m line of her
chin and the mutinous expression of her eyes, which were half closed.

It was after tea at Rainbow Lodge and, except for Jack and Cousin Ruth,
the scene would have been a peaceful and beautiful one.

Jean was playing softly on a new piano which had lately been installed
at the Lodge, for among other things the new governess was giving the
ranch girls music lessons. Jean, who had studied before and had a good
deal of talent, was rarely away from the piano when she was in the
house. Frieda leaned against her cousin, watching her play, while Olive
had a book in her lap, pretending to read. Cousin Ruth sat by the
library table with a basket of mending beside her and a very
uncompromising expression on her face. She was pale to-night, although
she looked in better health and younger than she had when she first
arrived at Rainbow Ranch three weeks before.

"I am sorry to differ with you, Jack," Ruth returned firmly. "But it
would be very difficult to convince me that a round-up is any place for
a young girl. If it is a western custom for girls to attend them, then I
think the custom is shocking. In any case I am certainly not willing for
you to go."

Jack's eyes flashed defiantly. For three weeks there had been a kind of
armed neutrality between Jacqueline Ralston and her new cousin. Jack
considered that she had been very patient with Cousin Ruth's bossing.
Ruth believed that she had been very forbearing with Jack's pride. Jack
had given up her beloved custom of riding over the ranch every morning,
to spend three poky hours in the schoolroom with the other girls, but
she did not intend to be interfered with any further in her plans for
running their ranch.

"I am sorry, Cousin Ruth," Jack argued, still keeping her temper under
control. "In anything else I should be quite willing to give up to your
judgment, but you see I happen to know about our Wyoming round-ups and
you don't. They are not nearly so wild and bloodthirsty as you imagine.
I shall not go near the place where they are herding the cattle, though
lots of times women drive over to the round-ups and stay on the
outskirts of things just to see the cowboys and horses pass by. It's
simply great!" For a moment Jack's eyes sparkled, but then she tried to
appear more serious. "Besides, Cousin Ruth, it happens to be a matter of
business for me to attend the round-up this fall. This is the last one
until spring and, as I told you, it will be only a small