She tried to remember the intervening years but could not. She was a beautiful young girl, sought after, welcomed everywhere. Then she was an old woman, unloved, unwelcome, nobody wanting her, nobody loving her. She did not know where Billy was driving her. She did not 211 care. The old man had taken matters into his own hands and no doubt he would leave the decision to Cupid and Puck. She put her head against the upholstered back of the seat and dozed. The morning air came sweet and fresh across the blue-grass meadows. She had a dream, vague and uncertain, but in some unexpected and shadowy way she was happy. She awoke and dozed again. Again a sweet dream of peace and contentment.
The horses came to a standstill. Miss Ann awoke with a start. She did not know whether she had slept moments or hours. Billy had opened the door and was saying: “Miss Ann, we done arriv!” and then he began to unpack his beloved mistress.
CHAPTER XX
A Heart-warming Welcome
“Mumsy, here comes Cousin Ann!”
“There you are at it again, Judith. I say shame on you for calling people cousin who don’t even know they are related.”
“Anyhow, here comes Cousin Ann!”
“Comes where? Along the pike? I don’t see that that is anything to get excited over.”