When they reached the garden, she put her plan into action. The stream had cured Hector’s leg. Maybe it could do the same for Colin?

At first, Colin didn’t like the idea of going in the water. “It looks cold,” he said doubtfully as they helped him remove his outer clothes. “I think I shall just sit here on the bank.”

“No, you’re going in,” Mary told him. “You’re not to be a baby about this,” she said warningly.

He started to frown but then sighed. “Oh, very well,” he grumbled.

Mary and Dickon began to lower him gently into the flowing water. Colin gasped. “It is cold!” The leaves of the ferns around the stream seemed to shiver in sympathy. “Very, very cold.” His eyes widened, and he clutched Mary’s arm. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“Course you can,” said Dickon cheerfully.

“No, I don’t think so!”

“We’ve got you,” Dickon told him.

Colin looked from Dickon to Mary and then took a breath. “Well,” he said bravely as they lowered him a little further, “I suppose it’s not so freezing after all.”

Soon he was sitting in the stream, the pure, clean water flowing over him with only his shoulders and head above the water. “I’ve done it!” he exclaimed, his face breaking into a look of delight. “I’ve actually done it!”

The ferns began to stop shivering as he smiled.

“Now you can learn to float,” said Dickon. “Hold your arms out and lie back.” Colin hesitated. “Mary and I have you,” Dickon said.

Colin did as he was told, leaning back and turning his face up to the blue sky. As he stretched his arms out to the side, a look of joy crossed his face. Dickon nodded at Mary, and they removed their hands.

“And now you’re on your own,” said Dickon as they backed quietly away.

Colin grinned and then started to laugh, and as he did so his hands splashed into the water, sending droplets raining over Mary and Dickon. Mary squealed, and Colin laughed even louder.

When he was ready to come out, Mary and Dickon helped him get dressed again, and then they all set to work on the grounds around the temple. Colin was happy to sit on the grass, pulling out the weeds from a patch of bright spring bulbs—daffodils, bluebells, little purple grape hyacinth—while Dickon dug and Mary crouched down, separating out plants that were growing too close together. They worked in companionable silence for a while.

“Done!” Colin declared. “Move me over there now, please!”

Mary and Dickon hoisted him up by his arms and put him down in a new spot. Humming to himself, he carried on with his work. Dickon and Mary smiled at each other.

Looking up, Colin caught the smiles. “What?” he said suspiciously.

“Nothing. We’re just enjoying your happiness,” said Mary.