The secret garden

6 THE SECRET GARDENchairs and plates looked as if they had been hastilypushed back when the diners rose suddenly forsome reason. The child ate some fruit and bis-and being thirsty she drank a glass of winecuits,which stood nearlyfilled.It was sweet, and shedid not know how strong it was. Very soon itmade her intensely drowsy, and she went back toher nursery and shut herself in again, frightened bycries she heard in the huts and by the hurryingsound of feet.The wine made her so sleepy thatshe could scarcely keep her eyes open and she laydown on her bed and knew nothing more for along time.Many things happened during the hours inwhich she slept so heavily, but she was not disturbedby the wails and the sound of things beingcarried in and out of the bungalow.When she awakened she lay and stared at thewall. The house was perfectlystill. She hadnever known it to be so silent before. She heardneither voices nor footsteps, and wondered ifeverybody had gotwell of the cholera and allthe trouble was over. She wondered also who