“But who is this old lady?” asked the girl who had spoken to Timothy, and whom they came to know later as Miss Genevieve Martin of Kentucky.
“I don’t know,” answered Billie, smiling. “I’ve only seen her once before, and the meeting wasn’t very friendly then.”
“Did she beat you with her stick?” asked Timothy Peppercorn.
“If I had said anything, she would have tapped me on the head with the gold knob, I believe, but I kept very still.”
“What happened?” asked Miss Martin, turning to Elinor who was nearest her.
Elinor related the story of the poor little chambermaid or “linen sorter,” as she was careful to call her.
“What a brutal old wretch!” exclaimed the other indignantly. “Does she expect to teach manners to Americans by treating them like this?
“Timothy, run quick and look at the hotel register and see who she is.”
Timothy gathered his loose frame together and rose to his feet. He was really not so tall as he appeared when sitting, but he seemed all arms and legs like a grand-daddy-long-legs.