
A breezy summer morning at the Hotel du Lac sets the stage for a charming tale of youthful impatience and unexpected encounters. In the sun‑lit courtyard, American guest Jerymn Hilliard Jr. receives a mysterious letter that throws his leisurely routine into gentle disarray, while the ever‑watchful waiter Gustavo adds a touch of comic foreign flair. The hotel’s lively atmosphere—parrots on perches, vines draping an arbor, and the distant lake—creates a vivid backdrop for the protagonist’s half‑hearted siesta and sudden burst of curiosity.
As Jerymn wrestles with the contents of the note, hints of upcoming travel and family visits ripple through the conversation, promising a mix of romance, adventure, and the subtle humor of cultural misunderstandings. Readers are invited to follow his light‑hearted dilemmas, the quirky staff, and the picturesque European setting, all while anticipating the playful twists that lie just beyond the hotel’s sunny patio.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (216K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Louise Pryor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2007-01-14
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1876–1916
Best known for the classic novel Daddy-Long-Legs, she wrote warm, witty stories that mixed humor with sharp sympathy for young women finding their way. Her books have stayed in print for generations and inspired stage and screen adaptations.
View all books