Ordinary life bored him
dreadfully. He had melancholy yearnings after youth and laughter.
"Let's do something else now. What do you say to a turn of hide-and-
seek? Eh?"
The miraculous Maria woke at this, yawned like a cat, and nearly
rolled off on to the floor. "I dreamed of a real tiger," she informed
every one. But no one was listening. Judy and Tim were prancing
wildly.
"If your cold isn't _too_ bad," cried Judy, "it would be lovely." No
grown-up could have been more thoughtful of his welfare than she was.
"I'll hide," he said, "and in five minutes you come and find me." He
went towards the door into the passage.
"Choose a warm place, and keep out of draughts," she cried after him.
And he was gone. He nearly collided with a servant carrying a tray,
but the servant, hearing his secret instructions, vanished again
instantly in the direction of the kitchen. Five minutes later--an
alleged five minutes--the children began their search. But they never
found him. They hunted high and low, from attic to cellar, in gun-
room, scullery, and pantry, even climbing up the ladder from the box-
room to the roof, but without result.
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