CHAPTER XXVI

THEIR EYES ARE OPENED

As her cousins were not at all interested in what became of Helen during the day, neither was Helen interested in how the three Starkweather girls occupied their time. But on this particular afternoon, while Helen was visiting Lurcher, and chatting with Sadie Goronsky on the sidewalk in front of the Finkelstein shop, she would have been deeply interested in what interested the Starkweather girls.

All three chanced to be in the drawing-room when Gregson came past the door in his stiffest manner, holding the tray with a single card on it.

"Who is it, Gregson?" asked Belle. "I heard the bell ring. Somebody to see me?"

"No, mem, it his not," declared the footman.

"Me?" said Hortense, holding out her hand. "Who is it, I wonder?"

"Nor is. .h.i.t for you, mem," repeated Gregson.

"It can't be for _me_?" cried Flossie.

But before the footman could speak again, Belle rose majestically and crossed the room.

"I believe I know what it is," she said, angrily. "And it is going to stop. You were going to take the card upstairs, Gregson?"

"No, mem!" said Gregson, somewhat heated. "Hi do not carry cards above the second floor."

"It's somebody to see Helen!" cried Flossie, clapping her hands softly and enjoying her older sister's rage.

"Give it to me!" exclaimed Belle, s.n.a.t.c.hing the card from the tray. She turned toward her sisters to read it. But when her eye lit upon the name she was for the moment surprised out of speech.

"Goodness me! who is it?" gasped Hortense.

"Jessie Stone--'Miss Jessie Dolliver Stone.' Goodness me!" whispered Belle.

"Not the Stones of Riverside Drive--_the_ Stones?" from Hortense.

"Dud Stone's sister?" exclaimed Flossie.

"And Dud Stone is the very nicest boy I ever met," quoth Hortense, clasping her hands.

"I know Miss Jessie. Jess, they all call her. I saw her on the Westchester Links only last week and she never said a word about this."

"About coming to see Helen--it isn't possible!" cried Hortense. "Gregson, you have made a mistake."

"Hi beg your pardon--no, mem. She asked for Miss Helen. I left 'er in the reception parlor, mem----"

"She thinks one of us is named Helen!" cried Belle, suddenly. "Show her up, Gregson."

Gregson might have told her different; but he saw it would only involve him in more explanation; therefore he turned on his heel and in his usual stately manner went to lead Dud Stone's sister into the presence of the three excited girls.

Jessie by no means understood the situation at the Starkweather house between Helen and her cousins. It had never entered Miss Stone's head, in fact, that anybody could be unkind to, or dislike, "such a nice little thing as Helen Morrell."

So she greeted the Starkweather girls in her very frankest manner.

"I really am delighted to see you again, Miss Starkweather," Jess said, being met by Belle at the door. "And are these your sisters? I'm charmed, I am sure."

Hortense and Flossie were introduced. The girls sat down.

"You don't mean to say Helen isn't here?" demanded Jess. "I came particularly to invite her to dinner to-morrow night. We're going to have a little celebration and Dud and I are determined to have her with us."

"Helen?" gasped Belle.

"Not Helen Morrell?" demanded Hortense.

"Why, yes--of course--your Cousin Helen. How funny! Of course she's here?

She lives with you; doesn't she?"

"Why--er--we have a--a distant relative of poor mamma's by that name,"

said Belle, haughtily. "She--she came here quite unexpectedly--er quite uninvited, I may say. Pa is _so-o_ easy, you know; he won't send her away----"

"Send her away! Send Helen Morrell away?" gasped Jess Stone. "Are--are we talking about the same girl, I wonder? Why, Helen is a most charming girl--and pretty as a picture. And brave no end!

"Why, it was she who saved my brother's life when he was away out West----"

"Mr. Stone never went to Montana?" cried Flossie. "He never met Helen at Sunset Ranch?"

"Be still, Floss!" commanded Belle; but Miss Stone turned to answer the younger girl.

"Of course. Dud stopped at the ranch some days, too. He had to, for he hurt his foot. That's when Helen saved his life. He was flung from the back of a horse over the edge of a cliff and fortunately landed in the top of a tree.

"But the tree was very tall and he could not have gotten out of it safely with his wounded foot had not Helen ridden up to the brink of the precipice, thrown him a rope, and swung him out of the tree upon a ledge of rock. Then he worked his way down the side of the cliff while Helen caught his horse. But his foot hurt him so that he could never have got into the saddle alone; and Helen put him on her own pony and led the pony to the ranch house."

"Bully for Helen!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Flossie, under her breath. Even Hortense was flushed a bit over the story. But Belle could see nothing to admire in her cousin from the West, and she only said, harshly:

"Very likely, Miss Stone. Helen seems to be a veritable hoyden. These ranch girls are so unfortunate in their bringing up and their environment.

In the wilds I presume Helen may be pa.s.sable; but she is quite, quite impossible here in the city----"

"I don't know what you mean by being 'impossible,'" interrupted Jess Stone. "She is a lovely girl."

"You haven't met her?" cried Belle. "It's only Mr. Stone's talk."

"I certainly _have_ met her, Miss Starkweather. Certainly I know her--and know her well. Had I known when she was coming to New York I would have begged her to come to us. It is plain that her own relatives do not care much for Helen Morrell," said the very frank young lady.

"Well--we--er----"

"Why, Helen has been meeting me in the bridle-path almost every morning.

And she rides wonderfully."