“Would you mind if we named the dog after him?” Mary said.

Dickon shook his head and smiled.

“Well, that’s settled, then,” Colin said.

The dog lay down beside him, and he put a hand on its head. “Dog, you are now called Hector,” he said solemnly. “Mary you already know—and Dickon too. Well, I am Colin, your new friend.”

The dog barked as if he understood. Mary, Dickon, and Colin all laughed and barked back at him. The sunshine caught the embroidered butterflies on Mary’s dress, and for a moment they seemed to actually flutter their wings and fly around her before landing back in the pattern again.

Seeing the happiness on her cousin’s face, Mary felt as if her heart was swelling like a balloon that was being blown up. Yes, she thought, remembering Martha’s earlier words. This was definitely worth the risk.

Overhead the robin twittered as if it agreed.

17

Caught!

Mary and Dickon managed to get Colin safely back into the house by four, and Mary headed to the garden once more. She was walking through a tunnel of yew trees, when she heard a twig crack behind her. Glancing around, she caught sight of Mrs. Medlock ducking behind a trunk. Mary smiled to herself and, diving to one side, began to run through the trees. She heard Mrs. Medlock’s exclamation and ran faster. Once she was out of her sight, Mary scrambled up a nearby fir and sat in the branches as quiet as a dormouse.

A few minutes later, Mrs. Medlock came puffing up. She stopped and looked around, clearly exasperated. As she turned to go back to the house, Mary dropped a fir cone on her head. It bounced off her gray hair, and Mary had to stifle a giggle.

When Mrs. Medlock had gone, Mary jumped down and carried happily on her way. She took the key out of her pocket and headed for the gate. But just before she reached it, Mrs. Medlock stepped out of the shadow of the trees and grabbed her arm. “You think you can just sneak around and act how you like, don’t you, girl?” she said angrily.

“Wh-what?” stammered Mary, completely taken aback.

“Little savage,” hissed Mrs. Medlock. “I knew you were hiding something!”

The key, Mary thought. She managed to slip it into her pocket. “I don’t know what you mean—”

“You and your secret ways,” Mrs. Medlock interrupted. “Poking about. Sneaking off.” Her fingers gripped Mary’s arm tightly.

Mary began to feel afraid. Mrs. Medlock looked almost insane. “Mrs. Medlock, whatever you think I’ve been doing, I promise . . .”

“You’re nothing but a common little thief!” Mrs. Medlock snapped.

Mary was so shocked she didn’t know what to say. Whatever did Mrs. Medlock mean? She’d never stolen anything in her life!