That's how he made friends with th' pony.

He's got sheep on th' moor that knows him, an' birds as comes an' eats out of his hand.

However little there is to eat, he always saves a bit o' his bread to coax his pets." It was really this mention of Dickon which made Mary decide to go out, though she was not aware of it.

There would be, birds outside though there would not be ponies or sheep.

They would be different from the birds in India and it might amuse her to look at them.
Martha found her coat and hat for her and a pair of stout little boots and she showed her her way downstairs.
"If tha' goes round that way tha'll come to th' gardens," she said, pointing to a gate in a wall of shrubbery.