Calico Classics Illustrated: Secret Garden

Calico Classics Illustrated: Secret Garden — page 5
Eventually someone explained to Mary that a terrible sickness was killing people Ayah was the fi rst of the household to die but the wailing sounded throughout the house over and over In the confusion and the sickness Mary hid herself in her nursery She was soon completely forgotten No one came to her or brought her food or news Once she crept out into the dining room and found the table set with food but no one there She ate some fruit and biscuits and wandered back to her room to sleep away the hours until someone would remember her again When she awakened the house was silent No one wailed No one rushed past her door Maybe everyone has gotten well she thought Maybe someone would remember her and bring her food and a cool drink But no one came Mary soon heard something rustling When she looked down she saw a small harmless snake crawling across the matting on her fl oor How queer and quiet it is she told him 8