Gregson stood at the bottom of the last flight. His face was as wooden as ever, but he managed to open his lips far enough to observe: "Luncheon is served in the breakfast room, Miss." A sweep of his arm pointed the way. Then she saw old Lawdor pottering in and out of a room into which she had not yet looked. It proved to be a sunny, small dining-room. When alone the family usually ate here, Helen discovered. The real dining-room was big enough for a dancing floor, with an enormous table, preposterously heavy furniture all around the four sides of the room, and an air of gloom that would have removed, before the food appeared, even, all trace of a healthy appetite. When Helen entered the brighter apartment her three cousins were already before her. The noise she made coming along the hall, despite the heavy carpets, had quite prepared them for her appearance. Belle and Hortense met her with covert smiles. And they watched their younger sister to see what impression the girl from Sunset Ranch made upon Flossie. "And this is Flossie; is it?" cried Helen, going boisterously into the room and heading full tilt around the table for the amazed Flossie. "Why, you look like a smart young'un! And you're only fourteen? Well, I never!" She seized Flossie by both hands, in spite of that young lady's desire to keep them free. "Goodness me! Keep your paws off--do!" ejaculated Flossie, in great disgust. "And let me tell you, if I _am_ only fourteen I'm 'most as big as you are and I know a whole lot more." "Why, Floss!" exclaimed Hortense, but unable to hide her amusement. The girl from Sunset Ranch took it all with apparent good nature, however. "I reckon you _do_ know a lot. You've had advantages, you see. Girls out my way don't have much chance, and that's a fact. But if I stay here, don't you reckon I'll learn?" The Starkweather girls exchanged glances of amusement. "I do not think," said Belle, calmly, "that you would better think of remaining with us for long. It would be rather bad for you, I am sure, and inconvenient for us." "How's that?" demanded Helen, looking at her blankly. "Inconvenient--and with all this big house?" "Ahem!" began Belle, copying her father. "The house is not always as free of visitors as it is now. And of course, a girl who has no means and must earn her living, should not live in luxury." "Why not?" asked Helen, quickly. "Why--er--well, it would not be nice to have a working girl go in and out of our house." "And you think I shall have to go to work?" "Why, of course, you may remain here--father says--until you can place yourself. But he does not believe in fostering idleness. He often says so," said Belle, heaping it all on "poor Pa." Helen had taken her seat at the table and Gregson was serving. It mattered nothing to these ill-bred Starkweather girls that the serving people heard how they treated this "poor relation."