Jack was not particular where he got his paper. Miss Webb's waste-paper basket was first seized, then The Times of the day before and sundry magazines in the drawing-room, then the library was invaded and various papers and circulars abstracted from the writing-table.
"I shall be hare, of course," said Jack as he sat down on the floor with Bumps, and rapidly began to tear his various papers to pieces. "You must give me ten minutes' start, Bumps, by the clock, and then you must follow the paper, and never stop till you catch me up."
"You won't go twenty miles away?" said Bumps very anxiously.
"Of course I won't! And get Jill to come with you. It will be much greater fun if she comes."
Tearing the papers up kept them quiet for a good half-hour, and then Jack started, first taking off his jacket, and making Bumps promise on her honour not to look which way he went.
She waited her ten minutes and then went to Jill.
"Jill, do come and be the other hound. Jack has gone, and oh! he has gone through the thtable, I thee the paper!"
Bumps was too excited to wait. Jill was lying flat on the grass and hardly turned her head. She murmured, "It's too hot," and went on with her writing.
The afternoon wore on. Miss Webb was roused by the tea-bell and went down-stairs congratulating herself upon the quiet behaviour of the children. She found Jill deep in a storybook.
"Where are the others?" she asked.