“Oh!” said Kitty, whose vivid imagination pictured the scene, “I wish I had been there! Did you register them?”
This suggestion sent King and Midget into chuckles again, and Mr. Mortimer said, gravely:
“Of course I did; from Samuel down to Mary Eliza. And I fancy those six names will always be pointed to with pride by the worthy proprietor.”
“I hope, sir,” said King, suddenly remembering his position as “man of the house,” “that you directed him to send the bill to my father.”
“I’ll tell you what I did do,” said Mr. Mortimer, with a business-like air that somehow made King feel very manly at being thus addressed: “I told him the circumstances of the case. I told him of your generous offer of hospitality, and of the difficulties in the way of entertaining the whole Simpson family at your own home. I laid before him the fact that the town ought to take some interest in this calamity that has befallen one of its poorer families; and we finally arranged that he was to make his charges as moderate as possible, that Mr. Maynard would be responsible for half the bill, and that the city authorities should be asked to pay the other half. All of this, of course, subject to your father’s sanction; and agreed to by us, in order to meet the emergency.”
“You did fine!” exclaimed King. “Thank you, Mr. Mortimer. I know Father will say you did just right—unless he prefers to pay the whole bill himself.”
“He can do as he likes about that. He can settle the matter with the city authorities. But the hotel man—a mighty sensible chap, by the way—seemed to think the townspeople would stand quite ready to do their share, both individually and as a public measure.”
“I think they will,” said Marjorie, “for I remember when Mr. Simpson first went to the hospital, the town looked after the family, or something—I don’t know just what, but I know we only helped.”
“And so,” concluded Mr. Mortimer, “the small Simpsons are to-night enjoying the luxury of lodging in a hotel, whatever fate may bring them to-morrow.”
“You have been very kind,” said Marjorie, her eyes fairly brimming with gratitude. “I don’t know what we should have done if you hadn’t been here.”