From the back side of the book: We have forbidden Margo to cough at night, although she has a bad cold and make her swallow large doses of codeine. Iam looking forward to Tuesday when the van Daans arrive; it will be much more fun and not so quiet. It is the silence that frightens me so in the evenings and nights. I wish like anything that one of our protectors could sleep here at night. I can’t tell you how oppressive it is never to be able to go outdoors, also
I’m very afraid that we shall be discovered and be shot. That is not exactly a pleasant prospect. We have to whisper and tread lightly during the day, otherwise the people in the warehouse might hear us.