there don't want her," said Belle.

"Of course she's a pauper," observed Hortense.

"Give her some money and send her away, Pa," begged Belle.

"You ought to. She's not fit to associate with Flossie. You know just how
Floss picks up every little thing----"

"And she's that man's daughter, too, you know," remarked Belle.

"Ahem!" said their father, weakly.

"It's not decent to have her here."

"Of course, other people will remember what Morrell did. It will make a
scandal for us."

"I cannot help it! I cannot help it!" cried Mr. Starkweather, suddenly
breaking out and battling against his daughters as he sometimes did when
they pressed him too closely. "I cannot send her away."

"Well, she mustn't be encouraged to stay," declared Hortense.

"I should say not," rejoined Belle.

"And getting up at this hour to breakfast," Hortense sniffed.

Helen Morrell wore strong, well-made walking boots. Good shoes were
something that she could always buy in Elberon. But usually she walked
lightly and springily.

Now she came stamping through the small hall, and on the heels of the last
remark, flung back the curtain and strode into the den.

"Hullo, folks!" she cried. "Goodness! don't you get up till noon here in
town? I've been clean out to your city park while I waited for you to wash
your faces. Uncle Starkweather! how be you?"

She had grabbed the hand of the amazed gentleman and was now pumping it
with a vigor that left him breathless.

"And these air two of your gals?" quoth Helen. "I bet I can pick 'em out
by name," and she laughed loudly. "This is Belle; ain't it? Put it thar!"
and she took the resisting Belle's hand and squeezed it in her own brown
one until the older girl winced, muscular as she herself was.

"And this is 'Tense--I know!" added the girl from Sunset Ranch, reaching
for the hand of her other cousin.

"No, you don't!" cried Hortense, putting her hands behind her. "Why! you'd
crush my hand."

"Ho, ho!" laughed Helen, slapping her hand heartily upon her knee as she
sat down. "Ain't you the puny one!"

"I'm no great, rude----"

"Ahem!" exclaimed Mr. Starkweather, recovering from his amazement in time
to shut off the snappy remark of Hortense. "We--we are glad to see you,
girl----"

"I knew you'd be!" cried Helen, loudly. "I told 'em back on the ranch that
you an' the gals would jest about eat me up, you'd be so glad, when ye
seen me. Relatives oughter be neighborly."

"Neighborly!" mur