“I tell you, she’s a thoroughbred, all right,” declared Pete Barnes. “Why, that gal turned down two of the best-looking beaux at the hop—Jeff Bucknor and that young Harbison—just to sit down an’ talk with me, old Pete 177 Barnes. Jeff Bucknor was sore, too. He up an’ claimed kin with her an’ she just gave him the merry ha ha.”
“Well, my j’ints are mighty stiff, but I’m proud to have trod a measure with Miss Judith Buck,” said Colonel Crutcher.
“It was worth a lot to see Miss Ann Peyton again, too,” said Judge Middleton. “I heard a good deal of talk on the side about Miss Ann last night. It seems that the family is getting together on the subject. The women folks are reading the riot act and simply refusing to have the old lady visit them any more. Big Josh was shooting off his lip pretty lively because the women of the family want to send her to an old ladies’ home. I say poor Miss Ann, but at the same time I can see the other side.”
Others beside the old men were aweary after the ball. Miss Ann spent a sleepless night and could not drag herself from her bed in time for breakfast. When old Billy came to her room with a can of hot water for her morning ablutions, he found his mistress limp and forlorn.
“Jes’ you lay still, my pretty, an’ ol’ Billy will bring you up some breakfus’. You had so many beaux las’ night, hoverin’ roun’ you like bees ’roun’ a honey pot, no wonder you air 178 tuckered out this mornin’. I reckon you couldn’t sleep with yo’ haid so full er music an’ carryin’s on.”
“I didn’t sleep very well, Billy, because I am worrying. I am thinking perhaps we had better move on.”
“Don’t say it, Miss Ann, don’t say it! Buck Hill air sho’ the gyardin spot er all our visitations. What put you in min’ er movin’ on?”
“I overheard, without meaning to in the least, but they spoke quite loudly—I overheard Cousin Milly talking on the subject with some of the others at the ball and I am afraid we are not welcome here.”
“Why, Miss Ann, ’twas only yistiddy that young Marse Jeff Bucknor up an’ made me a solemn promise that you wouldn’t never want fer nothin’ so long as he mought live an’ be able ter do fer you.”
“That’s very sweet of him, Billy, but this isn’t his home alone. His mother is the mistress here. I think we might go visit Mr. Big Josh Bucknor for a while. He was very cordial and even said he would come for me in a flying machine because of the bad road leading into his place. What do you think of that, Billy? He said you could follow after with the carriage and horses.” 179