But, when she opened the door, Penny’s good nature was immediately restored. For there stood Judy and Alf Powell with Mr. and Mrs. Powell right behind them.
Their first guests had arrived!
Penny tried to hug everyone at once as she talked excitedly:
“Why, Alf! You’ve grown like a beanstalk. Jimmy will be comparing measurements with you in no time. And Judy, you haven’t changed a bit. My, won’t you and Marjorie have a million things to talk about. You can’t imagine, Mr. and Mrs. Powell, how pleased we were that you could come. This isn’t going to be like a resort at all. We’re going to be surrounded by all our old friends. Isn’t this fine! Come right in. How did you get here? Have you a car to put away?” Penny peered around but could not see a car any place.
“No, Penny,” said Mr. Powell. “We decided to take a plane. Alf, as you probably know, has flown a few times, but Judy had never been up.”
“We flew to the closest airport,” Mrs. Powell added, “and took a bus from there to the village. We left our luggage in the village and walked out. It’s such a beautiful day. You won’t mind sending your truck down for our bags, will you? A nice man in the village told us you had one.”
“Of course not,” said Marjorie, who suddenly appeared behind Penny in the hall. “I’d drive it myself if only my mean old brothers and sister would let me!” She laughed mischievously.
“Imp!” Penny cried, pushing her straight into Judy’s arms.
As the two girls hugged each other ecstatically, Mrs. Powell said to Penny, “This is certainly a lovely spot. Even your description didn’t do it justice. I know we’re all going to have a wonderful summer.”
“We saw the lake as we flew over,” Mr. Powell said enthusiastically, “and it looks large enough to hold a mighty lot of fish.”