coming from the light he could see nothing, while the others could see
only dimly. It was very exciting to stand crouching up in a corner and
watch the dark figure stumbling about and feeling to right and left,
while every now and then somebody, just escaping his clutches, would
slip past and gain the hall, which was "Freedom Castle," with a joyful
shout of "Kikeri, Kikeri, Kikeri, Ki!" Whoever was caught had to take
the place of the catcher. For a long time this game was the delight of
the Carr children; but so many scratches and black-and-blue spots came
of it, and so many of the nursery things were thrown down and broken,
that at last Aunt Izzie issued an order that it should not be played any
more. This was almost a year since; but talking of it now put it into
their heads to want to try it again.

"After all we didn't promise," said Cecy.

"No, and _Papa_ never said a word about our not playing it," added Katy,
to whom "Papa" was authority, and must always be minded, while Aunt
Izzie might now and then be defied.

So they all went up stairs. Dorry and John, though half undressed, were
allowed to join the game. Philly was fast asleep in another room.

It was certainly splendid fun. Once Clover climbed up on the
mantel-piece and sat there, and when Katy, who was finder, groped about
a little more wildly than usual, she caught hold of Clover's foot, and
couldn't imagine where it came from. Dorry got a hard knock, and cried,
and at another time Katy's dress caught on the bureau handle and was
frightfully torn, but these were too much affairs of every day to
interfere in the least with the pleasures of Kikeri. The fun and frolic
seemed to grow greater the longer they played. In the excitement, time