"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 next the guest chamber. I mean the--hall room," hesitated poor Mrs. Bucknor, who was always overawed by Cousin Ann. Uncle Billy put down the two bulging telescopes he had picked up and looking piteously at Mrs. Bucknor said, "What you say, Miss Milly? I reckon I done misumberstood. You mus' 'scuse ol' Billy, Miss Milly." "Miss Milly done said I'll show you the way," said Aunt Em'ly, picking up a great hat box and a Gladstone bag. "I'll he'p you carry up some er these here bags an' baggage." The gaunt old woman stalked ahead, while Billy followed, but far from meekly. His beard with its many wrapped plaits wagged ominously and he could hardly wait to get beyond earshot of the white folks before he gave voice to his indignation. "What's all this a puttin' my Miss Ann off in a lil' ol' hall bedroom? You-alls is gone kinder crazy. The bes' ain't good enough fer my Miss Ann. How she gonter make out in no little squz up room what ain't mo'n a dressin'-room? Miss Ann air always been a havin' the gues' chamber an' I'm a gonter 'stablish her thar now. Miss Milly done got mixed up, Sis Em'ly," and the old man changed his indignant tone to a wheedling one. "Sholy yo' Miss Milly wa' jes' a foolin' an' seein' as th'ain't nobody in the gues' chamber we'll jes' put my Miss Ann thar." The door of the guest chamber was open and the determined old darkey pushed by Aunt Em'ly and entered the room prepared by Mildred and Nan for their friends. "See, they mus' a' got a message she wa' on the way, kase they done put flowers in her room an' all," and old Billy kneeled to loosen the straps of the telescopes. "Git up from yonder, nigger!" exclaimed Aunt Em'ly. "The young ladies air done swep and garnished this here room for they own comp'ny. Th'ain't nothin' the matter with that there hall room. It air plenty good enough fer mos' folks. I reckon yo' Miss Ann ain't a whit better'n my Miss Mildred and my Miss Nan--ain't so good in fac', kase they's got the same blood she air an' mo' of it. They's a older fambly than she is kase they's come along two or three generations further than what she is. They's Peytons an' Bucknors an' Prestons an' Throckmortons an' Butlers an'--an' every other Kentucky fambly they's a mind ter be."