Frances Hodgson-Burnett

The Secret Garden

c z y t a m y

Retold by Katarzyna Duda

w o r y g i n a l e
 Chapter I

© Mediasat Poland Bis 2004

‘Mary Lennox’
Mediasat Poland Bis sp. z o.o.
ul. Mikołajska 26
31-027 Kraków

www.czytamy.pl
[email protected]

Projekt okładki i ilustracje: Małgorzata Flis

Skład: Marek Szwarnóg

ISBN 83 - 89652 - 12 - 9
Wszelkie prawa do książki przysługują Mediasat Poland Bis. Jakiekolwiek publiczne korzystanie w całości, jak i w
postaci fragmentów, a w szczególności jej zwielokrotnianie jakąkolowiek techniką, wprowadzanie do pamięci kom-
putera, publiczne odtwarzanie, nadawanie za pomocą wizji oraz fonii przewodowej lub bezprzewodowej, wymaga
wcześniejszej zgody Mediasat Poland Bis.

2 3
 Mary Lennox was a skinny little 10-year hitting the poor woman. But her Ayah did
old girl who was used to living in India not come back.
all her life. She had thin yellow hair and There was definitely something strange
an ugly yellow face with an angry look. about that morning. Nothing seemed to
She was always upset with something or be done the way it had always been done:
somebody. Her father was always busy and no Ayah, no morning wash, no help with
her mother cared more for going to parties getting dressed, no one to play with. In
than for looking after her only child. So, fact, most of the servants seemed to be
when Mary was born, she was given to an missing. So Mary decided to walk around
Indian servant called Ayah, who was told to the house. She found her mother on the
keep the child out of sight. Mary became a veranda, talking to a young man. The man
rude, spoilt and selfish child, used to always looked very worried. Mary overheard her
being obeyed by her servants. She never mother asking him:
liked anybody, and so she had nobody to ‘Is it really so very bad?’
play with her because there was not a single ‘Awful, you should have left two weeks
person who liked her. ago.’
One extremely hot morning she woke ‘I know but I had to go to this silly party. ‘
up, and, instead of seeing her Ayah she saw ‘You never said that it had broken out
another servant. She asked: among your servants.’, he said.
‘Why have you come? I will not let you ‘Because I didn’t know.’ replied Mary’s
stay. Send my Ayah to me!’ mother.
The servant looked frightened but replied Nobody had told Mary that cholera had
that her Ayah couldn’t come. This made broken out, and that her Ayah had died,
Mary so angry that she started kicking and and that people around her were dying

4 5
very suddenly. Everyone was panicking
and they had completely forgotten about
Mary. In a few days, all the servants had
either died or run away. Mary’s parents
had died too.
But Mary knew nothing. She suspected
she was the only person left in the house
because it was very quiet around. The only
thing she could do was wait for someone to
come and look after her. She was tired and
she slept most of the time. When she finally
woke up, she heard two male voices. They
were talking about what had happened.
They thought that everyone had died.
Suddenly they noticed Mary sitting on her
bed.
‘That’s the kid!’ said one of them. ‘They
must have forgotten all about her.’
‘Why was I forgotten?’ asked Mary. ‘Why
has nobody come for me?’
‘Poor little kid! Because there is nobody
left to come.’
Although many had died, Mary didn’t
feel sorry for anyone but herself. She could

6 7
not stay in India because no one could and ‘No.’
no one wanted to look after her there. So ‘You’ve never heard your father and
she was sent to England, to her uncle, Mr. mother talk about him?’
Archibald Craven. ‘No.’
Mary never cared much about who ‘Humph.’ Mrs Medlock was surprised,
she was living with as long as she had ‘I suppose you should be told something.
somebody to look after her. So now the You are going to a strange place. Mr Craven
only thing that interested her was what lives in a very old and very big house – it’s
her new Ayah would be like, and if she about 600 years old, and there are nearly
would treat her like her old Ayah did. But 100 rooms in it. Most of them are locked
sometimes her heart felt strangely heavy though. The manor is at the edge of the
with loneliness, and she wondered why she moor and is surrounded by gardens and a
had never belonged to anybody, not even park. What do you think?’
to her father or mother. ‘Nothing.’
Mary was sent to England with an officer’s ‘Don’t you care?’
wife, and in London she was met by Mrs ‘It doesn’t matter whether I care or not.’
Medlock, Mr Craven’s housekeeper. Mary Mary said.
didn’t like Mrs Medlock very much and ‘Mr Craven has a crooked back. He was a
she wasn’t at all interested in the new place very sour man before he got married. But his
she was going to. She did not even bother wife was as kind and delicate as a flower.
to ask any questions about her uncle. ‘Why was?’, asked Mary who started
‘Do you know anything about your listening despite herself.
uncle?’ Mrs Medlock asked Mary when ‘The poor woman died.’ said Mrs
they had sat down in the train. Medlock.

8 9
 ‘Did she?’ said Mary. village girl sitting by the fireplace with a
‘Since her death Mr Craven has lived on smile on her face. It was Martha, a servant
his own. He travels abroad a lot, and if he girl helping in the house. Mary, who was
is at home, he never meets other people. used to being washed and dressed by her
So don’t expect him to talk to you. You’ll Indian servants, got angry with Martha
be told which room is yours and which for not helping her to get dressed and to
gardens you are allowed to play in.’ put on her shoes. Martha, on the other
Not a word was spoken during the rest hand, could not believe her own eyes
of their journey together, and it was dark – she had never seen a grown girl who
when they reached the station. A man in a needed help with her clothes and shoes.
carriage was waiting to take them both to But when Mary got so angry that she
the manor. burst into tears, Martha finally helped her
‘What is the moor?’ Mary suddenly to put on her dress. Then she showed her
remembered the word Mrs Medlock used. into the next room, where breakfast was
‘It’s dark outside now,’ said Mrs Medlock, already waiting for her on the table. It was
‘But if you look out of the window, you’ll porridge. Mary looked at it and said she
see it soon.’ wasn’t hungry.
But Mary could not see anything apart ‘Not hungry?’ asked Martha with
from the darkness covering the endless surprise. ‘My! If my little brothers and
wild land. She didn’t like it. sisters were here, this plate would be clean
When they arrived, Mary was taken to in a minute!’
her room. It had been a long day and she ‘Why?’ asked Mary.
quickly fell asleep. ‘Because they don’t often get the chance
In the morning, Mary woke up to find a to have such a good meal.’

10 11
 Mary tried a little of the porridge.
‘They would never waste such good food.’
Martha went on. ‘Why? If they didn’t eat,
they wouldn’t have the strength to run
around the moor all day.’
Mary picked up her spoon again and Chapter II
started to eat slowly as she listened to
Martha talking about her family, and
especially about her brother Dickon, who
spent most of his time on the moor playing
with different animals.
Mary was so intrigued by Martha’s stories ‘Secrets of The Manor’
that she decided to go out and have a walk
around Mr. Craven’s gardens. She became
even more curious when Martha mentioned
a garden which had been locked up since
Mrs. Craven died. Martha didn’t know
where it was. It was a secret garden.

12 13
 Mary took a long walk around the gardens.
She looked at the birds and animals, which
were so different from the ones she used
to see in India. But what she was really
interested in were the many doors she saw.
Each of them led to a garden. One of them
led to the secret garden. But which one?
Mary tried to open every door she saw.
She visited the kitchen gardens, where
vegetables were grown, and an orchard,
where there were fruit trees. Although the
gardens were big it was still winter and none
of the flowers were in bloom - the gardens,
therefore, did not look all that impressive.
While walking around one of the orchards
she saw a small bird with a red breast sitting
on a tree top. It was singing as if calling out
to her. She stopped for a while, listening
to his winter song, and noticed something
strange: although she could see the tree
top, she could not find a door in the wall
beyond which the bird was singing its tune.
Perhaps she could ask someone.
She looked around and saw a strange old
man. He stood there with a spade in his

14 15
hands digging in the ground. It was Ben, ‘Of course he does. I’ve known him
the gardener. Mary came up to him. since he was a baby. He fell out of his nest
‘I have been into the other gardens.’ she and I took care of him because his family
started. ‘And I went into the orchard, but flew away. He was all alone. And I was all
there was no door to the garden next to it.’ alone. Now we’re friends. It’s Robin the
‘What garden?,’ Ben replied in a rough redbreast.’
voice and stopped digging. Mary knelt next to the robin and
‘The one on the other side of the wall. whispered that she was all alone too.
There are trees there, I saw the tops of ‘So you are this little girl from India?’ Ben
them. A bird with a red breast was sitting asked. Mary nodded.
on one of them and was singing.’ ‘And I have no friends at all,’ said Mary. Ben
Ben’s face suddenly changed, he smiled pointed at the robin, which was sitting on the
and started to whistle. He looked very branch of an apple tree, singing happily.
different with a smile on his face. He ‘I think he’d like to be your friend.’ so
looked almost nice, Mary thought. She Mary came closer and asked:
watched surprised as the small redbreast ‘Would you make friends with me?’ robin
bird flew over and landed on the ground finished his song and flew away.
next to Ben. Mary turned back to Ben. She wanted to
‘Where have you been?’ Ben asked the ask him about the locked garden, where
bird. ‘I didn’t see you yesterday.’ it was and how she could get in. But Ben
The little bird seemed to understand didn’t want to talk about it. His smile
every word. It looked at Ben, and wasn’t at disappeared.
all afraid of him or of Mary. ‘You stay out of things that have
‘Do you know him? Does he always come nothing to do with you!’ he said rudely,
to you when you call him?’ asked Mary. and turned back to his digging.

16 17
 ‘I’ll have to find it myself then. And I will,
I will!’, thought Mary.
Days went by. Mary began to spend
more and more time in the fresh air.
Her cheeks reddened and she became
stronger and healthier. She could now
eat the whole breakfast, even if it was
porridge, without complaining. She also
became great friends with Martha, who
told her stories about her big family (she
had eleven brothers and sisters). Mary
had nothing to play with, and so she
spent all day walking about the gardens
and orchards, sometimes looking for Ben,
sometimes robin. When she did find him,
he was usually sitting on the same tree-
top where Mary had found him the first
time. Soon she was sure that the robin’s
tree was inside the secret garden. But she
could never find the door to it.
One morning the weather outside was
windy and cold and Mary didn’t go out but
stayed with Martha. They sat and listened
to the noises made by the blowing wind
and talked about the secret garden.

18 19
 ‘Mr. Craven locked it up after his wife ‘It was just the wind in the trees.’ said
died. Nobody has been there since.’ said Martha nervously.
Martha. ‘No, it wasn’t. I heard somebody crying
‘Why does he hate it so much?’ asked and it wasn’t a grown-up.’ insisted Mary.
Mary. ‘It was the wind,’ Martha said. ‘And if not
‘Mrs Medlock says it is none of our the wind then it was little Betty down in the
business. It was his wife’s garden and they kitchen crying because of a toothache.’
both loved it so much. They spent lots Martha got up, ran out of the room and
of time there. They locked themselves in shut the door, turning the key and locking
and didn’t allow anybody to bother them. Mary in. Mary did not believe Martha’s
There was a big tree which Mrs Craven explanation for a second. She was sure she
used to sit on. One day the branch she had heard a child crying.
was sitting on broke and she fell. She hurt It was raining the following day, so Mary
herself so badly that the next day she died. couldn’t walk outside again.
Mr Craven nearly went crazy with sorrow. ‘What do your brothers and sisters do
Now he doesn’t allow anybody even to talk when it’s raining?’ she asked Martha.
about her or the garden.’ ‘They play but there is not much to do. Only
Mary sat in silence thinking that now Dickon goes to the moor when it’s raining.
she had an idea what it meant to feel He says he has to look after his animals.’
sorry for someone, because now she felt ‘I have nothing to do.’ said Mary sadly.
sorry for her uncle and his poor wife. She ‘Can you read?’
was close to crying for them, but instead, ‘I can but I have no books.’
strangely, she heard a cry of someone ‘If only Mrs Medlock allowed you to go
else. It was as if a child was crying the big library in the house. You would
somewhere in the house. surely find something to read for yourself

20 21
then – there are thousands of books there.’
Mary, who never felt the need to ask
anybody for permission, decided to look
for the library herself. She wanted to
wander around the house and see whether
there really were so many locked rooms. Chapter III
She moved along the corridors and tried to
open some of the doors she saw. Suddenly
she heard the same cry that she had heard
the day before. But it was so much nearer
now, she could almost hear where it was
coming from. Looking for a way in, she
came across Mrs. Medlock. ‘The Secret Garden
and Dickon ’
‘What are you doing here?’ Mrs. Medlock
shouted. ‘What did I tell you? Keep to your
own room!’
‘I turned the wrong corridor and got lost.
I didn’t know where to go and then I heard
somebody crying.’ Mary tried to explain.
‘You didn’t hear any such thing. Go back
to your room now.’ To make sure she did,
Mrs Medlock went with Mary all the way
to her room, and locked her inside.
Mary was furious. ‘Somebody was crying.
And I heard it twice.’

22 23
 When the weather got better, Mary ‘No, in India everything is green after the
started to go out again and soon forgot rains, and I think everything grows in one
about the crying child. The truth was, she night.
had something else on her mind - the secret ‘Here, I’m afraid you’ll have to wait longer
garden. She wished so much she could find for them to grow – in this part of the world
it. And she wished so much to see if the it takes time for things to grow.’
flowers and plants there grew like in all the She then heard the wind whistling and
other gardens. But she could not find the saw robin.
secret door leading into the garden. So she ‘Do you think he remembers me?’ she
spent her days running around, happy to asked Ben.
be out again and talking to Robin or to Ben ‘He knows everything and everyone in
when she ran into them. these gardens.’ said Ben.
One day she saw Ben working with two ‘Is everything coming to life in his garden
other gardeners. too?’
‘Springtime is coming.’ he began. ‘Can ‘What garden?’
you smell it?’ Mary took a deep breath and ‘The one he lives in.’ said Mary.
said: ‘Ask him.’ Ben suggested.
‘I smell something nice, fresh and damp.’ So Mary slowly walked down the path and
‘That’s the earth,’ he said. ‘It’s getting when she saw the bird again he was walking
ready to grow things. The sun is warming around one of the flowerbeds. She came
them. You’ll soon see bits of green coming closer, but he wasn’t afraid at all.
out of the earth.’ ‘You do remember me!’ she said.
‘What will they be?’ She came up even closer and noticed
‘Crocuses and snowdrops and daffodils. something shiny on the ground. When she
Haven’t you ever seen a crocus?’ bent down she saw a piece of metal. She

24 25
picked it up. It was an old key. Mary put it thank you.’ she said quietly. It was the
in her pocket. It might be the key to the first time she had ever thanked anybody
secret garden, she thought. It might be the in her life.
key that had been buried in the ground for It was a windy day but Mary was so
ten years! She decided to carry it with her pleased with her new toy that she didn’t
at all times just in case she found the secret much care about the cold weather and
door that led to the garden. happily skipped around the gardens.
Martha went away for a day to see her Although she wasn’t very good at first she
family and when she came back she brought didn’t give up. She decided to skip along
Mary a present. It was a skipping rope with the walls surrounding the garden with
blue and red handles. Mary had never seen no door. She saw the Robin again, who
a skipping rope before and she didn’t know was following her. He had never seen a
what to do with it. skipping rope before either. As for Mary,
‘What is it for?’ she asked curiously. she wondered whether he knew how to
‘What for?!’ Martha couldn’t believe her get inside the garden. All the walls around
own ears. ‘Just watch me!’ And Martha it were covered with thick ivy. Just then,
showed her how to skip, run, and play with the wind blew apart the ivy leaves, and
it. Mary looked at her in amazement. Mary saw a small metal lock. Was this the
‘It looks very nice. Your mother is a very lock to the secret garden? She took the
kind woman. Do you think I will ever skip key out of her pocket, carefully placed it
like you?’ into the lock and turned it. It worked! She
‘Just try it.’ looked round to see if anyone had seen
And Mary tried, and liked it. Suddenly her. But there was no one. She opened the
she stopped, out of breath. door and walked straight through into the
‘Martha, it was with your own money ... secret garden.

26 27
 The garden was wild. Mary could, however,
imagine how the garden must have once
looked: mysterious in all its beauty.
It was completely still inside. Mary had
no idea whether the rose trees and other
plants were still alive. She saw some pale
green things coming out of the earth
– small green plants just like the ones Ben
had told her about. She knew they were
first spring flowers.
Slowly, she walked around, carefully
taking care not to step on any of the
flowerbeds. When she got to the small
green plants, she decided to pull at the
grass around to give the plants more air
and more sun. She picked up a sharp piece
of wood and started digging around them.
In the evening, when Mary got back to her
room, she couldn’t stop thinking of how to
look after the garden, her garden (or so it
seemed). She asked Martha where garden
tools could be found and what kind of
flowers might grow in the early spring time.
‘It’s such a big and lonely place. The house
is lonely, the park is lonely and the gardens

28 29
are shut up. There are not many things for closer. He moved very slowly because he
me to do or to play with. There is no one to did not want to scare the squirrel away.
talk to except you and Ben, and you have ‘I am Dickon’, he said. ‘And you must be
to do your work and Ben can’t speak to me Miss Mary Lennox.’
all the time. I thought if I had a little spade ‘Yes, I am.’ Mary replied. So this was Dickon!
I could dig somewhere like Ben does. And ‘Did you get Martha’s letter?’ she asked.
I might make a little garden if he gives me ‘That’s why I’ve come.’ replied Dickon.
some seeds. How much would a spade cost? Dickon had brought her a set of garden
I have some money – Mrs Medlock gives me tools – a spade, a rake, a pitch-fork - and
one shilling every Sunday – but so far there some flower seeds. Soon they spoke as if
hasn’t been anything to spend it on.’ they had known each other for a long time.
Martha was really happy to see Mary so Dickon told Mary about the seeds, what
changed, and changed for the better since kind of earth she could plant them in, and
the day they met, and so she wanted to what they would look like when they had
help her. Together they wrote a letter to grown. He also told her how to look after
Dickon. They asked him to buy a set of them, when to water them and what signs
garden tools and flower seeds, and they to look out for.
put Mary’s money in the envelope. ‘I’ll plant them for you myself if you like.’
A few days later Mary saw a boy sitting he offered. ‘Where is your garden?’ Mary
under a tree and playing with a squirrel. wasn’t sure whether to tell him about the
He was a funny-looking boy, about twelve secret garden or not, so instead asked him:
years old, with a round face with red cheeks ‘I don’t know much about boys ... Can
and red hair. He had a wide smile and even you keep a secret?’
his big blue eyes were smiling. When he ‘Of course I can,’ said Dickon looking at
saw Mary he gave her a sign not to come her in surprise. ‘I keep secrets all the time:

30 31
there’s so much I know about wild animals
and their homes that if I ever told anyone
they would be in danger.’
‘I’ve stolen a garden.’ said Mary with tears
in her eyes. ‘It isn’t mine. It was nobody’s
and nobody takes care of it. I’m the only Chapter IV
person who wants it alive!’
Dickon’s eyes became larger with surprise.
So Mary led him to her secret garden.
At first, he stood for a couple of minutes
looking around in complete amazement.
He saw the rose trees, and to Mary’s great
surprise, he said they were alive. Then ‘Colin’
he saw the little green plants coming out
of the earth, and he saw somebody had
cleared the ground around them.
‘Have you done that?’ he asked. ‘That’s a
good job. You’ll be a good gardener!’
They both knelt down and started to work
with Mary’s garden tools. Time passed
quickly. Soon, Mary heard the bell that
signalled dinner, and so she had to go back
to the house. Before she went, though,
Dickon promised her that he would come
again to help her in the garden.

32 33
 Mary and Dickon became great friends, so ‘And he is my father.’ answered the boy.
much so that she looked forward to seeing him ‘Your father? No one ever told me he had
and working together in the secret garden. a son. Why were you crying?’
But as spring came, the weather changed for ‘Because I couldn’t sleep and I have a
the worse and thunderstorms started to wake terrible headache.’
her in the middle of the night. She found it They began to talk. Colin told her that his
terribly difficult to get to asleep again – and father hated him as his birth had caused the
it wasn’t only the wind and rain that bothered death of his mother – Mr Craven’s beloved
her. She started to hear that cry again, the wife. He also mentioned that he would
same cry that she had heard during her first not live to his adult age as he would have
days at the manor. So one night, she decided, a hunchback, just like his father, and die
once and for all, to find whatever was making before long. Colin was so depressed that
that disturbing noise. She got up and went the he didn’t want anybody to see him.
same way she had gone the last time she had ‘Are you sure you won’t live?’ Mary asked
met Mrs Medlock. It seemed the further she sadly.
went, the louder the cry became. Then, ahead ‘Ever since I remember people saying I
of her, she saw a door with light coming out won’t.’
from beneath it. She slowly walked up to it and ‘But do you want to live?’
gently pushed it open to find herself in a huge ‘No.’
room with a big bed in the middle. On it lay a ‘Have you ever left your room?’ asked
small boy. He was very pale, with huge grey Mary. ‘If you don’t want people to
eyes, seemingly too big for his small face. see you, do you want me to go?’ But Colin
‘No, I’m not. Are you?’ replied Mary. wanted Mary to stay and tell him all about
‘I am Colin, and who are you?’ India and herself. Mary later told him about
‘I’m Mary. Mr Craven is my uncle.’ the secret garden, that it was his mother’s

34 35
favourite and that it had been locked up
ever since she had died. Colin asked many
questions and wanted to know everything
she knew about the garden. She told him
many things, but didn’t tell him that she
had the key and often went inside.
‘Mr. Craven hates it and has hated it since
the day your mother died. No one has been
allowed into for ten years.’ she told him.
Colin, by this stage, had already planned
to make his servants look for the key and
open the garden for him. This terrified
Mary, so she told her cousin that keeping
the garden a secret would be a lot more
fun. Colin agreed with her and begged
her to keep looking for the garden, and to
come and see him whenever she had any
news. Mary felt that her secret was safe and
talked with Colin about what she imagined
the secret garden looked like, what sort of
flowers grew in it and what it was like to
listen to the birds singing in the trees.
‘You know a lot about it already,’ said
Colin. ‘It’s almost as if you’d been in it
yourself.’

36 37
 They were both silent for a while.
‘What would Mrs Medlock do if she
found me in your room?’ asked Mary, with
a worried look.
‘She will do what I tell her to.’ said Colin.
‘I am glad that you came and will tell her to
let you in. Do you know Martha? She will
tell you when to come and see me.’
‘I’m very sleepy now, Colin. Would you
mind if I left?’
‘Of course, I only wish I could fall asleep
before you left.’
So Mary took his hand and, stroking it
gently, sang a lullaby in Hindustani. Colin
fell fast asleep and Mary quietly stood up
and left.
For the next couple of days Mary
continued her visits to her cousin’s, telling She was right, as Dickon was there
him about the spring in the air, Dickon, his already and had even brought his animal
animals and the secret garden. friends with him. There was the small fox,
The weather finally changed for the better Captain, the black crow, Soot and two
and that morning, instead of going to see squirrels – Nut and Crack.
Colin, Mary decided to go out and look for The garden had changed over the week
Dickon, hoping he would be working in as the grass was greener and green buds of
the garden. leaves were showing. They both worked

38 39
hard and Mary told Dickon all about
Colin, his illness, and wondering what to
do to try and convince him that getting
some fresh air would be good for him. The
work took them the whole day, and when
Mary went back to the manor for dinner
she found Martha waiting to tell her that
Colin was angry at her for not visiting him
throughout the day.
‘I wish you had visited him. He had one of
his tantrums. It took us the whole afternoon
to keep him quiet.’
Mary wanted to tell Colin all the news so
she quickly went to see him.
Colin was lying on his bed when Mary
arrived. The first thing he asked her was
why she had not visited him all day.
‘I was working in the garden with Dickon.’
she answered.
‘I won’t allow that boy on the grounds
if you go and play with him instead of
coming to see me.’ Now, although Mary
had changed during her time at the manor,
she was still a child who was used to being
obeyed and did not like the way Colin was

40 41
speaking to her. She got so cross with him
that she decided never to see him again.
Instead, she warned him that if he ever did
ban Dickon from helping in the gardens, she
would never ever speak to him again. And,
as Colin himself was used to being obeyed, Chapter V
he least of all expected Mary to threaten
him and soon started shouting at her.
‘You’re so selfish!’
‘What? You are more selfish than I am. You
are the most selfish boy I have ever met.’
‘I’m not as selfish as you are. I’m ill and I’m
going to die and all you can do is be unkind ‘More Tantrums’
to me. I AM GOING TO DIE!’
‘You’re not! I don’t believe you! You just
say that to make people feel sorry for you!’
‘Get out of my room!’ he shouted,
throwing a pillow at her.
Mary was so angry when Colin threw her
out of his room that she had completely
forgotten the pleasant day she had spent
in the secret garden with Dickon. She was
so tired that she herself went to bed and
quickly fell asleep.

42 43
 That night Mary did not sleep long as
she was awoken by a noise. Before she
realised what was happening, she heard
screams and crying from Colin’s room:
he was having another tantrum. The
noise, added with the impossibility of
getting back to sleep, made Mary really
angry. But then Colin’s nurse came
into her room with fear in her eyes and
begged Mary to calm Colin down. Mary
was surprised to see that everybody in the
house seemed to be afraid of Colin. As
she was a child, and as difficult as Colin
herself, the nurse hoped that Mary could
have some effect on the boy. Mary went
with the nurse, not with the intention to
comfort Colin but simply to stop him
from screaming so she could get some
sleep. She opened the door with a bang
and started shouting:
‘You stop! I hate you! Everybody hates
you! I wish everybody left the house and
let you scream yourself to death!’ She
ordered him to stop crying and threatened
that she would scream too. Colin was lying

44 45
in his bed. His faced looked dreadful, him. Then later, in the garden, she spoke
white and red and swollen. to Dickon about her ill cousin, asking him
‘I can’t stop!’ he sobbed. He was crying whether fresh air might help him. Dickon
because he was terrified that his hunch agreed, telling Mary that his own mother
was growing. Mary looked at his back very believed nothing to be more healthy than
carefully and assured him that there was a dose of fresh air - there was nothing like
nothing he should worry about. Colin the scents of flowers and hearing the song
eventually stopped crying but felt very weak of birds. Mary’s mind was made up: not
(every time he had one of these attacks he only would she tell Collin about the secret
felt very feverish and tired afterwards). garden, but she would also take Dickon
‘Do you think I will live to grow up?’ he and his animals to visit him.
asked Mary ‘You smell like flowers and ... and fresh
‘You probably will if you do what you things!’ Colin cried out joyously when
are told to do! You have to control your Mary came into his room.
temper though. And you have to get some ‘It’s the wind from the moor. It blows softly
fresh air.’ and carries the spring scents on its journey.’
‘I’ll go out with you if Dickon pushes my They had so much to talk about: Mary
chair. We can look for the secret garden.’ described the gardens, the colours, the
This helped Colin calm down, and when plants, the trees, the flowers, the animals
Mary sang him a song, he soon fell asleep. and the change in seasons.
The next morning, before Mary went to ‘I wish I hadn’t said what I did about
the garden to work with Dickon, she went sending Dickon away. And I won’t mind
to visit Colin. She told him all about her him seeing me.’
plans to look for the garden and promised ‘I am glad you said that’ Mary said,
that she would share all her discoveries with because she then knew that it was the right

46 47
moment to tell Colin all about the garden. ‘And the nurse, of course.’
She revealed everything about how she had ‘No, I won’t need a nurse. My cousin knows
found the key, and about how the Robin how to take care of me. My chair will be
had shown her the way to the door hidden pushed by Dickon. He is a very strong boy.’
behind the ivy. Colin soon forgot about The doctor was surprised by this strange
his tiredness and listened in excitement to behaviour as Colin had always hated going
every word Mary said. They made plans to out, for fear of being stared at by others.
take him to the garden, with Dickon’s help. But at the mention of Dickon, the doctor
In the meantime Mrs Medlock sent for stopped worrying as he knew that he was
a doctor to see if Colin’s health remained a trustworthy and careful boy, and would
stable after his recent hysteria. The doctor never put Colin in danger.
found his patient sitting on the sofa with ‘But you have to remember…’ he started,
his face beaming with joy. At that very but was immediately interrupted.
moment, no-one would have thought that ‘I don’t have to remember. In fact,
he was ill, but the sight of the doctor filled remembering only brings me pain. I would
him with fear. rather be with my cousin as she helps me to
‘I’m sorry to hear you were ill last night forget. I feel better when I’m with her.’
my boy.’ the doctor said. The doctor left, quite relieved to see
‘I’m better now. Much better. I’d very the boy looking so well, and acting like
much like to go out and get some fresh air.’ a normal child. And Colin, well, he had
answered Colin. never felt better: he fell asleep with a smile
‘That’s fine. But when the weather is OK. on his face and slept more peacefully than
And you have to be careful not to get tired’ he had ever done before.
‘Fresh air won’t tire me. I will go with my When he awoke the following morning,
cousin and Dickon.’ he waited for Mary to come and see him.

48 49
She ran into his room, shouting:
‘It’s so beautiful. You’ve never seen
anything quite that beautiful before. It has
come! Spring has come. Dickon said so!’
‘Has it?’
‘Open the window!’ Mary cried and ran Chapter VI
to open it. ‘Breathe the fresh air.’
When breakfast was served, Colin told his
servant: ‘A boy with his animals is coming to
see me this morning. I want them brought up
here as soon as they come. You can tell Martha
to bring them. The boy is her brother.’
A few minutes later they heard the ‘Magic’
strangest sound. It was Dickon with his
crow, his lamb, his squirrels and his fox.
Colin stared at them in amazement and
delight. Dickon let Colin play with them.
For the next few days Dickon regularly
came to talk to Mary and Colin. As it was
still slightly windy Colin had to stay in,
but patiently waited for his chance to see
the new world around him. He certainly
wasn’t going to spoil it by having another
tantrum.

50 51
 The day finally came when it was warm
enough for Colin to go out. And so, with
joy in his eyes, he prepared himself for
his adventure. Not only was his carriage
waiting, but Mary and Dickon waited for
the servants to take Colin out into the
courtyard.
Colin didn’t let anyone follow him, for
fear that the secret garden be found. When
everything was ready, Colin said:
‘I can’t stop thinking about what it will
look like!’
‘What? The garden?’
‘Springtime. I’ve never seen one before.
In fact, I’d never really thought about it.’
They moved slowly, Dickon pushing
Colin’s wheelchair and Mary walking
beside them. When Colin reached the
open, he lifted his face to the sky and
began looking around at everything that
surrounded them. When they reached the
wall covered with ivy, Mary again told them
all about the discovery of the hidden door
to the garden. Colin was wheeled through
and came out on the other side. His face,

52 53
by this stage, had already become pink with ‘It was magic that sent Robin.’ Mary later
anticipation. He looked alive and well. assured Dickon.
‘I shall get well! I shall get well! Mary and ‘We couldn’t ever tell him how it broke,
Dickon, I shall get better! And I will live poor boy.’ said Dickon.
forever and ever and ever!’ he shouted. Later that afternoon they saw Robin
It was then that he saw spring for the first looking for food and soon got hungry
time -’why,’ he thought ‘was it that spring themselves. So Colin asked Mary if she
had never been more than just a word?’ could tell the servants to prepare something
The word itself now came alive with the full for them, but bring it only as far as the path
force of the blossom found around him. He which led to the secret garden.
wanted to live it fully and would not let go. They ate hungrily and, when they finished,
They drew his wheel-chair under a plum they lay on the grass chatting.
tree and, and while Colin sat there admiring ‘I don’t want this afternoon to end.’
the garden, Mary and Dickon worked. said Colin. ‘I’m going to come back here
‘I wonder if Robin will come.’ said Colin, tomorrow, and the day after, and the day
noticing an old tree not far from where he sat. after that. I want to see life grow around
me, and I want to grow here myself.’
‘That’s a very old tree,’ he said, pointing
‘Why don’t you walk around?’ suggested
to it. ‘Has it died? It looks as if a big
Dickon.
branch has been broken off. I wonder
‘Walk! Me?’
what happened to it.’ Mary looked at ‘Sure. Why not? You have legs don’t you?
him, not knowing what to say. ‘Look at Just like other people.’
Robin! There he is! There he is!’ shouted ‘But they are so thin and weak. I am afraid
Dickon, trying to direct Colin’s attention to try to stand on them.’
somewhere else. How could he ever be ‘You stand on them when you stop being
told what had happened to the old tree? afraid.’ said Dickon.

54 55
 Colin was thinking about something
when he suddenly spotted somebody and
shouted:
‘Who is that man?’
Mary and Dickon rose to their feet
immediately.
‘Man!?’ they both seemed surprised
‘Look! Just look!’
There was Ben’s face, watching them over
the garden’s wall from the top of a ladder.
He didn’t look at all pleased to find them in
the secret garden. Mary approached him:
‘It was Robin who showed us the way.’
At the sight of Colin, Ben’s face changed.
‘Do you know who I am?’ Colin asked
him. Ben couldn’t stop staring at him. He
was an old tactless man and knew only the
things he was told, so he answered:
‘Who are you? You have your mother’s
eyes. But you are a poor cripple.’
‘I’m not a cripple!’ Colin said, anger rising
within him.
‘He’s not a cripple.’ Mary echoed.
‘Don’t you have a crooked back?’ his
voice started to shake.

56 57
 ‘No!’ Colin shouted. Everyone thought I was going to die. I’m
‘Don’t you have crooked legs?’ not. What do you do in the garden?’ Colin
This was too much for Colin. His anger asked Ben.
and insulted pride filled him with such a ‘Anything I am told to. I work here
force he never thought he had. because your mother liked me.’
‘Right...’ he shouted, moving as if to stand ‘My mother? It was her garden, right?’
up. ‘Yes. She was very fond of it.’
Dickon and Mary came closer to his chair ‘Now it is my garden. And I am very fond
and Dickon, holding his arm, helped him of it. I shall come here everyday. But it is to
stand straight. remain a secret. I shall send for you sometimes
‘Look at me! Just look at me!’ to help with the work in the garden.’
‘He is as straight as I am! As straight as ‘I’ve come here before when no one was
any boy in Yorkshire!’ Dickon shouted. looking.’
While Mary watched, she started saying ‘What?!’ the three children shouted.
to herself: ‘You can do it! You can do it!’ ‘She was so fond of her roses, she said
She believed it was magic doing it, making to me once: Ben, if I’m ever ill or if I ever
Colin stand and feel a will to live. And then go away would you take care of my roses?
finally she looked up at Ben. He was crying. When she died, your father ordered that
He couldn’t take his eyes of Colin standing no one be allowed to come here, but I did,
upright. over the wall, on the ladder.’
‘People tell lies.’ Ben said. ‘You’ll be a fine ‘I’m glad you did.’ Colin said. ‘You know
man one day. God bless you!’ how to keep a secret.’
Ben’s head vanished behind the wall and From that day on, Colin visited the secret
he came into the garden through the gate. garden every day to practise walking and to
‘Look at me! Do I have crooked legs? breathe the fresh air. He became rounder

58 59
and stronger and began to look just like an
average healthy young boy. Despite this
though, his doctor started to worry about
him:
‘You shouldn’t stay out that long. You
shouldn’t tire yourself too much.’ he Chapter VII
warned.
‘I’m not tired. It has made me well. I’m
going out in the mornings and in the
afternoons. It would be stupid to stop me.’
said Colin seriously.
‘You shouldn’t be so rude.’ said Mary,
who was listening in on the conversation. In the Secret Garden’
And, looking at Colin’s face, she added:
‘But don’t worry. I too was rude. But the
time will come when you will feel others in
your life and how much their lives become
part of you. You too will feel the magic of
the garden.’
‘I don’t want to be rude. I shall stop being
unfriendly if I go to the garden every day.
There is magic, a good magic there.’’

60 61
 Then it was magic as they called it – the
wonderful things that happened in the
garden. The green things began to show
buds, and then the buds began to show
colours: blue, red, purple, yellow. And
the roses – light fresh leaves and the
buds, tiny buds. Colin saw it all, watching
every change that took place there. He
liked lying on the grass, watching things
grow. But, more determined still, he kept
practising to walk.
Days passed. Colin spent as much time
as he could in the garden. His appetite
improved. To the great surprise of his nurse
and Mrs Medlock, Colin, together with
Mary, ate twice as much as they used to
before. Although Colin put his new-found
appetite down to the fresh air, his nurse
decided to contact his doctor to examine
Colin on this matter.
‘You are not feverish and what extra
weight you gained is healthy. If you keep
this up, my boy, we need not talk of dying.
Your father will be happy to hear of this
remarkable improvement.’

62 63
 ‘I won’t have him told! It will only and it sounded as if she was choking. Their
disappoint him if I get worse again – and strange behaviour gave the doctor the idea
I might get worse this very night. I might that they may be getting food in secretly;
have a terrible fever. I won’t have letters but none of the servants knew anything,
written to my father. You are making me and so he thought that it can’t be true.
angry and you know that it is bad for me. I The children spent their time in the
feel hot already.’ garden, working, playing, laughing and
‘Hush my boy, hush. Nothing shall be dreaming about magic – the magic that
done without your approval.’ would allow Colin to fully – and finally -
The children, afraid that their secret recover.
might be revealed, decided to eat less at One day, while they were playing in the
the house. Instead, they gave some of their garden, Colin saw somebody approaching
pocket money to Dickon’s mother, who them.
bought and prepared extra food for them. ‘Who is it?’ he said, quickly. The woman
In this way, they stopped eating so much at who had entered the garden looked at
home, and sent their meals hardly touched them, her face smiling brightly. When
back to the kitchen. The doctor was called Dickon saw her, his eyes widened.
again. ‘It’s my mother!’ he cried and went across
‘I’m sorry to hear that you do not eat the grass to greet her. Turning to the
anything. That will not do. You will lose all others, he said ‘I thought you would like to
you have gained. You ate so well not long meet her and to thank her for the food that
ago.’ she had prepared. So I told her where the
‘I told you it was an unnatural appetite.’ secret door was hidden.’
answered Colin. Mary, who was sitting next Colin held out his hand to Mrs Sowerby.
to them, was about to burst out in laughter ‘Even if I were ill, I would still want to

64 65
meet you. Are you surprised I am so well?’ heard his wife calling his name, and when
‘Eh dear lad’ she said smiling. ‘I am. But he called her to ask where she was, she
you are so much like your mother that it replied that she was in the garden. When he
makes my heart jump.’ woke up, he knew that there was only one
‘Do you think that my father will like me?’ garden his wife could have been thinking
Colin asked awkwardly. about. But the gate, or so he thought, was
‘For sure dear lad. He must come home. locked and the key was buried somewhere
Your father must come home. He must. in the ground. Later, when he got back to
While the secret garden was coming alive the hotel he was staying at, a servant gave
and the two children were coming alive him a letter that read:
with it, a man wondered lonely in far away
places in the Norwegian fjords and the Dear Sir,
Swiss valleys. It was Archibald Craven,
a man who had kept his mind filled with I am Susan Sowerby. I will make bold to speak.
dark and heart-broken thoughts for ten Please, Sir, I would come home if I were you. I
years. A terrible sadness had fallen upon think you would be glad to come and if you excuse
him when he was at home, so he deserted it me, Sir – I think your lady would ask you to come
and forgot all his duties. He travelled to the if she was here.
most beautiful places as well as to the most Your obedient servant,
peaceful ones, hoping that his heart would Susan Sowerby
find happiness.
One day, wandering in a valley he sat on a Mr Craven read this letter many times
lake’s shore to rest and fell asleep. He had before he put it back into its envelope. It
one of those dreams that seemed so real reminded him of his dream. He decided to
that he hardly realised it was a dream. He go home at once.

66 67
 In a few days he was back in Yorkshire.
‘I will try to look for the key.’ he said
to himself, thinking about his dream. So,
when he arrived at the manor he asked Mrs
Medlock:
‘How is Master Colin?’
‘Well, Sir – he’s different.’
‘Worse?’ he feared.
‘You’ll see, sir. He’s growing very peculiar,
sir. Not long after one of his worst tantrums
he insisted on being taken out every day by
Miss Mary and Dickon – Susan Sowerby’s
boy. He stays outdoors from morning to
night.
‘Where is Master Colin now?’ Mr Craven
asked.
‘In the garden.’
Mr Craven repeated Mrs Medlock’s
last words and headed towards his wife’s
favourite garden. He knew where the
door was but didn’t remember where the
key was buried. When he got closer to
the garden’s walls he heard strange noises
coming from inside. This seemed to him
a little strange as he knew that the garden

68 69
had been locked for ten years. He walked
up to the door, opened it, and as soon as
he walked in, a tall, handsome boy ran up
to him with his arms open. Mr Craven was
speechless as the boy hugged him.
‘Father, I’m Colin. You can’t believe it,
can you?. I scarcely can myself. I’m Colin.’
Mary, who ran right after Colin, saw them
and stopped, watching them carefully.
‘It was the garden that did it. And Mary and
Dickon. I’m well. Aren’t you glad father?
I’m going to live for ever and ever.’ Mr
Craven looked at him with joy in his eyes. Glossary
He put his hand on the boy’s shoulders and
said ‘Take me into the garden, my boy, and
tell me all about it.’
It took quite a while for the story of the
secret garden to be told, and of the magic
that lay inside it. But it was told, all of it.
‘Now, it needs not to be a secret any
more’ Colin said, finishing his story.

70 71
alive – żywy bold – śmiały
although – chociaż to bother – dokuczać, niepokoić
amazement – zdumienie branch – gałąź
anticipation – oczekiwanie
appetite – apetyt
to approach – nadchodzić, podejść
approval – aprobata, zgoda
to assure – zapewniać to break off – odłamać
awful – okropny to break out – wybuchnąć
awkward – niezręczny, kłopotliwy breast – pierś
awoken – obudzony to breathe – oddychać
to ban – zakazywać, zabraniać bud – pączek
to be cross – być złym, zezłoszczonym
to be upset with sth. – być zdenerwowanym
czymś
to beam – rozpromieniać się
to befriend – zaprzyjaźnić się z
to burst out in laughter – parsknąć śmie-
to beg – błagać
chem
beloved – ukochany/a
to bury – zakopać
to bloom – kwitnąć, rozkwitać
to call out – wykrzyknąć
bossom – kwiecie
calm –spokojny
to calm someone down – uspokoić kogoś
careful – ostrożny

72 73
carriage – powóz, wózek to cross one’s mind – przejść przez myśl
crow – wrona

to choke – dusić się

to concern – dotyczyć
curious – ciekawy/a
confusion – zamieszanie, nieład
cushion – poduszka ozdobna
control one’s temper – trzymać nerwy na
daffodil – żonkil
wodzy
to convince – przekonać
cosy – przytulny
courtyard – dziedziniec
cripple – kaleka
crocus – krokus
delicate – delikatny
to deny – zaprzeczać
to despise – gardzić
despite oneself – wbrew sobie
to dig – kopać
crooked – krzywy, garbaty to disappoint – rozczarować

74
80 75
81
discovery – odkrycie for fear of something – ze starchu przed
dish – potrawa czymś
to disturb – przeszkadzać, zakłócać to forbid - zabronić
disturbing – niepokojący fox – lis
to doubt – wątpić
doubt – wątpliwość
dreadful – straszny
dream – sen
duty – obowiązek
edge – krawędź fretful – rozdrażniony
to encourage – zachęcać furious – wściekły
to exclaim – wykrzyknąć to gain weight – przytyć
excuse – wymówka, pretekst gate – brama
to expect – oczekiwać
explanation – wyjaśnienie
facial expression – wyraz twarzy
fear – starch
to fear sth – bać się czegoś
feverish – rozpalony
fledge – chować (pisklę), opierzać się
gaze – spojrzenie
fledgling – świeżo opierzone pisklę
gently – delikatnie
flowerbed – grządka kwiatowa, rabatka
to get dressed – ubrać się
to be fond of sth – lubić coś
to get married – brać ślub
fondly – czule

76
82 77
83
to give up – poddać się, zrezygnować insulted pride – urażona duma
glad – zadowolony interested in sth. – zainteresowany czymś
graceful – pełen wdzięku to interrupt – przerwać
to head towards sth – podążać w kierunku intrigued – zaintrygowany
czegoś ivy – bluszcz
heart-broken – załamany, zrozpaczony
hedge – żywopłot

journey – podróż
hidden – ukryty joyous – radosny
hunch – garb kitchen garden – ogród warzywny (przy-
hunchback – garb domowy)
ill – chory to kneel – uklęknąć
illness – choroba ladder – drabina
in bloom – kwitnący
in the meantime – w między czasie
indeed – naprawdę, zaiste
infuriate – rozwścieczać
to insist on – obstawać przy czymś
instead of – zamiast to lay – kłaść
insult – obraza to lift – podnieść

78
84 79
85
lock – zamek to notice – zauważyć
to lock – zamykać na klucz obedient – posłuszny
lonely – samotny to obey – okazywać posłuszeństwo
to look after – opiekować się to occur – mieć miejsce
to look forward to sth. – nie móc się docze- to occur to someone – przychodzić komuś
kać czegoś na myśl
lullaby – kołysanka orchard – sad
mainly – głównie to order – rozkazać
to make sure – upewnić się outdoors – na zewnątrz
to make up one’s mind – zdecydować się pale – blady
na coś pat – poklepywać
male – męski path – ścieżka
mention – wspomnieć, nadmienić patiently – cierpliwie
mind – umysł, rozum to peck at sth. – dziobać
not mind doing sth – nie przeszkadza mi to peculiar – dziwny
moor – wrzosowisko to perch on sth. – przycupnąć
to mutter – mamrotać permission – pozwolenie
nest – gniazdo pillow – poduszka

pitch-fork – widły
pleasant – przyjemny, uprzejmy
new-found – nowo odkryty to please – sprawiać /komuś/ przyjemność
plum tree – śliwa robin – rudzik
to point at – wskazać na
porridge – owsianka
portion – porcja
pride – duma
to proclaim – deklarować rude – niegrzeczny, grubiański
to promise – obiecać scarcely – prawie nie
promise – obietnica scent – zapach
quite – całkiem season – pora roku
raging – dokuczliwy, dotkliwy seed – ziarno
rake – grabie to seem – wydawać się
seemingly – pozornie, rzekomo
selfish – samolubny
share – dzielić
to shed tears – ronić łzy
shiny – błyszczący
to reach – sięgnąć
shore – brzeg
to redden – zaczerwienić się
to shout – krzyczeć
relief – ulga
sickly – chorobliwy
to relieve – przynosić ulgę
sight – widok
I was relieved – ulżyło mi
to signal – sygnalizować
to remain – pozostać
similar – podobny
to remind – przypominać
to skip – skakać
to reveal – ujawnić
skipping rope – skakanka
sleepy – śpiący stage – etap
slightly – odrobinę to stare – wpatrywać się
snowdrop - przebiśnieg to stay – pozostać
solitary – samotny still – cichy, spokojny
to soothe – uspokajać to stir – ruszyć, poruszyć
sorrow – smutek, żal strange – dziwny
spade – łopata to suport – wspierać
to surround – otaczać
swollen – spuchnięty
tactless – nietaktowny
to take place – mieć miejsce
speechless – oniemiały tantrum – napad złości
to spoil – popsuć temper – gniew
spoilt – rozpieszczony terrified – przerażony
to spot – zauważyć to threaten – grozić
spring – wiosna thunderstorm – burza z piorunami
to sprout – kiełkować tiredness – zmęczenie
squirrel – wiewiórka toothache – ból zęba
to treat – traktować
trunk – pień

stable – stabilny
trustworthy – godny zaufania Contents
twice – dwa razy
uncle – wujek
undergrowth – podszycie
underneath – poniżej
unfriendly – nieprzyjazny Chapter 1 – Mary Lennox 3
upset – zmartwiony
valley – dolina Chapter 2 – Secrets of The Manor 13
to vanish – znikać
vegetable – warzywo Chapter 3 – The Secret Garden and Dickon 23
weak – słaby
to weed out – plewić Chapter 4 – Colin 33
to wheel around – prowadzić, pchać wózek
wheel-chair – wózek inwalidzki Chapter 5 – More Tantrums 43

Chapter 6 – Magic 51

Chapter 7 – In The Secret Garden 61

to whisper – szeptać
to whistle – gwizdać Glossary 71
windy – wietrzny
within – wewnątrz
worse – gorszy

86 87
88