"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 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." Mildred was right. Miss Ann did know the plans of her host and hostess. With windows and doors wide open and a whole family freely discussing their trip, it would have been difficult for one who retained the sense of hearing not to be aware that something was afoot. Miss Ann had heard and had determined to move on, but to which relation should she go? The faithful Billy was called in consultation. "Billy, you have heard?" "Yes, Miss Ann, I done hearn. I couldn't help a hearin' with niggers as full of it as whites." "I wonder why they did not talk openly to me of their plans." "Well, I reckon they's kinder shy, kase me'n you's a visitin'. I 'low we's gotter move on, Miss Ann." The old man's face was drawn with woe. "I kinder felt it a bad sign when Marse Jeff Bucknor up'n took hisse'f off to Lou'ville, an' now this talk 'bout the fambly a goin' ter furren parts an' a shuttin' up Buck Hill. Th'ain't no good gonter come of it--but howsomever we's gotter pack up an' leave." "But where are we going, Billy? Cousin Big Josh--" "Lawsamussy, Miss Ann, please don't mention that there domercile! Our ca'ige ain't good fer that trip. That lane would be the endin' er us-all. Don't you reckon we'd better rise an' shine to-morrow?"