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"Good irls! Isn't it a splendid, splendid day!"

Rachel Horwood left her daily bag of lemons on the floor Her lemonade was a celebrated afternoon courtesy for the Bed & Breakfast guests Everyshe came at five thirty, prepared breakfast and went to theday, which were delivered to the house All but the leot the juice ready, put it in the ground floor fridge and helped Pat, and now also Kathy, with the cleaning By noon they all went houests' care

"Hasn't this ever been a proble there "The fact that there's no one here for so orical answer "The guests have to pay in advance, plus a deposit Besides, they are all honorable people, our visitors"

"But what if they need so breaks down?"

"They know this is not a hotel What do you do if you rent an apartht? You wait till the following day and then you call your landlord It's the same here And they have Pat's phone number and mine visibly framed next to the reception desk - where we never leave any money - in case they really, really need to call us, which they never do"

"Or rarely," qualified Pat

"But then they all have a copy of the front door key, or else it is perpetually open?" insisted Kathy

"They do, of course," replied the woured was in her late fifties or early sixties "Don't worry, dear If Pat or I had sensed any danger or suffered any inconvenience, ould have told Mrs Sloan or be telling you noould we not?"

"Absolutely Nevertheless," slipped Pat, "knowing that I can be contacted at any hour… I never see," she quickly added "I'…"

Kathy had tried not to sound like a condescending boss when she'd sincerely expressed her gratitude for having been given an insight into the workings of the business, and especially the things that could be ilad to see that they seemed to be as comfortable with her as she with theht up the ency hours Pat and Mrs Horere not really being paid for, which was still going around in her head