In the heartwarming tale of Hide and Seek, artist Valentine Blyth exemplifies compassion as he cares for his ailing wife while also rescuing a deaf orphan girl from the cruelty of a traveling circus. Adopting the girl, affectionately nicknamed Madonna, he becomes a mentor to a troubled young man named Zack, who struggles under the oppressive rule of his father. As Madonna and Zacks bond deepens, Valentine harbors a chilling secret about her origins, fearing that her blood relatives may one day come to reclaim her. The arrival of a mysterious stranger, recently returned from a rugged life in the American wilderness, sets off a chain of events that complicates their lives in true mid-19th century dramatic fashion. This captivating narrative is Wilkie Collins’ third published novel (1854), read from the 1861 edition. Summary by Anna Simon.