“Then you must have had a very early breakfast.” It was a well-known fact that the sorrel horses, although of the famous Golddust breed, were old and could travel at a stretch only about five miles an hour.
“We lef’ Miss Betty’s befo’ breakfas’,” said Uncle Billy sadly, but a glance from his mistress made him add, “but we ain’t hongry, case we done et our fill at a hotel back yonder.”
“I deemed it wise to travel before the heat of 33 the day,” said Miss Ann with an added dignity. “Take my luggage to my room, Billy.”
“Yassum, yes, Miss Ann,” and the old man made a show of tying his team to the hitching post although he knew that the fat old Cupid and Puck were glad to stop and rest and nothing short of oats would budge them.
Mildred and Nan came slowly down the walk, followed by Aunt Em’ly. “We’ve got to let her kiss us and we might just as well get it over with,” grumbled Mildred.
“Well, they’s some compersations in bein’ black,” chuckled Aunt Em’ly. “I ain’t never had ter kiss Miss Ann yit.”
“How do you do, cousins?” and Miss Peyton again stooped from her loftiness and pecked first one girl and then the other. The old lady called all of her young relations cousin without adding the Christian name and it was generally conceded that she did this because she could not keep up with the younger generation in the many homes she visited.
“Mother, remember your promise,” whispered Mildred.
“Yes, Mother, remember,” added Nan. “Now is the time, before the trunks and things get put in the wrong room.”
“Uncle Billy, Miss Ann is to have the room 34 next the guest chamber. I mean the—hall room,” hesitated poor Mrs. Bucknor, who was always overawed by Cousin Ann.