瘦的脸上总是一副生气的样子，头发稀疏枯黄。她总对卡玛拉发号施令，卡玛拉只好顺从她。她很少想到别人，只顾自己。她确实是一个非常自私，脾气怪戾，很难相处的女孩。　　在她9岁那年的一个上午，天气很热，她醒来时发现站在床前的不是卡玛拉，而是另外一个印度女仆。　　“你在这儿干什么？”她生气地问。“走开！叫卡玛拉马上到这儿来！”　　那个女人看来很害怕。“对不起，玛丽小姐，她——她——她来不了了！”　　那天发生了一些很奇怪的事情，房子里的一些仆人不见了，每个人看上去都惊恐异常。可是没有人告诉玛丽任何事情，卡玛拉也始终没来。最后玛丽只好一个人来到花园，在一棵树下玩耍。她假装是在给自己造一座花园，摘来大朵的红花插在土里，一边玩还一边堵气地自言自语。　　“我讨厌卡玛拉！等她回来我要接她一顿！”　　就在这会儿，她看见妈妈和一个年轻的英国人走进花园，玛丽听见了他们的谈话，他们却没注意到她。　　“很严重，是吗？”妈妈问那个年轻人，声音充满焦虑。第5页共52页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网　　“非常严重，”他严肃地说。“人们像苍蝇一样死去，再在城里呆下去太危险了，你得到山里去，那里没有疾病。”　　“哦，我知道！”她叫道，“我们得马上离开！”　　突然，他们听到房子侧面用人屋里传来嚎啕大哭的声音。　　“出了什么事？”玛丽的妈妈慌乱地大叫着。　　“我看是你的一个用人刚刚死去。你没告诉过我这儿也有疫病，在你的房子里！”　　“我根本不知道！”她尖声叫着。“快，跟我来。”他们一同冲进屋去。　　现在玛丽明白是哪儿不对了。可怕的疫病已经夺去了城里很多人的生命，到处都有人在死去。在玛丽家刚刚死去的正是卡玛拉。那天后来又有3个用人死了。　　整整一夜到第二天，人们跑进跑出，哭着，喊着，谁也没想起玛丽。她躲在卧室里，被周围这些可怕的声音吓坏了，不时地哭着，哭累了就睡上一会儿。　　第二天，当她醒来时，房子里一片寂静。　　“说不定疫病已经过去，人们又和从前一样健康了，”她想着，“谁会接替卡玛拉来照看我呢？为什么家里没人给我送点吃的来，房子里这么静，真是太奇怪了。”　　就在这时，她听到客厅里男人说话的声音。　　“太惨啦！”有人说。“这么漂亮的女人！”　　“还应该有个孩子的，是不是？”另外一个人说，“尽管我们都没有看见她。”　　几分钟后，他们推开门，玛丽站在房间的中间，两个男人吓得跳了回去。　　“我叫玛丽·莲诺丝，”她生气地说。“他们生病时我睡着了，现在我很饿。”　　“就是这个孩子，谁都没看见她！”年长一点的男人对另一个说。“他们都把她忘了！”　　“为什么把我忘了？”玛丽气呼呼地问。“为什么没人来照看我？”　　年轻一点的男人忧伤地看着她，“可怜的孩子！”他说。“听着，这幢房子里的人全死了，所以没有人能来照看你。”　　以这样一种奇异而突然的方式，玛丽得知她的父母已不在人世，活下来的几个用人也趁半夜逃走了。没人想起年幼的玛丽小姐，就只剩下她一个人了。　　由于她跟父母并不亲近，也并不想念他们。像以前一样，她只想到了她自己。　　“我该住哪儿呢？”她思量着。“我想跟那些让我想干什么就干什么的人在一起。”　　一开始她被带到一户英国人家，他们认识她的父母。可她讨厌他们凌乱的房间和吵第6页共52页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网吵闹闹的孩子们，而宁愿一个人在花园里玩。一天，她正玩着最喜欢的造花园游戏，那家的孩子巴兹尔走过来想帮她忙。　　“走开！”玛丽大声喊道，“我才不用你帮忙！”　　巴兹尔呆站了一会儿，很生气，可很快又乐开了。他围着玛丽又蹦又跳，一边唱起一支滑稽的有关玛丽小姐和她愚蠢的花儿的歌。这可把玛丽气坏了，还从来没人这么刻薄地嘲笑过她呢！　　“你就快回家了，”巴兹尔说。“我们真高兴你快走了。”　　“我也高兴，”玛丽答道。“可回哪儿的家？”　　“你连这都不知道，可真够傻的！”巴兹尔笑道，“当然是英国！你要去跟你舅舅阿奇伯德·克莱文先生住了！”　　“我从来没听说过他。”玛丽冷冷地说。　　“可我知道，我听我爸爸妈妈谈论过他。他住在一幢孤零零的、又大又旧的房子里，一个朋友都没有，因为他脾气太坏了，他还是个驼背，可怕极了！”　　“我才不信呢！”玛丽大声说。可是第二天，巴兹尔的父母解释说她将要到英格兰北部的约克郡，跟她的舅舅住在一起。玛丽显得又烦躁又恼怒，可什么都没说。　　轮船在海上航行了很久，克莱文先生的管家梅洛太太到伦敦来接玛丽，带她坐火车去北方。梅洛太太是个高大的女人，红脸膛，长着一双明亮的黑眼睛。玛丽不喜欢她，这也没什么好奇怪的，因为她谁也不喜欢。梅洛太太也不怎么喜欢玛丽。　　“这孩子可真不讨人喜欢！”管家心里想。“不过也许我能跟她聊聊。”　　“要是你愿意，我可以给你讲讲你舅舅的事。”她大声说。“他住在一幢很大的老宅子里，离哪儿都不近。那个宅子差不多有一百个房间，可大部分都是上了锁的。房子周围有一片很大的园林，还有各式的花园。你觉得怎么样？”　　“不怎么样，”玛丽答道。“跟我一点关系都没有。”　　梅洛太太笑了，“你这个小倔丫头！好啦，如果你不在乎，克莱文先生自然也不在乎。他从不把时间花在任何人身上，他是个驼背，而且，尽管一直都很有钱，在他结婚之前他从来没有真正快乐过。”　　“结婚？”玛丽惊奇地重复道。　　“是啊，娶了个温柔美丽的姑娘，他非常非常爱她。所以那姑娘一死——”　　“哦！她死了吗？”玛丽感兴趣地问道。　　“是啊，她死了。所以克莱文先生谁也不关心了，他在家的时候就呆在屋子里谁也不见，他不会想见你的，所以你必须躲着他，照别人吩咐你的去做。”第7页共52页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网　　玛丽望着车窗外灰色的天空和飘落的雨水，对于住在舅舅家的生活没有一丝期盼。　　火车走了一天，到站时天已经黑了。可离那幢房子还有很远的路，要搭马车才能到。这是一个寒冷的夜晚，风疾雨骤。过了一阵，玛丽听到一种奇怪的狂野的声音，她向窗外看去，可除了黑暗什么都看不见。　　“那是什么声音？”她问梅洛太太，“那——那不是海，对么？”　　“对，那不是海，是荒原的声音，是风吹过荒原时发出的声音。”　　“荒原是什么？”　　“就是大片大片的荒地，没有树，也没有房屋，你舅舅家就住在荒原的尽头。”　　玛丽听着那奇怪而又可怕的声音，心里想着“我讨厌它，我讨厌它。”她看上去更加不讨人喜欢了。　　　2MaryinYorkshire　　　Theyarrivedataverylargeoldhouse．Itlookeddarkandunfriendlyfromtheoutside．Inside，Marylookedaroundthebigshadowyhall，andfeltverysmallandlost．Theywentstraightupstairs．Marywasshowntoaroomwheretherewasawarmfireandfoodonthetable．　　‘Thisisyourroom，’saidMrsMedlock．‘Gotobedwhenyou'vehadsomesupper．Andremember，youmuststayinyourroom！MrCravendoesn'twantyoutowanderalloverthehouse！’　　WhenMarywokeupthenextmorning，shesawayoungservantgirlcleaningthefireplace．Theroomseemeddarkandratherstrange，withpicturesofdogsandhorsesandladiesonthewalls．Itwasnotachild'sroomatall．Fromthewindowshecouldnotseeanytreesorhouses，onlywildland，whichlookedlikeakindofpurplesea．　　‘Whoareyou？’sheaskedtheservantcoldly．　　‘Martha，miss，’answeredthegirlwithasmile．　　‘Andwhat'sthatoutside？’Marycontinued．　　‘That'sthemoor，’smiledMartha．‘Doyoulikeit？’　　‘No，’repliedMaryimmediately．‘Ihateit．’　　‘That'sbecauseyoudon'tknowit．Youwilllikeit．Iloveit．It'slovelyinspringandsummerwhenthereareflowers．Italwayssmellssosweet．Theair'ssofresh，and第8页共52页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网thebirdssingsobeautifully．Ineverwanttoleavethemoor．’　　Marywasfeelingverybadtempered．‘You'reastrangeservant，’shesaid．‘InIndiawedon'thaveconversationswithservants．Wegiveorders，andtheyobey，andthat'sthat．’　　MarthadidnotseemtomindMary'scrossness．　　‘IknowItalktoomuch！’shelaughed．　　‘Areyougoingtobemyservant？’askedMary．　　‘Well，notreally．IworkforMrsMedlock．I'mgoingtocleanyourroomandbringyouyourfood，butyouwon'tneedaservantexceptforthosethings．’　　‘Butwho'sgoingtodressme？’　　Marthastoppedcleaning，andstaredatMary．　　‘Tha’canna'dressthysen？’sheasked，shocked．　　‘Whatdoyoumean？Idon'tunderstandyourlanguage！’　　‘Oh，Iforgot．WeallspeaktheYorkshiredialecthere，butofcourseyoudon'tunderstandthat．Imeanttosay，can'tyouputonyourownclothes？’　　‘Ofcoursenot！Myservantalwaysusedtodressme．’　　‘Well！Ithinkyoushouldlearntodressyourself．Mymotheralwayssayspeopleshouldbeabletotakecareofthemselves，evenifthey'rerichandimportant．’　　LittleMissMarywasfuriouswithMartha．‘It'sdifferentinIndiawhereIcomefrom！Youdon'tknowanythingaboutIndia，oraboutservants，oraboutanything！You…you…’Shecouldnotexplainwhatshemeant．Suddenlyshefeltveryconfusedandlonely．Shethrewherselfdownonthebedandstartedcryinywildly．　　‘Now，now，don'tcrylikethat，’Marthasaidgently．‘I'mverysorry．You'reright，Idon'tknowanythingaboutanything．Pleasestopcrying，miss．’　　Shesoundedkindandfriendly，andMarybegantofeelbetterandsoonstoppedcrying．Marthawentontalkingasshefinishedhercleaning，butMarylookedoutofthewindowinaboredway，andpretendednottolisten．　　‘I'vegotelevenbrothersandsisters，youknow，miss．There'snotmuchmoneyinourhouse．Andtheyalleatsomuchfood！Mothersaysit'sthegoodfreshaironthemoorthatmakesthemsohungry．MybrotherDickon，he'salwaysoutonthemoor．He'stwelve，andhe'sgotahorsewhichheridessometimes．’　　‘Wheredidhegetit？’askedMary．Shehadalwayswantedananimalofher第9页共52页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网own，andsoshebegantofeelalittleinterestinDickon．　　‘Oh，it'sawildhorse，buthe'sakindboy，andanimalslikehim，yousee．Nowyoumusthaveyourbreakfast，miss．Hereitisonthetable．’　　‘Idon'twantit，’saidMary．‘I'mnothungry．’　　‘What！’criedMartha．‘Mylittlebrothersandsisterswouldeatallthisinfiveminutes！’　　‘Why？’askedMarycoldly．　　‘Becausetheydon'tgetenoughtoeat，that'swhy，andthey'realwayshungry．You'reveryluckytohavethefood，miss．’Marysaidnothing，butshedranksometeaandatealittlebread．　　‘Nowputacoatonandrunoutsidetoplay，’saidMartha．‘It'lldoyougoodtobeinthefreshair．’　　Marylookedoutofthewindowatthecoldgreysky．‘WhyshouldIgooutonadaylikethis？’sheasked．　　‘Well，there'snothingtoplaywithindoors，isthere？’　　MaryrealizedMarthawasright．‘Butwhowillgowithme？’shesaid．　　Marthastaredather．‘Nobody．You'llhavetolearntoplaybyyourselfDickonplaysbyhimselfonthemoorsforhours，withthewildbirds，andthesheep，andtheotheranimals．’Shelookedawayforamoment．‘PerhapsIshouldn'ttellyouthis，but—butoneofthewalledgardensislockedup．Nobody'sbeeninitfortenyears．ItwasMrsGraven'sgarden，andwhenshediedsosuddenly，MrCravenlockeditandburiedthekey—Oh，Imustgo，IcanhearMrsMedlock'sbellringingforme．’　　Marywentdownstairsandwanderedthroughthegreatemptygardens．Manyofthefruitandvegetablegardenshadwallsroundthem，buttherewerenolockeddoors．Shesawanoldmandigginginoneofthevegetablegardens，buthelookedcrossandunfriendly，soshewalkedon．　　‘Howuglyitalllooksinwinter！’shethought．‘Butwhatamysterythelockedgardenis！Whydidmyuncleburythekey？Ifhelovedhiswife，whydidhehatehergarden？PerhapsI'llneverknow．Idon'tsupposeI'lllikehimifIevermeethim．Andhewon'tlikeme，soIwon'tbeabletoaskhim．’　　Justthenshenoticedarobinsingingtoherfromatreeontheothersideofawall．‘Ithinkthattree'sinthesecretgarden！’shetoldherself．‘There'sanextrawallhere，andthere'snowayin．’　　Shewentbacktowherethegardenerwasdigging，andspoketohim．Atfirsthe第10页共52页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网answeredinaverybadtemperedway，butsuddenlytherobinflewdownnearthem，andtheoldmanbegantosmile．Helookedadifferentpersonthen，andMarythoughthowmuchnicerpeoplelookedwhentheysmiled．Thegardenerspokegentlytotherobin，andtheprettylittlebirdhoppedonthegroundnearthem．　　‘He'smyfriend，heis，’saidtheoldman．‘Therearen'tanyotherrobinsinthegarden，sohe'sabitlonely．’HespokeinstrongYorkshiredialect，soMaryhadtolistencarefullytounderstandhim．　　Shelookedveryhardattherobin．‘I'mlonelytoo，’shesaid．Shehadnotrealizedthisbefore．　　‘What'syourname？’sheaskedthegardener．　　‘BenWeatherstaff．I'mlonelymyself．Therobin'smyonlyfriend，yousee．’　　‘Ihaven'tgotanyfriendsatall，’saidMary．　　Yorkshirepeoplealwayssaywhattheyarethinking，andoldBenwasaYorkshiremoorman．‘We'realike，youandme，’hetoldMary．‘We'renotprettytolookat，andwe'rebothverydisagreeable．’　　NobodyhadeversaidthistoMarybefore．‘AmIreallyasuglyanddisagreeableasBen？’shewondered．　　SuddenlytherobinflewtoatreenearMaryandstartedsingingtoher．Benlaughedloudly．　　‘Well！’hesaid．‘Hewantstobeyourfriend！’　　‘Oh！Wouldyoupleasebemyfriend？’shewhisperedtotherobin．Shespokeinasoft，quietvoiceandoldBenlookedatherinsurprise．　　‘Yousaidthatreallynicely！’hesaid．‘YousoundlikeDickon，whenhetalkstoanimalsonthemoor．’　　‘DoyouknowDickon？’askedMary．Butjustthentherobinflewaway．‘Ohlook，he'sflownintothegardenwithnodoor！Please，Ben，howcanIgetintoit？’　　Benstoppedsmilingandpickeduphisspade．‘Youcan't，andthat'sthat．It'snotyourbusiness．Nobodycanfindthedoor．Runawayandplay，willyou？Imustgetonwithmywork．’Andhewalkedaway．Hedidnotevensaygoodbye．　　InthenextfewdaysMaryspentalmostallhertimeinthegardens．Thefreshairfromthemoormadeherhungry，andshewasbecomingstrongerandhealthier．Onedayshenoticedtherobinagain．Hewasontopofawall，singingtoher．‘Goodmorning！Isn'tthisfun！Comethisway！’heseemedtosay，ashehoppedalongthewall．Marybegantolaughasshedancedalongbesidehim．‘Iknowthesecret第11页共52页http://www.en8848.com.cn/原版英语阅读网garden'sontheothersideofthiswall！’shethoughtexcitedly．‘Andtherobinlivesthere！Butwhere'sthedoor？’　　ThateveningsheaskedMarthatostayandtalktoherbesidethefireaftersupper．Theycouldhearthewindblowingroundtheoldhouse，buttheroomwaswarmandcomfortable．Maryonlyhadoneideainherhead．　　‘Tellmeaboutthesecretgarden，’shesaid．　　‘Well，allrightthen，miss，butwearen'tsupposedtotalkaboutit，youknow．ItwasMrsGraven'sfavouritegarden，andsheandMrCravenusedtotakecareofitthemselves．Theyspenthoursthere，readingandtalking．Veryhappy，theywere．Theyusedthebranchofanoldtreeasaseat．Butonedaywhenshewassittingonthebranch，itbroke，andshefell．Shewasverybadlyhurtandthenextdayshedied．That'swhyhehatesthegardensomuch，andwon'tletanyonegointhere．’　　‘Howsad！’saidMary．‘PoorMrCraven！’Itwasthefirsttimethatshehadeverfeltsorryforanyone．　　Justthen，asshewaslisteningtothewindoutside，she