When she slipped through the door under the ivy, she saw he was not working where she had left him.

The gardening tools were laid together under a tree.

She ran to them, looking all round the place, but there was no Dickon to be seen.

He had gone away and the secret garden was empty--except for the robin who had just flown across the wall and sat on a standard rose-bush watching her.
"He's gone," she said wofully.

"Oh! was he--was he--was he only a wood fairy ?" Something white fastened to the standard rose-bush caught her eye.