Secret Garden: Scene 5 (Mary meets Mr. Craven and gets some dirt)

MARTHA

Ah! Mary, there tha art. Mrs. Medlock says she needs you to come inside at once. Master Craven has come back, and he would like to see you.

Me? What does he want to see me for?

CRAVEN

You may go, Martha. I will ring for you.

MARTHA LEAVES.

Come here, child.

MARY DOES

Are you well? Do they take care of you?

Yes sir.

CRAVEN

I forgot you. I intended to send a nurse or a governess or something of the sort, but I forgot. I don't what to say about that. I am a poor guardian for any child, I too ill and wretched and distracted, but I do wish you to be happy and comfortable.

What do you do with your time?

I...play out of doors.

CRAVEN

Where, child?

The usual places. The kitchen gardens and the orchard. Sometimes I go out to the edge of the moor to look for ponies and foxes.

CRAVEN

Do you have any toys? I don't believe I bought you any toys.

Mrs. Sowerby bought me a skipping rope.

CRAVEN

Do you want any dolls or books? Whatever you want, I'll get it for you.

Might I... might I have a bit of earth?

CRAVEN

A bit of earth? What do you mean?

To plant seeds in. To make things grow.

CRAVEN

You can have as much earth as you want. Of course you can. When you see a bit of earth you like, take it, child, and make it come alive.

May I take it from anywhere – if it's not wanted?

ROBIN

Mary flew out of the room. Each day she went to the garden, watching the gray for signs of green.

Do you think it's really dead?

ROBIN

I don't know, Mary.

After all this time, if I see even a single leaf, I'll come every day.