nd at one of them she paused,
wondering if it did not lead to Eugenia's and Betty's rooms.

To her speechless surprise, a door popped open and a cupful of water was
dashed full in her face. Spluttering and angry, she drew back in time to
avoid another cupful, which came flying through the transom above the same
door. Retreating still farther down the passage, and wiping her face as
she went, she kept her gaze on the door, walking backward in order to do
so.

Another cupful came splashing out into the hall through the transom. A
boy, tiptoeing up to the door, dodged back so quickly that not a drop
touched him; then with a long squirt gun that he carried, he knelt before
the keyhole and sent a stream of water squirting through it. It was
Howell.

There was a scream from the bedroom, Fidelia's voice. "Stop that, you
hateful boy! I'll tell mamma! You've nearly put my eye out."

A muffled giggle and a scamper of feet down the hall was the only answer.
Fidelia threw open the door and looked out, a water pitcher in her hand.
She stopped in amazement at sight of the Little Colonel, who was waiting
for a chance to dodge down the hall past the dangerous door, into the main
passage.

"For mercy sakes!" exclaimed Fidelia. "When did _you_ come?"

"In time fo' yoah watah fight," answered the indignant Little Colonel,
shaking out her wet handkerchief. She was thoroughly provoked, for the
front of her fresh white dress was drenched, and the dainty rosebud sash
streaked with water.

Fidelia laughed. "You don't mean to say that you caught the ducking I
meant for Howl!" she exclaimed. "Well, if that isn't a joke! It's the
funniest thing I ever heard of!" Putting the pitcher on the floor and
clasping her hands to her sides, she laughed until she had to lean against
the wall.

"It's moah bad mannahs than a joke!" retorted Lloyd, angered more by the
laugh than she had been by the wetting. "A girl as old as you oughtn't to
go travellin' till you know how to behave yo'self in a hotel. I don't
wondah that wherevah you go people say, 'Oh, those dreadful American
children!'"

"It isn't so! They don't say it!" snapped Fidelia. "I've got just as good
manners as you have, anyhow, and I'll throw this whole pitcher of water on
you if you say another word." She caught it up threateningly.

"You just _dare!_" cried the Little Colonel, her eyes flashing and her
cheeks flushing. Not for years had she been so angry. She wanted to scream
and pu