Mr.Jornicroft had been in the habit for many years of spending Christmas at the King's Hotel, Hastings, and had already made his arrangements.
"Who else is there ?" asked Barbara.
"My dear," said I."This is a modest country house, not an International Palace Hotel.

Including Eileen's children and their governess and nurse and Doria's maid, we shall have to find accommodation for fifteen people." "Nonsense!" she said.

"We can't do it." "Count up," said I.
I lit a cigar and went out into the winter-stricken garden, and left her reckoning on her fingers, with knitted brow.

When I returned she greeted me with a radiantly superior smile.
"Who said it couldn't be done?
I do wish men had some kind of practical sense.

It's as easy as anything." She unfolded her scheme.