The secret garden — Chapter Three Meeting Martha

　　Mary listened to Martha talk. She thought this servant was very strange. In India, the servants never talked to their masters like that, as if the masters were their friends. Indian servants

　　only spoke when spoken to. They were always quiet and obedient. Mary had always hit her Ayi in the face when she was angry. Mary looked at this young English woman. She wondered what Martha would do if Mary hit her. Probably, she would hit her back!

　　"You are a strange servant," Mary said.

　　Martha didn"t seem upset by this comment. She just laughed. "I know it," she said. "If Mr. Craven had a wife, I could never work here. I’m too plain, and I don"t speak like an educated lady. But this is a strange house, even though it seems so fancy. Mrs.Medlock gave me a job here because she"s a friend of my family. She said I couldn"t work here, if this house was like other rich people"s houses."

　　"Are you going to be my servant?" asked Mary.

　　"I"m Mrs.Medlock"s servant," said Martha firmly. "Just like she"s Mr.Craven"s servant. But I"ll clean your room a little, and help you. But you won"t need much. You can take care of yourself."

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