Indeed, what she heard within the next few moments entirely changed the outlook of the girl from Sunset Ranch. It matured that doubt of humanity that had been born the night before in her breast.
And it changed—for the time being at least—Helen’s nature. From a frank, open-hearted, loving girl she became suspicious, morose and secretive. The first words she heard held her spell-bound—an unintentional eavesdropper. And what she heard made her determined to appear to her unkind relatives quite as they expected her to appear.
CHAPTER XI
LIVING UP TO ONE’S REPUTATION
“Well! my lady certainly takes her time about getting up,” Belle Starkweather was saying.
“She was tired after her journey, I presume,” her father said.
“Across the continent in a day-coach, I suppose,” laughed Hortense, yawning.
“I was astonished at that bill for taxi hire Olstrom put on your desk, Pa,” said Belle. “She must have ridden all over town before she came here.”