s?

But, while she sat there and studied the problem out, Helen came to at
least one determination: While she remained in the Starkweather house she
would keep from her uncle and cousins the knowledge of these facts.

She would not reveal her real character to them. She would continue to
parade before them and before their friends the very rudeness and
ignorance that they had expected her to betray.

"They are ashamed of me--let them be ashamed," she said, to herself,
bitterly. "They hate me--I'll give them no reason for loving me, I promise
you! They think me a pauper--I'll _be_ a pauper. Until I get ready to
leave here, at least. Then I can settle with Uncle Starkweather in one
lump for all the expense to which he may be put for me.

"I'll buy no nice dresses--or hats--or anything else. They sha'n't know I
have a penny to spend. If they want to treat me like a poor relation, let
them. I'll _be_ a poor relation.

"I must learn the truth about poor dad's trouble," she told herself again.
"Uncle Starkweather must know something about it. I want to question him.
He may be able to help me. I may get on the track of that bookkeeper. And
he can tell me, surely, where to find Fenwick Grimes, father's old
partner.

"No. They shall serve me without knowing it. I will be beholden to them
for my bread and butter and shelter--for a time. Let them hate and despise
me. What I have to do I will do. Then I'll 'pay the shot,' as Big Hen
would say, and walk out and leave them."

It was a bold determination, but not one that is to be praised. Yet, Helen
had provocation for the course she proposed to pursue.

She finally unlocked her trunk and hung up the common dresses and other
garments she had brought with her. She had intended to ask her cousins to
take her shopping right away, and she, like any other girl of her age,
longed for new frocks and pretty hats.

But there was a lot of force in Helen's character. She would go without
anything pretty unless her cousins offered to buy it themselves. She would
bide her time.

One thing she hid far back in her closet under the other things--her
riding habit. She knew it would give the lie to her supposed poverty. She
had sent to Chicago for that, and it had cost a hundred dollars.

"But I don't suppose there'd be a chance to ride in this big town," she
thought, with a sigh. "Unless it is hobby-horses in the park. Well! I can
get on for a time without the Rose pony, or any other crit