The idea of keeping the hotel was too much for Diddie’s scruples, and she readily agreed to the plan.  Dilsey was then despatched to the nursery to bring the dolls, and Chris ran off to the wood-pile to get the wheelbarrow, which was to be the omnibus for carrying passengers to and from the hotel.

These details being satisfactorily arranged, the next thing was to slip off from Cherubim and Seraphim, for they followed the little girls everywhere, and they would be too much trouble on this occasion, since they couldn’t climb up on the pile themselves, and would whine piteously if the children left them.

The plan finally decided upon was this:  Diddie was to coax them to the kitchen to get some meat, while the other children were to go as fast as they could down the avenue and wait for her where the road turned, and she was to slip off while the puppies were eating, and join them.

They had only waited a few minutes when Diddie came running down the road, and behind her (unknown to her) came Old Billy.

“Oh, what made you bring him?” asked Dumps, as Diddie came up.

“I didn’t know he was comin’,” replied Diddie, “but he won’t hurt:  he’ll just eat grass all about, and we needn’t notice him.”

“Yes, he will hurt,” said Dumps; “he behaves jus’ dreadful, an’ I don’t want ter go, neither, ef he’s got ter be er comin’.”

“Well—­I know he shall come,” retorted Diddie.  “You jes don’t like him ‘cause he’s gettin’ old.  I’d be ashamed to turn against my friends like that.  When he was little and white, you always wanted to be er playin’ with him; an’ now, jes ’cause he ain’t pretty, you don’t want him to come anywhere, nor have no fun nor nothin’; yes—­he shall come; an’ ef that’s the way you’re goin’ to do, I’m goin’ right back to the house, an’ tell Mammy you’ve all slipped off, an’ she’ll come right after you, an’ then you won’t get to play on the lumber.”

Diddie having taken this decided stand, there was nothing for it but to let Old Billy be of the party; and peace being thus restored, the children continued their way, and were soon on the lumber-pile.  Diddie at once opened her hotel.  Chris was the chambermaid, Riar was the waiter, and Dilsey was the man to take the omnibus down for the passengers.  Dumps and Tot, who were to be the boarders, withdrew to the gin-house steps, which was to be the depot, to await the arrival of the omnibus.

“I want ter go to the hotel,” said Dumps, as Dilsey came up rolling the wheelbarrow—­“me an’ my three little chil’en.”

“Yes, marm, jes git in,” said Dilsey, and Dumps, with her wax baby and a rag doll for her little daughters, and a large cotton-stalk for her little boy, took a seat in the omnibus.  Dilsey wheeled her up to the hotel, and Diddie met her at the door.

“What is your name, madam?” she inquired.

“My name is Mrs. Dumps,” replied the guest, “an’ this is my little boy, an’ these is my little girls.”