Mrs. Marsh greeted her little niece and nephew very cordially, and introduced them to her friends—two fashionably dressed ladies; she inquired for all at home, and then told them they might do whatever they liked to amuse themselves as long as they did not get into mischief. After that she dismissed them, and Edgar led the way upstairs to the large room which had been his nursery, where he still kept all his most treasured belongings, including several mechanical toys and a big rocking-horse which had always been the envy of his cousins. Edgar was on his best behaviour and tried to make the time pass pleasantly for his visitors. He showed them his 'Pilgrim's Progress' and was gratified by their admiration of its illustrations, which were indeed very fine.
"It's the best mother could get for money," he informed them with great satisfaction. "I expect it's a much better book than yours, isn't it?"
"Oh yes!" Polly admitted readily; "but I like our old book best."
All sense of awkwardness had died away now, and the three children were on the best of terms with each other. By-and-by Edgar suggested a game of hide-and-seek.
"We can hide anywhere in the house we like," he said, "and the nursery shall be 'home.' Which of us shall hide first?"
"Oh, let me!" cried Polly eagerly.
"Very well," the boys agreed, and Roger added, "I don't suppose we shall be long finding you."
"Don't be too sure of that," she retorted. "How long will you give me to find a hiding-place?"
"Five minutes," Edgar replied, "and no longer, mind." Accordingly the little girl left the boys in the schoolroom, and, after shutting the door behind her, stole softly downstairs. She peeped into the dining-room, but there seemed no hiding-place there, unless she got behind a curtain, which of course would be searched immediately. "I wish I could think of some really good place," she murmured, as she stood in the centre of the hall hesitating which way to turn. "Perhaps I'd better go up in the attics, there are several lumber rooms, I know, but the boys will be certain to search them carefully."
Then suddenly a brilliant idea flashed through her mind, and her face broke into smiles. She thought she knew one place where she could conceal herself where the boys would never dream of looking for her, but she must be quick and not waste time or the five minutes' grace allowed her would be up before she had safely secreted herself.