re her. The noise she made coming along the hall, despite the heavy
carpets, had quite prepared them for her appearance.

Belle and Hortense met her with covert smiles. And they watched their
younger sister to see what impression the girl from Sunset Ranch made upon
Flossie.

"And this is Flossie; is it?" cried Helen, going boisterously into the
room and heading full tilt around the table for the amazed Flossie. "Why,
you look like a smart young'un! And you're only fourteen? Well, I never!"

She seized Flossie by both hands, in spite of that young lady's desire to
keep them free.

"Goodness me! Keep your paws off--do!" ejaculated Flossie, in great
disgust. "And let me tell you, if I _am_ only fourteen I'm 'most as big as
you are and I know a whole lot more."

"Why, Floss!" exclaimed Hortense, but unable to hide her amusement.

The girl from Sunset Ranch took it all with apparent good nature,
however.

"I reckon you _do_ know a lot. You've had advantages, you see. Girls out
my way don't have much chance, and that's a fact. But if I stay here,
don't you reckon I'll learn?"

The Starkweather girls exchanged glances of amusement.

"I do not think," said Belle, calmly, "that you would better think of
remaining with us for long. It would be rather bad for you, I am sure, and
inconvenient for us."

"How's that?" demanded Helen, looking at her blankly. "Inconvenient--and
with all this big house?"

"Ahem!" began Belle, copying her father. "The house is not always as free
of visitors as it is now. And of course, a girl who has no means and must
earn her living, should not live in luxury."

"Why not?" asked Helen, quickly.

"Why--er--well, it would not be nice to have a working girl go in and out
of our house."

"And you think I shall have to go to work?"

"Why, of course, you may remain here--father says--until you can place
yourself. But he does not believe in fostering idleness. He often says
so," said Belle, heaping it all on "poor Pa."

Helen had taken her seat at the table and Gregson was serving. It mattered
nothing to these ill-bred Starkweather girls that the serving people heard
how they treated this "poor relation."

Helen remained silent for several minutes. She tried to look sad. Within,
however, she was furiously angry. But this was not the hour for her to
triumph.

Flossie had been giggling for a few moments. Now she asked her cousin,
saucily:

"I say! Where did you pick up that calico dress