trong--before she had to use that crutch--she often
appeared at our houses when there was trouble--serious trouble--especially
with the babies or little children. And what Mary Boyle did not know about
pulling young ones out of the mires of illness, wasn't worth knowing. Why,
I know a dozen boys and girls whose lives were probably saved by her. They
shall be reminded of her existence. And--it shall be due to you, Little
Cinderella!"

Helen smiled deprecatingly. "It will be due to your own kind heart, Miss
Van Ramsden," she returned. "I see that everybody in the city is not so
busy with their own affairs that they cannot think of other people."

The young lady kissed her again and said goodbye. But that did not end the
matter--no, indeed! The news that Miss Van Ramsden had been taken to the
topmost story of the Starkweather mansion--supposedly to Helen's own room
only--by the Western girl, dribbled through the servants to Belle
Starkweather herself when she came home.

"Now, Pa! I won't stand that common little thing being here any
longer--no, I won't! Why, she did that just on purpose to make folks
talk--to make people believe that we abuse her. Of course, she told May
that _I_ sent her to the top story to sleep. You get rid of that girl, Pa,
or I declare I'll go away. I guess I can find somebody to take me in as
long as you wish to keep Prince Morrell's daughter here in _my_ place."

"Ahem! I--I must beg you to compose yourself, Belle----"

"I won't--and that's flat!" declared his eldest daughter. "Either she
goes; or I do."

"Do let Belle go, Pa," drawled Flossie. "She is getting too bossy, anyway.
_I_ don't mind having Helen here. She is rather good fun. And May Van
Ramsden came here particularly to see Helen."

"That's not so!" cried Belle, stamping her foot.

"It is. Maggie heard her say so. Maggie was coming up the stairs and heard
May ask Helen to take her to her room. What could the poor girl do?"

"Ahem! Flossie--I am amazed at you--amazed at you!" gasped Mr.
Starkweather. "What do you learn at school?"

"Goodness me! I couldn't tell you," returned the youngest of his
daughters, carelessly. "It's none of it any good, though, Pa. You might as
well take me out."

"I've told that girl to use the back stairs, and to keep out of the front
of the house," went on Belle, ignoring Flossie. "If she had not been
hanging about the front of the house, May Van Ramsden would not have seen
her----"

"'Tain't so!"