“Pooh!” said Pearl, frankly, “I guess your father is running his hotel for money—not for sport. And Uncle Phil is going to pay him for all the accommodation we get.”
“Indeed?” returned Trix. “You seem to know a lot about our business, Miss Harrod.”
“Don’t you put on any of your high and mighty airs with me, Miss!” snapped Pearl. “For they don’t go down, let me tell you! Didn’t Uncle Phil secure rooms for us?”
“Well—he spoke of your coming here. There is Number 10, and 11, and 14; they’re all three double rooms, so you and Ann can have one, Maud and Lulu another, and Carrie and Lucy the third.”
“But, goodness gracious! there are ten of us!” cried Pearl. “You know that very well.”
“Those three rooms,” said Trix, with elaborate carelessness, “are all your uncle provided.”
“Why, Uncle Phil must be crazy! Didn’t he get a big room for the Kenways?”
“Humph!” said Trix, maliciously. “Are they with you, Miss Harrod? Your uncle must have quite overlooked them. All the rooms I know anything about his securing for your party are the three I’ve mentioned.”
“Well, where’s your father——”
“He’s gone fishing,” said Trix, promptly, and with a flash of satisfaction in her eyes. “He won’t be back till late to-night.”