Bessie, Lily, and Belle had strolled a short distance away together, and had disappeared from the view of Maggie, Nellie, and Dora, who stood at the head of a short flight of stone steps leading up to the Casino. They had but gone around the other side of the hedge, however, and could not be far off.
Suddenly Lily and Belle came flying back with frightened faces, and rushed breathless and panting to where the other children stood.
Then Belle turned, and exclaimed,—
"Where's Bessie? Didn't Bessie come?"
No Bessie was to be seen, certainly; and Maggie, noticing the startled faces of the other children, took alarm at once for her little sister, and started forward, crying,—
"Where is she? What has happened? Where's my Bessie?"
Before Belle or Lily could speak, Hattie darted from behind the hedge, laughing and mischievous; and, pointing her finger at the crimson faces of the two little ones, cried triumphantly,—
"Oh! didn't I take you in? Didn't I give you a fright, though?"
"What is it? Where's Bessie?" said Maggie again.