An Epilogue: The Secret Garden

It had been one year since Master Craven and Colin had left the garden that day. So much had changed in this one year, and yet, it seemed as if it was only a few days. Misselthwaite Manor had started changing as soon as Mary had come, but after Mr. Craven’s return, it changed entirely. The general look of the house was much more cheerful, and the moor was a beautiful sight, for the first time in their lives. They may have lived there for a good many years, but they would never have described it as beautiful – until now. The occupants of the house were just as cheerful – maybe because of its new cook and her family. 

When Mr. Craven and Colin entered the manor the day of Mr. Craven’s return, everyone was in a state of great elation. All the servants rushed up to the entrance hall. They arrived just as Pitcher was opening the door for Mr. Craven and Colin. Mr. Craven looked toward Elizabeth, head of housekeeping, and Elizabeth curtsied. He nodded his head and surprised everyone with his next words. “Elizabeth, since you are the head of housekeeping, I give you this order. I want every window in this house opened. They will never be closed again until boggarts and elves sneak into the house through them!” Of course, Mrs. Medlock gasped, and all the housemaids where so surprised that they stood there like posts. “Are you deaf? I ordered every window in this house to be opened immediately!” All the maids woke from their daze and scurried around to open every window in the house. Mr. Craven and Colin walked through the house soaking in the sunlight and fresh air as the maids dusted and cleaned. 

A few weeks later, while Mr. Craven sat in his library reading, Pitcher came into the room. “Master, if you have a moment, our head cook would like to have a word with you.” “Alright then, send her in,” he replied as he stood to greet her. A moment later, the cook meekly walked in and curtsied. Mr. Craven nodded and she began her rehearsed speech. “Master Craven, I have just received a letter from my brother. He writes that my mother is ill. He says I must come to help her indefinitely,” she said as she pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away a tear. “Yes, yes of course you must go.” Mr. Craven stood pondering this. He nodded his head as a signal for her to leave. As she disappeared behind the big oak door, Mr. Craven sat back down on his chair. Pitcher came back into the room and asked Mr. Craven if there was anything else he could do for him. “Yes, send me Martha the maid.” 

And so, that is how Mrs. Sowerby became the new cook at Misselthwaite. A few days later, the whole family moved into the huge house and finally those empty, sad rooms where filled with the joyful noises of playing children. All day long Dickon, Colin and Mary worked in the garden; on occasion Mr. Craven even came to help them. One day, Colin laid his spade on the grass and rolled back on his heels. “Now you and I really are brothers.” Dickon smiled and the world seemed like it was the most perfect place to be at that moment.

– By Colleen Cooper Cook