Judy looked at Danny expecting him to answer, but he had his head down. He seemed to be very much interested in tying the lace on one of his sneakers.
“I don’t suppose it matters. Old Blackberry wasn’t complaining. I think he’s found a mouse or two in there to keep him busy until we come back for him. Come on, everybody,” Peter urged as he hurried them toward the car. “The important thing right now is lunch.”
“Lunch?” Danny questioned as if he had never heard the word.
“Yes, aren’t you hungry?”
“I’m starved,” the boy admitted. “Where will we eat?”
Peter smiled. “I guess the Beverly’s the nearest place unless you want to go back to the orphanage.”
“They eat at twelve. The dining room closes at one. It’s after that, isn’t it?” Danny asked.
Peter consulted his watch. “Way after. It’s nearly two. Shall we go?”
The Beverly turned out to be an old mansion made over into an inn. It was quiet in the daytime, but Judy could see that it must be quite a gay place at night. There was a dance floor and a platform for an orchestra as well as separate dining rooms for private parties.
“This is a surprise!” she exclaimed as they entered through the lobby and stood looking into the dining room. “I never expected to find a place like this way out here in the country.”