Truth to tell, the four had an excellent time. All of them had been at still larger and more pretentious hotels than the Rainbow Mountain House, but always in company with their elders; and this little party had the agreeable tang of novelty and independence. Varley kept the talk going briskly. He told a story or two of his misadventures at boarding-school. He added another of an odd experience while traveling in Europe, but gave no hint of regarding himself as a person of superior talents or attainments; for quite as cheerfully he related some of the amusing blunders into which he had been led by ignorance of the ways of the country. Then the other boys recalled tales to cap his, so that, altogether, it was a very merry group about the table.
Finally the meal was over, and Varley tipped the waitress with a practiced ease which vastly impressed the observant Poke. The four went out into the lobby, and found chairs near the great fire. They were filled with the comforting sense of ease and refreshment, and nobody was disposed to suggest an early start on the long tramp to town. It was much better fun to toast before the fire and watch the people come straggling in, some from snow-shoe expeditions, others from coasting. There was a pleasant murmur of talk, with a deal of rippling laughter and a subdued bustle, very restful and soothing to the well-fed listener.
Varley sauntered over to the desk. There he paid the bill. The other boys saw him draw a roll of notes from his pocket, pass one to the clerk, and stow away his change with barely a glance at the silver.
“Gee! but he’s well heeled!” Poke whispered to Sam, admiringly.
Sam nodded, but said nothing. It was clear that Varley was well supplied with spending money; but he was not moved to comment on the fact.
“Say! He knows how to do things up brown!” Poke insisted.
“Indeed he does!” Sam agreed heartily enough.
Poke stretched himself luxuriously. “This is one bully place! I like everything about it. Cracking good feed, wasn’t it? And that shiny vase over there—— Say, somehow I can’t keep my eyes off it!”
“It is pretty.”
“Pretty!” Poke’s tone was protesting. “That’s a mild way to put it. I could sit and look at it for an hour at a time.”