Part 20 (1/2)

”But it is not along the pike. She is coming here--here in our home.

Old Billy has stopped the horses and is down off his box and has opened the door and is unpacking the luggage. After a little while he will come to Cousin Ann.

”Do you know what that means, Mumsy? It means that we are to be taken into the bosom of the family, as it were. Cousin Ann only visits relations. I reckon I'm a sn.o.b but I can't help being glad that I am to belong. I won't let anybody but you know that, Mumsy, but I'm going to be just as nice and kind to poor Cousin Ann as can be. You will too, won't you, dear Mumsy?”

”Well, I guess I know how to treat company,” bridled Mrs. Buck.

Miss Ann sat, dazed and wondering, while Billy pulled out the luggage and piled it up by the white picket fence. She did not know where the old coachman had brought her. She wondered vaguely if it could be the home of Cousin David's oldest daughter whose married name had escaped her. Could she have slept a whole day?

Suddenly a red-haired girl in a blue dress came running down the walk and before Billy could get his mistress unpacked this girl had sprung into the coach and putting her arms around Miss Ann's neck kissed her first on one cheek and then on the other.

”Mother and I are real glad to see you and we hope you and Uncle Billy will stay with us just as long as you are comfortable and happy,” said Judith. ”Howdy, Uncle Billy!”

”Howdy, missy!” Great tears were coursing down the old brown face.

”The guest chamber is all ready, except for being sheeted and that won't take me a minute. Just bring the things right in, Uncle Billy.

Here, I'll help and then Miss Ann can get out.”

”Cousin Ann, child! I am your Cousin Ann Peyton.” Miss Ann spoke from the depths of the coach. And then Mrs. Buck, having hastily tied on a clean ap.r.o.n, came down the walk and was introduced to the visitor, greeting her with shy hospitality.

”I'm pleased to meet you. Judith and I'll be right glad of your company.”

How long had it been since anybody had said that to Miss Ann? The old lady flushed with pleasure.

”You are my cousin-in-law, but I don't know your name.”

”Prudence--Prudence Knight was my maiden name.”

”Ah, then, Cousin Prudence! It is very kind of you and your daughter to greet me so cordially. I hope Billy and I will not be much trouble during our short stay with you. Are you certain it is convenient to have us?”

Now be it noted that in all of the long years of visiting Miss Ann Peyton had never before asked whether or not her coming was convenient. Hitherto she had simply come and stayed until it suited her to move on.

”Indeed it is convenient,” cried Judith. ”Mother and I are here all alone and we have loads of room.”

When Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Knight broke up housekeeping in New England they moved every stick of furniture they possessed to their new home.

This furniture had been in the family for generations. There were old highboys of polished mahogany and chaste design, four-poster beds and gate-legged tables, a Sheraton sideboard and Chippendale chairs, a claw-footed secretary with leaded gla.s.s doors and secret drawers.

There were hooked rugs and patchwork quilts of intricate and wonderful design, hand woven bedspreads of a blue seldom seen and Chinese cabinets and strange grotesque bra.s.ses, no doubt brought to New England by the Norse sailor man who had left his mark on the family according to Mrs. Buck.

Miss Ann Peyton felt singularly at home from the moment she entered the front door. The guest chamber, where old d.i.c.k Buck had made it convenient to spend the last years of his life, was so pleasant one hardly blamed the old man for establis.h.i.+ng himself there. A low-pitched room it was, with windows looking out over the meadow and furnished with mahogany so rare and beautiful it might have graced a museum.

”Now, Cousin Ann, please make yourself absolutely at home. If you want to unpack immediately there is a dandy closet here, and here is a wardrobe and here is a highboy and here a bureau. Uncle Billy can take your trunks to the attic when you empty them. I wish I could help you, but Mumsy and I are up to our necks canning peaches and we can't stop a minute. If you want to come help peel we'd be delighted. We are on the side porch and it is lovely and cool out there,” and Judith was gone.

Help peel peaches! Why not? Miss Ann smiled. n.o.body ever asked her to help. It was a new experience for her. She decided not to unpack immediately, but donned an ap.r.o.n and hastened to the side porch.

It was pleasant there. Mrs. Buck was peeling laboriously, anxious not to waste a particle of fruit. She stopped long enough to get a paring knife and bowl for the visitor.

”Judith has gone to show your servant where to put the carriage and horses and then to open up the house in the back for him. It was the old house the Bucks had before my father bought this place--a good enough house with furniture in it. Judith gives it a big cleaning now and then and I reckon the old man can move right in.”