"We're too grown-up for such things," she declared, with dignity. "What do you say to a nice, dignified game of hide and seek?" "All over the house!" cried Roger. "May we, Mrs. Kenerley?" "The house is yours," said Adele. "I reserve no portion of it. From cellar to attic, from drawing-room to kitchen, hide where you will and seek where you like,--if you'll only promise not to wake the baby. She's taking her afternoon nap." "She doesn't seem to mind noise," said Roger. "We do make an awful racket, you know." "Oh, no, I don't mean that," said Adele. "I've trained her not to mind noise. But I mean if your hiding and seeking takes you into the nursery quarters, do go softly." "Of course we will," said Philip. "I'm specially devoted to that baby, and I'll see that her nap isn't disturbed, even if I have to stand sentry at her door. But what larks to have the whole house! I've never played it before but what they wouldn't let you hide in this room or that room. Who'll be It?" "Oh, that's an old-fashioned way to play," said Hal. "Here's a better way. Either all the men hide and the girls find them, or else the other way around; and, anyway, don't you know, whoever finds who, has to be her partner or something." "For life?" asked Jim, looking horrified. "Mercy, no!" said his brother-in-law. "This is a civilised land, and we don't select life partners that way!" "You mean just partners for a dance," said Patty, trying to help him out. "Well, you see," said Hal, "it ought to be more than just a dance; I mean more like a partner for a,--for a junketing of some kind." "I'll tell you," said Adele. "There's to be a masquerade ball at the Country Club on New Year's Eve, and we're all going." "Just the thing!" cried Hal. "Now, whichever seeker finds whichever hider, they'll go in pairs to the ball, don't you see? Romeo and Juliet, or anything they like, for costumes." "But we won't be here," and Philip Van Reypen looked ruefully at Roger. "We go back to town to-morrow." "But you can come up again," said Adele, hospitably. "I hereby invite you both to come back the day before New Year's, and stay as long as you will." "Well, you are _some_ hostess!" declared Roger, looking grateful. "I accept with pleasure, but I doubt if my friend Van Reypen can get away." "Can he!" cried Philip. "Well, I rather guess he can! Mrs. Kenerley, you're all sorts of a darling, and you'll see me back here on the first train after your invitation takes effect." "Then hurrah for our game of hide and seek," Hal exclaimed. "Jim and Adele, you must be in it, too. You needn't think you can go as Darby and Joan,--you must take your chances with the rest. If you find each other, all right, but if you find anybody else, that's your fate,--see?" "I'm willing," said Adele, laughing. "I'm sure I'd be glad to go with any of you beautiful young men."