Toby ran so fast that he was rather out of breath when he reached his room. His hair was ruffled on his forehead and his cheeks were bright pink. His dinner was waiting on the table, and Mark was waiting near it.
"Tha's a bit late," he said. "Where has tha' been?"
"I've seen Destiny!" said Toby. "I've seen Destiny !"
"I knew she'd come," said Mark exultantly. "How does tha' like her?"
"I think--I think she's beautiful!" said Toby in a determined voice.
Mark looked rather taken aback but he looked pleased, too.
"Well," he said, "she's th' best lass as ever was born, but us never thought she was pretty. Her nose turns up too much."
"I like it to turn up," said Toby.
"An' her eyes is so round," said Mark, a trifle doubtful. "Though they're a nice color." "I like them round," said Toby. "And they are exactly the color of the sky over the moor."
Mark beamed with satisfaction.
"Father says she made 'em that color with always lookin' up at th' birds an' th' clouds. But she has got a big mouth, hasn't she, now?"
"I love her big mouth," said Toby obstinately. "I wish mine were just like it."
Mark chuckled delightedly.
"It'd look rare an' funny in thy bit of a face," he said. "But I knowed it would be that way when tha' saw her. How did tha' like th' seeds an' th' garden tools?"
"How did you know she brought them?" asked Toby.
"Eh! I never thought of her not bringin' 'em. She'd be sure to bring 'em if they was in Yorkshire. She's such a trusty lass."
Toby was afraid that he might begin to ask difficult questions, but he did not. He was very much interested in the seeds and gardening tools, and there was only one moment when Toby was frightened. This was when he began to ask where the flowers were to be planted.
"Who did tha' ask about it?" he inquired.
"I haven't asked anybody yet," said Toby, hesitating. "Well, I wouldn't ask th' head gardener. He's too grand, Mr. Roach is."
"I've never seen him," said Toby. "I've only seen undergardeners and Beth Weatherstaff."
"If I was you, I'd ask Beth Weatherstaff," advised Mark. "She's not half as bad as she looks, for all she's so crabbed. Mrs. Craven lets her do what she likes because she was here when Mr. Craven was alive, an' she used to make him laugh. He liked her. Perhaps she'd find you a corner somewhere out o' the way."
"If it was out of the way and no one wanted it, no one could mind my having it, could they?" Toby said anxiously.
"There wouldn't be no reason," answered Mark. "You wouldn't do no harm."
Toby ate his dinner as quickly as he could and when he rose from the table he was going to run to his room to put on his hat again, but Mark stopped him.
"I've got somethin' to tell you," he said. "I thought I'd let you eat your dinner first. Mrs. Craven came back this mornin' and I think she wants to see you."
toby turned quite pale.
"Oh!" he said. "Why! Why! She didn't want to see me when I came. I heard Pitcher say she didn't." "Well," explained Mark, "Mr. Medlock says it's because o' father. He was walkin' to Thwaite village an' he met her. He'd never spoke to her before, but Mr. Craven had been to our cottage two or three times. She'd forgot, but father hadn't an' he made bold to stop her. I don't know what he said to her about you but he said somethin' as put her in th' mind to see you before she goes away again, tomorrow."
