"You are speaking of _my_ friend, Helen Morrell," she interrupted Belle's flow of angry language, sternly. "Whether she is your cousin, or not, she is _my_ friend, and I will not listen to you talk about her in that way. Besides, you must be crazy if you believe your own words! Helen Morrell poor! Helen Morrell uneducated! "Why, Helen was four years in one of the best preparatory schools of the West--in Denver. Let me tell you that Denver is some city, too. And as for being poor and having nothing to wear--Why, whatever can you mean? She owns one of the few big ranches left in the West, with thousands upon thousands of cattle and horses upon it. And her father left her all that, and perhaps a quarter of a million in cash or investments beside." "Not Helen?" shrieked Belle, sitting down very suddenly. "Little Helen--_rich_?" murmured Hortense. "Does Helen really _own_ Sunset Ranch?" cried Flossie, eagerly. "She certainly does--every acre of it. Why, Dud knows all about her and all about her affairs. If you consider that girl poor and uneducated you have fooled yourselves nicely." "I'm glad of it! I'm glad of it!" exclaimed Flossie, clapping her hands and pirouetting about the room. "Serves you right, Belle! _I_ found out she knew a whole lot more than I did, long ago. She's been helping me with my lessons." "And she _is_ 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."