"Hide-and-Seek," said Polly, "and it's Lena's turn to blind. Come! I know a fine place, big enough for three."
Usually Inez objected to whatever game her friends chose, but she was in a pleasant mood, and said that she would rather play "Hide-and-Seek" than anything else.
She clasped Polly's hand, and while Lena counted, the three ran off to the place that should be large enough to keep them from sight.
One fact made Inez easy to please; Rose was not with them.
Rose Atherton had been a bright, merry little playmate, beloved by all save Inez, and yet the only fault that Inez could find in Rose was her popularity.
Naturally jealous, Inez did not like to see that everyone loved Rose, and to know that Polly Sherwood, or Princess Polly, as everyone called her, cared more for Rose than for any of her friends, seemed really too provoking.
"NOW, Princess Polly must choose another BEST friend, and I wish it might be ME!" thought Inez.
She knew that Rose was sweet tempered. She knew that her own temper was hasty.
Could she keep from saying the sharp things that so often came from her red lips? She MUST, if she would win Polly's love!
Inez was pleasing to look at, but she was wrong in thinking herself more attractive than the other playmates.