might be glad of the
chance to accompany her as chaperon in the evenings.

For Elsie took it for granted that Cousin Julia wouldn't care for the
sort of things she was accustomed to any more than she herself would be
interested to go about with her. Somehow the girl felt that Miss
Pritchard would be devoted to vaudeville and even moving pictures--she
might even refer to the latter as "movies"! Of course, that was the
worst of the whole situation--Cousin Julia herself! For, no matter how
singular or even coarse she might be, Elsie had to live with her and to
put up with a certain amount of her society.

That would be very difficult; still, even now, the girl seemed to see
wide spaces between. Except for Sundays and evenings when neither of
them went out, she wouldn't have to see a great deal of the older
woman. She might have to dine with her every night, but, as she worked
in a business office, she probably wouldn't be home to lunch, and of
course Elsie would have her breakfast in her room. Sunday might be
long and boring, but, whatever Cousin Julia's ideas might be, Elsie
would always insist upon going to service, and that would occupy a part
of the day.

An hour had passed since Mrs. Bennet had left Elsie Marley. As she
returned the letter to the satchel she became aware that the train was
at a standstill and not before a station. Indeed, there was not a
building in sight: only a dreary waste of sunburnt prairie-grass
extended flatly to the glare of the burning horizon. She looked about
wonderingly, vaguely aware that they must already have waited some time.

Her gaze included the rear of the car and emboldened a young girl who
had been watching her longingly a great part of the way from San
Francisco, to act upon her desire. Immediately she donned a coquettish
little red hat and linen top-coat, and made her way to the other girl's
seat.

"Don't you want to come out and walk a little?" she asked in a
singularly sweet, eager voice. "There's a hot-box, or some such thing,
and they say it'll be an hour more before we get away. It might seem
good to stretch our legs on the prairie yonder?"

Elsie Marley didn't care at all to go. Indeed, she didn't wish to make
the acquaintance of this conspicuous-looking girl with her dark hair
cut square about her ears who had travelled alone all the way from San
Francisco and seemed to know every one in the car. If she should give
her any encouragement, no doubt sh