"And I'd rather think my sister great than think myself great," said Nellie Ransom.
Here Mrs. Bradford, hearing that the young voices were not very good-natured in their tones, came to prevent a quarrel; and Annie Stanton, following, proposed a game of hide-and-seek. It was readily agreed to, and peace was restored.
The game went on for some time with great success, and at last it came to Bessie's turn to be hidden. Sending the seekers to their gathering place in the dining-room, Aunt Annie took her to the library, and hid her snugly away in a corner behind a tall pedestal, drawing the window-curtain about it so as to conceal her still further.
As Bessie lay there, listening to the voices of the other children as they wandered, now nearer, now farther off, in their search for her, her Uncle Ruthven and Colonel Rush came into the library, and placed themselves by the window near which she lay hidden.
"I'm here in the corner, Uncle Ruthven; but please don't take any notice, for fear the other children know," she whispered, but so softly that neither of the gentlemen heard her, and went on talking without knowing who was near them.
"That little Howard is an uncommonly clever child," said Mr. Stanton presently. "That composition is quite beyond her years."
"H'm!" said the colonel; "conceited little monkey!"
"Yes," said Mr. Stanton; "it is really painful to see an otherwise pleasant child so pert and forward."
"It is a great pity," said the colonel, "a great pity. I hope her self-conceit may not be encouraged by receiving the prize."
"I have no doubt that it will fall to her," said Uncle Ruthven. "You must acknowledge that, pretty as our Maggie's composition is, this of Gracie's goes before it in all those particulars which would be likely to take a prize."