thinks there is
nobody quite like Helen."

These shocks were coming too fast for Mr. Starkweather. Had anything
further occurred that evening to torment him it is doubtful if he would
have got through it as gracefully as he did through this call. May Van
Ramsden went away assured that no obstacle would be placed in the way of
Mary Boyle's party in the attic. But neither Mr. Starkweather, nor his
three daughters, could really look straight into each other's faces for
the remainder of that evening. And they were all four remarkably silent,
despite the exciting things that had so recently occurred to disturb
them.

In the morning Helen got an invitation from Jess Stone to dinner that
evening. She said "come just as you are"; but she did not tell Helen that
she had innocently betrayed her true condition to the Starkweathers. Helen
wrote a long reply and sent it by special messenger through old Lawdor,
the butler. Then she prepared for the tea in Mary Boyle's rooms.

At breakfast time Helen met the family for the first time since the
explosion. Self-consciousness troubled the countenances and likewise the
manner of Mr. Starkweather and his three daughters.

"Ahem! A very fine morning, Helen. Have you been out for your usual
ramble, my dear?"

"How-do, Helen? Hope you're feeling quite fit."

"Dear me, Helen! How pretty your hair is, child. You must show me how you
do it in that simple way."

But Flossie was more honest. She only nodded to Helen at first. Then, when
Gregson was out of the room, she jumped up, went around the table swiftly,
and caught the Western girl about the neck.

"Helen! I'm just as ashamed of myself as I can be!" she cried, her tears
flowing copiously. "I treated you so mean all the time, and you have been
so very, very decent about helping me in my lessons. Forgive me; will you?
Oh, please say you will!"

Helen kissed her warmly. "Nothing to forgive, Floss," she said, a little
bruskly, perhaps. "Don't let's speak about it."

She merely bowed and said a word in reply to the others. Nor could Mr.
Starkweather's unctuous conversation arouse her interest.

"You have a part in the very worthy effort to liven up old Nurse Boyle, I
understand?" said Mr. Starkweather, graciously. "Is there anything needed
that I can have sent in, Helen?"

"Oh, no, sir. I am only helping Miss Van Ramsden," Helen replied,
timidly.

"I think May Van Ramsden should have told _me_ of her plans," said Belle,
tossing