Chapter Breaks | The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett | Chapter 12, Beginning of Chapter 13 | Might I Have a Bit of Earth?

📖 A relaxing read aloud audiobook excerpt — ideal for unwinding, walking, studying, or resting. 🎧 A tender, quietly dramatic read aloud from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden — where Mary’s new life begins to take root: friendship appears, freedom is granted, and a single brave request opens the door to transformation. Perfect for listeners who love gentle classics, restorative nature writing, and stories of healing, growth, and second chances. 🎧 Audiobook Excerpt from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden. Read by Chapter Breaks – Short Literary Escapes. Classic audio pills for your commute, bedtime unwind, or a break anytime. At Chapter Breaks, we carefully select and curate iconic passages from classic literature — timeless openings, dramatic turning points, or unforgettable episodes. Each episode is around 20–30 minutes, designed to let you step into great stories without the commitment of a full audiobook. Frances Hodgson Burnett – The Secret Garden – Chapter 12, Beginning of Chapter 13 | Might I Have a Bit of Earth? Mary returns breathless with excitement — she has met Dickon at last, and the secret garden feels suddenly more real, more possible, more alive. But her hope is interrupted: Mr. Craven has returned, and he wants to see her. Nervous and silent, Mary is led through unfamiliar corridors to meet the grief-worn master of Misselthwaite Manor. Their conversation is quiet, awkward, and unexpectedly human. Mr. Craven is distracted and miserable, but something in Mary’s honesty reaches him. She speaks of fresh air, of running on the moor, of feeling stronger — and then, almost without meaning to, she asks the question that changes everything: “Might I have a bit of earth?” It is a small request — but it carries the weight of renewal. Mr. Craven, startled and softened, grants her freedom: to play, to roam, to find a corner of ground and “make it come alive.” Mary races back to the garden, only to find it empty — and yet, waiting for her, a simple message pinned like a secret promise: “I will cum bak.” And then the story turns again: a stormy night, a strange crying in the corridors, and a hidden room where another secret has been kept. Mary follows the sound through the darkness — and meets a boy no one has spoken of… a boy who whispers, “I am Colin.” A chapter of earth, air, and beginnings — where the garden is no longer only a place, but a change taking root inside a child. Let’s open the page together; your chapter break begins now. If you enjoy classic literature, quiet storytelling, and immersive audiobook excerpts, listen, follow and share to help us bring more classics to life! Music and visuals are in the public domain or licensed via Pictory – full licence available on their website.