Rita and Agnes were not exactly beautiful; but they were not like me--no one could have called either of them Dumps. They had soft, pretty hair which waved about their little heads, and their features were quite marked and distinct, and I think their eyes were beautiful, although I am not absolutely sure. They were rather clever, and often got praised at school. I am afraid they were inclined to patronise me, but I thought if I could have them to tea, and could show them over our large house, and let them see what a splendid place it was for hide-and-seek, it being a very old house with lots of queer passages and corners, they might respect me more and get the other girls in the school to do so also. Accordingly, when I got home about one o'clock on that November day I was in high spirits. But there was my usual lesson in patience waiting for me; for father came in at three o'clock instead of at six, as he had done every single Thursday since I could remember. "Where are you, Rachel?" he called out when he entered the house. I ran to him. "Oh father, is anything wrong?" "Only this abominable headache," he replied. "It is worse than usual. I am going to my room to lie down. See that the house is kept quiet, Rachel." "Oh yes," I replied. "Shall I get you a cup of tea?" "No; I couldn't touch anything. Just keep the house as quiet as possible. If those young rascals come in, tell them about me. I trust you, Rachel, not to allow a sound." "Very well, father," I said. He never noticed that I was in my best frock, pale-blue with a sash of the same, and that I had combed and brushed my hair until it fairly shone. I knew that my hair was thick and longer than most girls' hair, and I was proud to let it fall over my shoulders, and I wondered if Rita and Agnes would remark it. But here at once was a stop to our jolly game of hide-and-seek; we could not play a game of that sort without making a noise. We must sit in the parlour. The parlour was farthest away from father's bedroom. We must sit there and be as still as possible. We might play games, of course; but then one could play games at the Swans' house, which was a very ordinary, everyday sort of place, not a bit like ours, which at least was quaint and out of the common. I had ordered queen-cakes for tea, and a fresh pot of jam to be opened, and I was all expectation, and primed, as Alex would say, to exert myself to the very utmost to entertain my friends, when who should come thundering up the steps, making a most horrible noise, but the boys, with two other boys bearing them company. I rushed out to the hall. "You mustn't really, Alex," I said. "Mustn't what?" he cried, looking at my excited face. "What's up now, Dumps?"