An odd expression came into his face and he began to scratch at the earth.

His thin hand was weak enough but presently as they watched him--Mary with quite breathless interest--he drove the end of the trowel into the soil and turned some over.
"You can do it! You can do it!" said Mary to herself.

"I tell you, you can!" Dickon's round eyes were full of eager curiousness but he said not a word.

Ben Weatherstaff looked on with interested face.
Colin persevered.

After he had turned a few trowelfuls of soil he spoke exultantly to Dickon in his best Yorkshire.
"Tha' said as tha'd have me walkin' about here same as other folk--an' tha' said tha'd have me diggin'.