“Right now, in the beginning, let’s start with some system,” said Kate. “If we don’t we’ll all be getting in each other’s way. Polly, come in here and stop gazing at the water. Help me plan the house. There are three rooms upstairs, just plain boarded chambers, but they’ll do to sleep in if the nights are not too hot. I ordered a bolt of mosquito netting, and we must start in to-morrow to tack it up. There are five cots upstairs, but only one bed downstairs, in the bedroom off the kitchen. Can you figure out where we are all to rest our weary heads? I give it up.”
Polly considered.
“Let’s give Aunty the full grown bed, because she’s old and will have all the cooking and washing and ironing to do. I guess we’ll have to get two more cots. When grandfather goes back to the hotel, we can ask him to send them up to us.”
“Where will you put them?” asked Kate, quite calmly. “On the porch?”
“No, ma’am. Right in this room. Daytimes we can turn them into divans.”
“Isn’t she a wonderful schemer?” Sue put her head in at the open window and laughed. “Where did you pack the chafing dish?”
“In my little suitcase. Why?”
“Aunty says we may have supper out on the porch and save trouble.”
“Then I’ll fix lobster a la Newburg in a jiffy.” Polly forgot all about beds and such ordinary things, and rose at once, but the majestic form of Welcome appeared in the kitchen doorway and waved a cooking spoon in her direction.
“Deed, an’ you ain’t a-going to eat any sech mess before bedtime,” she said firmly. “Yo’ keep your patience in evidence, chile, and your obstreperousness in subjection, and I’ll have some frizzled eggs ready before you know it, and some toast and marmalade.”