Trask climbed out from behind his paper and stood up, bowing and grinning.
"I'm sorry you missed your boat—almost," he said.
"Oh, shucks!" said Locke, taking his hand and pulling him forward. "I don't give a whoop. Marge, I'll bet forty dollars you knew that Dagupan train wouldn't catch the Taming!"
"Don't be absurd, Dad. We're so glad to meet you again, Mr. Trask. We were stupid about the train, but——"
"You'll have to excuse me," said her father, "I hear the bath going. Wilkins! Feed us tiffin till we're blue in the face," and he disappeared into the sala.
"And there isn't a boat to connect with the Pacific Mail for twenty-six days," said Trask. "I'm on a vacation."
"You know so much about Manila, too," she said. "But we may go on the Thursday boat."
"The Thursday boat?"
"Yes."
"If there's a Thursday boat, I'll wreck it," said Trask, and clapped his hands for the muchacho.