Page:Keeping the Peace.pdf/95

 hugged them, and laughed at their frightened eyes, and felt their hearts beat. When the rabbits had been returned to their nest, James suggested a game of hide and seek in the dusk.

"I'll count out," he said, "and see who's it."

Pointing rapidly to each of the children in succession, he repeated the old counting-out verse:

Sarah was the—Alice was cuckoo's, and Edward was nest. Edward was therefore It. He was stood with his face to the big oak tree, and put upon his honor to keep his eyes shut until he had counted a hundred.

At the first count Sarah fled in one direction and James and Alice in another.

It took the little boy a long time to count an honorable hundred, and when he had finished, the dusky woods back of the rectory were empty and silent. Edward ran hopefully to the nearest tree and looked behind it. Then he ran to the next tree.