“Tag” followed “Hide-and-Seek,” and the music of their merry laughter echoed through the garden, as they chased each other around the clumps of shrubbery, across the brook, and through the grove.

It was Vivian, who innocently caused the first sharp word to be spoken.

They were resting in the shade of some flowering shrubs.  Princess Polly had taken off her large hat, and wielding it as a fan, blew the bright curls back from her pink cheeks.

“If Rose were here, she’d say: 

“‘Now while we’re resting, Princess Polly, tell us a fairy tale,’” said Vivian.

“That’s just what she’d say,” said Polly, “and one afternoon we sat beside the brook, near the fountain, and took turns telling them.”

Inez looked at Polly’s eyes, and saw the regret that they so plainly expressed.

She would have been pleased if her little playmates had never mentioned Rose.

“And once,” continued Polly, “we played that we were fairy queens, and we made flower crowns.  It was early morning, and we tried to pick the flowers with the dew on them, but the dewdrops fell off.  Then we sprinkled them with water from the brook, and they sparkled like diamonds.”

Inez moved uneasily.

“We have fine times together,” said Vivian, “but it was still brighter when Rose was here.”

“Anybody’d think we couldn’t play without her!” snapped Inez, springing to her feet, and running across the lawn.

Then realizing that she had been rude, and not wishing to offend Polly, she turned, and looking over her shoulder, she said: 

“I must go home now, so I’ll just hurry.”

“Why, a minute a go she was sitting as still as if she intended to stay here all night!” said Vivian.

“It was what you said, Vivian, that made her run off,” said Leslie.

“What did I say?” questioned Vivian.

“Oh, you said it was nicer to have Rose with us,” explained Leslie.

“She’s likely to hear us talk of Rose whenever she comes here,” said Polly.

“Then she’ll stay away,” said Leslie.

Polly would not say what was in her mind, but Leslie was less careful.

“Let her just stay away then!” she said, stoutly, “we love Rose, and we’re wondering how long it will be before we’ll see her.  She’s sweeter than Inez.”

Sweet Princess Polly!  She would not say anything unpleasant even of Inez.

“Rose is just dear,” she said, but of Inez she said nothing.

“Inez says mean things,” said Vivian, “and it would be real hard to forgive her, so it’s lucky she doesn’t ever ask us to.”

“Why Vivian!” cried Polly, “you would if she asked you to, wouldn’t you?”

Vivian did not like to answer, so she only said: 

“She wouldn’t ask me.”

Just at that moment Harry Grafton sprang over the wall, and joined the group.

“Inez Varney is waiting for you and Vivian,” he said.  “I was going over to call for Rob Lindsey, and just as I was passing, she asked me to tell you.  I asked her why she didn’t come in and wait for you here, but she only shook her head, and said; ‘Oh, because.’  That’s a girl’s reason, and it’s a funny one.”