The Secret Garden, Chapter 9 summary
Chapter 9 of 27 · 13 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 9, Mary Lennox finds living shoots in the secret garden, clears weeds around them, and discovers that working outdoors makes her happy. She asks Martha for help buying tools and seeds through Dickon, while another distant cry and Martha’s uneasy response renew the mystery inside the house.
What happens
- Mary explores the silent garden, worries that its roses are dead, and discovers small green shoots.
- She clears grass and weeds with a pointed stick, working happily for two or three hours.
- Over dinner, Martha explains bulbs, and Mary asks about buying tools without revealing her secret garden.
- Mary prints a letter dictated by Martha, asking Dickon to buy seeds and gardening tools.
- Martha discusses a possible cottage visit, and Mary eagerly anticipates meeting Dickon and his mother.
- Mary reports hearing distant crying again; Martha avoids explaining it and leaves, and Mary falls asleep.
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In this chapter
What to notice
The shoots give Mary evidence that the neglected garden still holds life. Her discovery leads directly to her first efforts at gardening.
Quick check
Why does Mary print the letter to Dickon?
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