Meeting Colin

In the middle of the night, Mary woke up.

Heavy rain had started falling again, and the wind was blowing violently round the walls of the old house.

Suddenly she heard crying again.

This time she decided to discover who it was.

She left her room, and in the darkness, following the crying sound, round corners and through doors, up and down stairs, to the other side of the big house.

At last she found the right room.

She pushed the door open and went in.

It t was a big room with beautiful old furniture and pictures.

In the large bed, was a boy, who looked tired and cross, with a thin, white, tearful face.

He stared at Mary.

Who are you? he whispered. Are you a dream?

No, I am not. I am Mary. He is my uncle.

He is my father, said the boy.

No one ever told me he had a son. said Mary, very surprised.

Well, no one ever told me you'd come to live here. I am ill, you see. I do not want people to see me and talk about me.

If I live, I may have a crooked back like my father, but I will probably die.

What a strange house this is. said Mary. So many secrets. Does your father come and see you often?

Not often. He does not like seeing me, becasue it makes him remember my mother. She died when I was born, so he almost hates me, I think. Why do you say you are going to die? 

I have been always ill, I have nearly died serveral times, and my back is never been strong. My doctor feels sure that I am going to die.

But he is my father's cousin, and very poor, so he would like me to die.

Then he would get all the money when my father dies.

He gives me medicine and tells me to rest.

We had a grand doctor from London once, who told me to go out in the fresh air and try to get well.

But I hate fresh air.

And another thing, all the servants have to do what I want, because if I am angry, I become ill.

Mary thought she liked this boy, although he seemed so strange.

He asked her lots of questions, and she told him all about her life in India.

How old are you? he asked suddenly.
I am ten, and so are you? replied Mary. forgetting to be careful.

becasue when you were born, the garden door was locked and the key was buried, And I know that was ten years ago.

Colin sat up in bed and looked very interested.

What door? Who locked it?Where is the key? I want to see it. I will make the servants tell me where it is. They will talke me there and you can come too.