I have been searching for a book about a young girl sent away to a lonely place. She had a secret hiding place like in a thicket, or brambles. Written in the 50s/60s, possibly 70/71. A wolf, or some animal, was her friend. There was something unusual about the color of the animal's eyes. At the very end, (like on the last page) there was some hint that the animal was really this man she knew,(gardener, groundskeeper?) as she noticed he had the exact same color eyes.

NOT IT
My Wolf, My Friend/Sasha, My Friend- Barbara Corcoran
Girl in the Golden Bower- Jane Yolen
String Of Time/Nightmare- Irma Chilton
Foxy Boy/The Wild Valley- David Severn