Show Synopsis:
Mary Lennox, a ten-year-old orphan, leaves India to live with her Uncle Archibald in England after her parents die. Although she is initially upset and disagreeable about the change, she begins to make friends around her uncle's manor. She eventually learns about a hidden garden that belonged to her deceased Aunt Lily, and when she finds it, she begins to cultivate it and bring it back to health. Mary also begins to help her crippled cousin Colin learn to walk. Meanwhile Archibald, who is accustomed to being melancholy and withdrawn with his memories of Lily, is bemused at the changes in the house since Mary's arrival. His brother Neville attempts to send both him and Mary away in attempts to control the property himself, but Mary is able to bring herself, Archibald, and Colin back together to begin life as a family.	

Character:
Lily, the ghost of Archibald's young and beautiful late wife; loved her garden and her husband more than anything else; was very kind and looked past outward appearances to know people.

Song Context:
After reading Mary's letter asking him to return home to the manor, Archibald wrestles with how to proceed. He does not want to return to the manor because it reminds him of everything he lost, but he also wants to take care of his son. Lily's ghost appears and convinces him to move onwards.	

Fun Facts:
1) The original Frances Hodgson Burnett children's novel The Secret Garden focuses much more closely on Mary's personal journey and interactions with people closer to her age than the viewpoints and actions of the adults at the manor. In the musical adaptation, scenes and songs like this one showed how the adults around Mary were affected by her relationship with the garden and with Colin, making the production accessible for more mature audiences. 
2) Rebecca Luker originated the role of Lily on Broadway and was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Best Featured Actress in A Musical. 
3) Patti Cohenour, who originated the role during the production's pre-Broadway workshop, spoke about the song in an interview with TalkinBroadway.com: "'How Could I Ever Know' was just a solo when we did it, but I'm glad it's a duet now. There were lots of verses that were cut from songs that went on too long, but it's pretty much intact from when we did it."