From that time the exercises were part of the day's dutiesas much as the Magic was

　　From that time the exercises were part of the day's dutiesas much as the Magic was. It became possible for bothColin and Mary to do more of them each time they tried,and such appetites were the results that but for the basketDickon put down behind the bush each morning when hearrived they would have been lost. But the little ovenin the hollow and Mrs. Sowerby's bounties were so satisfyingthat Mrs. Medlock and the nurse and Dr. Craven becamemystified again. You can trifle with your breakfast andseem to disdain your dinner if you are full to the brimwith roasted eggs and potatoes and richly frothed newmilk and oatcakes and buns and heather honey and clotted cream.
　　"They are eating next to nothing," said the nurse.
　　"They'll die of starvation if they can't be persuadedto take some nourishment. And yet see how they look.""Look!" exclaimed Mrs. Medlock indignantly. "Eh! I'm moitheredto death with them. They're a pair of young Satans.
　　Bursting their jackets one day and the next turning uptheir noses at the best meals Cook can tempt them with.
　　Not a mouthful of that lovely young fowl and bread saucedid they set a fork into yesterday--and the poor womanfair invented a pudding for them--and back it's sent.
　　She almost cried. She's afraid she'll be blamed if theystarve themselves into their graves."Dr. Craven came and looked at Colin long and carefully,He wore an extremely worried expression when the nursetalked with him and showed him the almost untouchedtray of breakfast she had saved for him to look at--butit was even more worried when he sat down by Colin'ssofa and examined him. He had been called to London onbusiness and had not seen the boy for nearly two weeks.
　　When young things begin to gain health they gain it rapidly.
　　The waxen tinge had left, Colins skin and a warm rose showedthrough it; his beautiful eyes were clear and the hollowsunder them and in his cheeks and temples had filled out.
　　His once dark, heavy locks had begun to look as if theysprang healthily from his forehead and were soft and warmwith life. His lips were fuller and of a normal color.
　　In fact as an imitation of a boy who was a confirmed invalidhe was a disgraceful sight. Dr. Craven held his chin in hishand and thought him over.
　　"I am sorry to hear that you do not eat any- thing,"he said. "That will not do. You will lose all you havegained --and you have gained amazingly. You ate so wella short time ago.""I told you it was an unnatural appetite," answered Colin.
　　Mary was sitting on her stool nearby and she suddenlymade a very queer sound which she tried so violentlyto repress that she ended by almost choking.
　　"What is the matter?" said Dr. Craven, turning to lookat her.
　　Mary became quite severe in her manner.
　　"It was something between a sneeze and a cough," she repliedwith reproachful dignity, "and it got into my throat.""But," she said afterward to Colin, "I couldn't stop myself.
　　It just burst out because all at once I couldn't helpremembering that last big potato you ate and the wayyour mouth stretched when you bit through that thicklovely crust with jam and clotted cream on it.""Is there any way in which those children can getfood secretly?" Dr. Craven inquired of Mrs. Medlock.