Final answer:
Mrs. Medlock contradicts Mary's report of hearing someone crying in 'The Secret Garden' to maintain the secrecy about the household or to control Mary's curiosity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed about Mrs. Medlock relates to a character from the novel 'The Secret Garden' by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Mrs. Medlock's contradictory behavior towards Mary's report of hearing someone crying can be attributed to several possible reasons.
Firstly, Mrs. Medlock might be trying to maintain the secrecy surrounding the Craven household. This could include the existence of Colin, the sickly boy, who most likely is the one Mary hears crying.
Secondly, it could be a part of Mrs. Medlock's mission to discourage Mary's curiosity, as she is portrayed as a strict, stern character who likes to keep order. This is evident in her attempts to restrict Mary's explorations around the mansion.
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