CHAPTER XIII 117
Mary got up, much mystified, and found the cord. When she pulled it the silk curtain ran back on rings and when it ran back it uncovered a picture. It was the picture of a girl with a laughing face. She had bright hair tied up with a blue ribbon and her gay, lovely eyes were exactly like Colin ' s unhappy ones, agate gray and looking twice as big as they really were because of the black lashes all round them.
" She is my mother," said Colin complainingly. " I don ' t see why she died. Sometimes I hate her for doing it."
" How queer!" said Mary.
" If she had lived I believe I should not have been ill always," he grumbled. " I dare say I should have lived, too. And my father would not have hated to look at me. I dare say I should have had a strong back. Draw the curtain again."
Mary did as she was told and returned to her footstool.
" She is much prettier than you," she said, " but her eyes are just like yours--at least they are the same shape and color. Why is the curtain drawn over her?"
He moved uncomfortably.
" I made them do it," he said. " Sometimes I don ' t like to see her looking at me. She smiles too much when I am ill and miserable. Besides, she is mine and I don ' t want every one to see her."
There were a few moments of silence and then Mary spoke.
" What would Mrs. Medlock do if she found out that I had been here?" she inquired.
" She would do as I told her to do," he answered. " And I should tell her that I wanted you to come here and talk to me every day. I am glad you came."