On the mantel stood a framed photograph of her mother, who had been governess to the original group of Ranch Girls years ago.
Jeanette stared at the picture an instant and then turned hastily away.
At the end of the hour she went downstairs, passing her stepmother in the hall, but they said no word to each other.
An impulse seized Jeanette. She would confess and ask pardon and advice. If she had offended against any one else in the world at this moment she would have done both. But in these last two months her original resentment against her father's marriage had grown into a prejudice she was unable to resist.
A short time after Jeanette saddled her own pony, not the one of yesterday, and started on a ride.
Via's suggestion that she accompany her had hastily been refused.
To-day Jeanette found less pleasure than usual in her solitary ride.
A little more than a mile from the house she dismounted and sat down by a tree near the road.
Five minutes later Cecil Perry came riding along the same road, approaching the Rainbow Ranch.
From a short distance off Jeanette watched him with a sensation of surprised admiration.