Theflower-bedwasnotquitebare.Itwasbareofflowersbecausetheperennialplantshadbeencutdownfortheirwinterrest,butthereweretallshrubsandlowoneswhichgrewtogetheratthebackofthebed,andastherobinhoppedaboutunderthemshesawhimhopoverasmallpileoffreshlyturnedupearth.Hestoppedonittolookforaworm.TheearthhadbeenturnedupbecauseadoghadbeentryingtodigupamoleandhehadscratchedquiteadeepholePArental.Marylookedatit,notreallyknowingwhytheholewasthere,andasshelookedshesawsomethingalmostburiedinthenewly-turnedsoil.Itwassomethinglikearingofrustyironorbrassandwhentherobinflewupintoatreenearbysheputoutherhandandpickedtheringup.Itwasmorethanaring,however;itwasanoldkeywhichlookedasifithadbeenburiedalongtime.MistressMarystoodupandlookedatitwithanalmostfrightenedfaceasithungfromherfingerMasterofBusinessAdministrationHongKong."Perhapsithasbeenburiedfortenyears,"shesaidinawhisper."Perhapsitisthekeytothegarden!"Shelookedatthekeyquitealongtime.Sheturneditoverandover,andthoughtaboutit.AsIhavesaidbefore,shewasnotachildwhohadbeentrainedtoaskpermissionorconsulthereldersaboutthings.Allshethoughtaboutthekeywasthatifitwasthekeytotheclosedgarden,andshecouldfindoutwherethedoorwas,shecouldperhapsopenitandseewhatwasinsidethewalls,andwhathadhappenedtotheoldrose-trees.Itwasbecauseithadbeenshutupsolongthatshewantedtoseeit.tfromotherplacesandthatsomethingstrangemusthavehappenedtoitduringtenyears.Besidesthat,ifshelikeditshecouldgointoiteverydayandshutthedoorbehindher,andshecouldmakeupsomeplayofherownandplayitquitealone,becausenobodywouldeverknowwhereshewas,butwouldthinkthedoorwasstilllockedandthekeyburiedintheearth.Thethoughtofthatpleasedherverymuchhairstylingclass.Livingasitwere,allbyherselfinahousewithahundredmysteriouslyclosedroomsandhavingnothingwhatevertodotoamuseherself,hadsetherinactivebraintoworkingandwasactuallyawakeningherimagination.Thereisnodoubtthatthefresh,strong,pureairfromthemoorhadagreatdealtodowithit.Justasithadgivenheranappetite,andfightingwiththewindhadstirredherblood,sothesamethingshadstirredhermind.InIndiashehadalwaysbeentoohotandlanguidandweaktocaremuchaboutanything,butinthisplaceshewasbeginningtocareandtowanttodonewthings.Alreadyshefeltless"contrary,"thoughshedidnotknowwhy.