“Right forward with her milk can,” laughed Jeff, and then he told of Tom’s rebuff and of the blow he had received instead of the kiss he demanded. “He’s not worthy of you, little sister, and you must not bother your head about him,” said Jeff. 203
But Mildred did worry and sulk and feel miserable. Tom had made more impression on Mildred’s heart than Jeff had dreamed possible. The girl was suffering from blighted affections as well as mortification—both of which no doubt would be dispelled by the European trip.
Jeff was to settle in Louisville and the home would be closed, with Aunt Em’ly as caretaker. But what was to become of Cousin Ann?
“We can’t leave until her visit with us is completed,” objected Mr. Bucknor.
“But, my dear, her visit to us will never be finished, unless we cut it short,” sighed Mrs. Bucknor.
“Let her go visit some of the others,” suggested Nan, “She’s needing a change by this time anyhow.”
“We must not be unclannish,” admonished Mr. Bucknor. “Blood is—”
“Well, mine is not,” interrupted Mildred. “I’m just fed up on all of this relationship business. Old Cousin Ann isn’t very close kin to us anyhow, if you stop and think. She wasn’t even more than a third cousin to Grandfather Bucknor, and when it comes down to us she is so far removed it wouldn’t count if we lived anywhere but in Kentucky or maybe Virginia. I thought you were going to have a 204 meeting and come to some conclusion about Cousin Ann.”
“So we are! So we are! I have been talking to Big Josh lately about it. Quite a problem! Big Josh does nothing but talk and laugh and we never get anywhere. However, we are going to have a gathering of the clan to-morrow in Ryeville and I shall bring up the subject.”
“Well, don’t let them persuade you to give up our trip just to have old Cousin Ann have a place to visit. We’ve had more than our share of her already. If she had a spark of delicacy she would go now and not wait until we are all upset with packing and all. I know you have not told her that we are going abroad, but you know she snoops around enough to have heard us talking. I bet she knows what our plans are as well as we know ourselves.”