CHAPTER XVI 143
Weatherstaff says he is so conceited he would rather have stones thrown at him than not be noticed."
Dickon laughed too and went on talking.
" Tha ' knows us won ' t trouble thee," he said to the robin. " Us is near bein ' wild things ourselves. Us is nest-buildin ' too, bless thee. Look out tha ' doesn ' t tell on us."
And though the robin did not answer, because his beak was occupied, Mary knew that when he flew away with his twig to his own corner of the garden the darkness of his dew-bright eye meant that he would not tell their secret for the world.
CHAPTER XVI
" I WON ' T!" SAID MARY
They found a great deal to do that morning and Mary was late in returning to the house and was also in such a hurry to get back to her work that she quite forgot Colin until the last moment.
" Tell Colin that I can ' t come and see him yet," she said to Martha. " I ' m very busy in the garden."
Martha looked rather frightened.
" Eh! Miss Mary," she said, " it may put him all out of humor when I tell him that."
But Mary was not as afraid of him as other people were and she was not a self-sacrificing person.
" I can ' t stay," she answered. " Dickon ' s waiting for me;" and she ran away.