“Oh you wouldn’t!” said Vivian.

“I would,” said Leslie firmly, and Vivian did not reply.

“I wonder what her Aunt Lois will wear?” said Polly.  “All of the portraits in our drawing room are young ladies in lovely gowns, with flowers in their hair, and jewels, many, many jewels, and plumes, and fans.  Her Aunt Lois wouldn’t wear such things as that!”

They wondered much about the portrait, and decided to question Rose regarding it.

“And now,” said Polly, “I’ll lay these letters on the table in the hall.  I can read them later.  We’ll play.”

It was easy to choose a game.  The first choice, when the little playmates were at Sherwood Hall, was always “Hide-and-Seek.”

There were such fine places for hiding, so many odd nooks where no one would ever think of looking that the game seemed always new, and interesting.

They had been playing but a short time, when Inez Varney ran up the driveway.

“What are you playing?” she asked.

“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.

Vivian and Leslie were much prettier than Inez, and they were pleasant and good tempered, always ready for a merry time, while Blanche Burton, and her little sister, Dollie, were ever welcome at Sherwood Hall.

It surely would seem as if Inez were foolish to think Princess Polly might prefer her silly little self, to all the others.

Indeed, she would have been far happier to have been willing to be one of her many playmates.  Inez was not at all content, however.  She wished to be preferred.

The game went on merrily, and Inez seemed gayer than usual.