Mary discovers Colin

Mary Lennox's discovery of Colin Craven is the pivotal event that brings the two isolated children of Misselthwaite Manor together, setting in motion the healing of both their bodies and spirits. On a stormy night, driven by the sound of crying she had heard before, Mary defies the house rules and follows the sound to a hidden room, where she finds a boy who believes he is dying. This midnight meeting breaks the long silence surrounding Colin's existence and forges a secret bond that will ultimately lead to his physical and emotional recovery.

The Midnight Search

Mary had heard crying twice before, but each time the servants—Martha and Mrs. Medlock—had denied it, blaming the wind or a scullery-maid's toothache. On this night, however, the rain poured down and the wind "wuthered" so fiercely that Mary could not sleep. Lying awake, she heard the sound again, distinct from the storm: "a far-off faint sound of fretful crying." Feeling rebellious and determined, she took her candle and crept out of her room into the dark corridors. She remembered the way to the tapestry-covered door where Mrs. Medlock had caught her before, and pushed it open. Following the crying, she came to a door with a glimmer of light beneath it. She pushed it open and found herself standing in a big room with ancient, handsome furniture, a low fire on the hearth, and a carved four-posted bed hung with brocade. On the bed lay a boy, crying fretfully.

The First Encounter

Mary wondered if she was dreaming. The boy had a sharp, delicate face the color of ivory, with eyes too big for it and heavy locks of hair tumbling over his forehead. He looked like a boy who had been ill, but he was crying more as if he were tired and cross than in pain. When Mary drew near with her candle, the boy's attention was caught, and he turned his head on his pillow and stared at her, his gray eyes opening so wide that they seemed immense. "Who are you?" he said at last in a half-frightened whisper. "Are you a ghost?" Mary answered, "No, I am not. Are you one?" They stared at each other, and Mary noticed his strange eyes—agate gray with black lashes all round them. The boy identified himself as Colin Craven, and Mary realized with a shock that this was her uncle's son, a fact no one had ever told her. Colin explained that he was kept hidden because he was always ill and believed he would die, and that his father could not bear to look at him. Mary, in turn, told him about herself, and they began to talk.

The Secret Shared

Colin was fascinated by Mary's stories of India and the robin, but most of all by her mention of a hidden garden. When Mary inadvertently linked the garden's ten-year lock to Colin's own age, he became intensely curious. He declared that he would make the servants open the garden for him, but Mary, terrified that her secret would be exposed, pleaded with him to keep it a secret. She described the garden as a place that could be their own hidden nest, like missel thrushes. Colin, who had never had a secret before except his fear of dying, was captivated by the idea. He agreed to keep the garden a secret and to let Mary find the way in. He also decided that Mary herself would be a secret, and that Martha would be the go-between. Before Mary left, she sang him a Hindustani song her Ayah had taught her, stroking his hand until he fell asleep.

Consequences and Significance

This meeting fundamentally alters the trajectory of both children. For Colin, it is the first time he has ever had a real companion, and the promise of the secret garden gives him something to live for beyond his morbid thoughts. For Mary, it deepens her sense of purpose and belonging, transforming her from a lonely, contrary child into a keeper of secrets and a source of comfort. The discovery also sets the stage for the central alliance of the novel: Mary, Colin, and Dickon will work together to restore the garden and, in doing so, restore Colin's health. The event marks the end of Colin's absolute isolation and the beginning of his journey from a hysterical invalid to a healthy boy.