"This is the office," said Mr. Langham, and he ushered them into the presence of a bright birch fire and Maud Darling. Each of the Carolinians drew a quick breath and bowed as if before royalty. Mr. Langham presented them to Miss Darling. She begged them to write their names in the guest book and to warm themselves at the fire.
"And then," said Sam Langham, "I'll shake them up a cocktail and show them their house."
"Are we to have a whole house to ourselves?" asked Colonel Meredith. He had not yet taken his eyes from Maud Darling's face.
"It's only two rooms: bath, parlor, and piazza," she explained.
"That last?" asked Mr. Jonstone.
"It's the same thing as a 'poach,'" explained Mr. Langham with a sly twinkle in his eyes.
"It's to sit on and enjoy the view from," added Maud.
"But I don't want to admire the view," complained Colonel Meredith. "I want to lounge about the office. It's the prerogative of every American citizen to lounge about the office of his hotel."
Colonel Meredith had yet to take his eyes from Maud Darling's face. And it was with protest written all over it that he at length followed his cousin and Mr. Langham into the open air.