The Secret Garden: Chapter 24 Summary & Analysis

Whenever Dickon isn't working in the secret garden, he's working in his own garden at home. After supper some nights, Mrs. Sowerby goes outside to speak with her son and admire his flowers and vegetables. In time, he tells her about Colin, Mary, and the secret garden. Mrs. Sowerby laughs when she hears that Colin is trying to keep this all a secret and so pretends to be ill. Dickon explains that the footman still carries Colin to his wheelchair as Colin tries to look helpless. Dickon notes that both children are gaining weight and Colin is getting scared that his appetite is going to give away the secret.

Mrs. Sowerby laughs again at this and says that in the mornings, she'll send Dickon with a pail of milk and fresh bread so Colin and Mary can keep their secret. She's right when she suggests that Colin and Mary find the whole thing highly entertaining. They get annoyed when the nurse and Dr. Craven ask too many questions, and one morning, Colin suggests that his appetite is bad and a symptom of bloat. Dr. Craven isn't convinced and says that Colin looks very alive, but Colin refuses to allow the doctor to tell Mr. Craven the good news.

One evening, Colin miserably tells Mary that he'll have to have a tantrum at some point, especially if the adults keep talking about writing to Mr. Craven. He tries to eat less, but the breakfast is always so wonderful that he and Mary can't resist eating all of it. The first morning that Dickon brings bread and milk, Colin is beside himself with joy and declares that there's Magic in Mrs. Sowerby. As Mrs. Sowerby continues to send food, Mary and Colin realize that they're two more mouths to feed and so start sending money home with Dickon to help her out. Dickon also builds a little stone oven in the woods, which allows them to roast eggs and potatoes.

Every morning, Colin leads everyone in his Magic ceremony, walks around the garden, and tries new experiments. One morning, Dickon returns from a few days away and explains he ran into Bob Haworth, a champion wrestler, and Bob shared some basic strength training exercises with him. Dickon shows the exercises to Colin, and both Colin and Mary perform them. The exercises soon become part of the day's routine. Thanks to Mrs. Sowerby's offerings and the oven in the woods, Colin and Mary start sending their meals back, much to the confusion of the nurse, Mrs. Medlock, and Dr. Craven.

When Dr. Craven sees Colin after a two-week break, he notices that Colin looks well and perfectly normal. Colin answers that his earlier ravenous appetite was abnormal. At this, Mary starts to violently hack and choke. She later laughs with Colin about almost spoiling the secret by laughing. Meanwhile, Mrs. Medlock and the doctor wonder if there's some way for the children to get extra food. They discuss how well and happy they both look, and Dr. Craven says that they should be allowed to laugh.