s_ a nice little thing," joined in Hortense, "I don't care what
you say to the contrary, Belle. She was the only one in this house that
showed me any real sympathy when I was sick----"

Belle only looked at her sisters, but could say nothing.

"And if Helen hasn't anything fit to wear to your party to-morrow night, I
will lend her something," declared Hortense.

"You need not bother," said Jess, scornfully. "If Helen came in the
plainest and most miserable frock to be found she would be welcome.
Good-day to you, Miss Starkweather--and Miss Hortense--and Miss Flossie."

She swept out of the room and did not even need the gorgeous Gregson to
show her to the door.

CHAPTER XXVII

THE PARTY

Helen chanced that evening to be entering the area door just as Mr.
Starkweather himself was mounting the steps of the mansion. Her uncle
recognized the girl and scowled over the balustrade at her.

"Come to the den at once; I wish to speak to you Helen--Ahem!" he said in
his most severe tones.

"Yes, sir," responded the girl respectfully, and she passed up the back
stairway while Mr. Starkweather went directly to his library. Therefore he
did not chance to meet either of his daughters and so was not warned of
what had occurred in the house that afternoon.

"Helen," said Uncle Starkweather, viewing her with the same stern look
when she approached his desk. "I must know how you have been using your
time while outside of my house? Something has reached my ear which
greatly--ahem!--displeases me."

"Why--I--I----" The girl was really at a loss what to say. She did not
know what he was driving at and she doubted the advisability of telling
Uncle Starkweather everything that she had done while here in the city as
his guest.

"I was told this afternoon--not an hour ago--that you have been seen
lurking about the most disreputable parts of the city. That you are a
frequenter of low tenement houses; that you associate with foreigners and
the most disgusting of beggars----"

"I wish you would stop, Uncle," said Helen, quickly, her face flushing now
and her eyes sparkling. "Sadie Goronsky is a nice girl, and her family is
respectable. And poor old Mr. Lurcher is only unfortunate and half-blind.
He will not harm me."

"Beggars! Yiddish shoestring pedlars! A girl like you!
Where--ahem!--_where_ did you ever get such low tastes, girl?"

"Don't blame yourself, Uncle," said Helen, with some bitterness. "I
certainly did not le