“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?”