“Drive?  Good gracious!  He scared us to death, except Castleton.  Nothing could scare that cold-blooded little Englishman.  I am dizzy yet.  Do you know, Majesty, I was delighted when I saw the car.  Then your cowboy driver met us at the platform.  What a queer-looking individual!  He had a big pistol strapped to those leather trousers.  That made me nervous.  When he piled us all in with our grips, he put me in the seat beside him, whether I liked it or not.  I was fool enough to tell him I loved to travel fast.  What do you think he said?  Well, he eyed me in a rather cool and speculative way and said, with a smile, ’Miss, I reckon anything you love an’ want bad will be coming to you out here!’ I didn’t know whether it was delightful candor or impudence.  Then he said to all of us:  ‘Shore you had better wrap up in the veils an’ dusters.  It’s a long, slow, hot, dusty ride to the ranch, an’ Miss Hammond’s order was to drive safe.’  He got our baggage checks and gave them to a man with a huge wagon and a four-horse team.  Then he cranked the car, jumped in, wrapped his arms round the wheel, and sank down low in his seat.  There was a crack, a jerk, a kind of flash around us, and that dirty little town was somewhere on the map behind.  For about five minutes I had a lovely time.  Then the wind began to tear me to pieces.  I couldn’t hear anything but the rush of wind and roar of the car.  I could see only straight ahead.  What a road!  I never saw a road in my life till to-day.  Miles and miles and miles ahead, with not even a post or tree.  That big car seemed to leap at the miles.  It hummed and sang.  I was fascinated, then terrified.  We went so fast I couldn’t catch my breath.  The wind went through me, and I expected to be disrobed by it any minute.  I was afraid I couldn’t hold any clothes on.  Presently all I could see was a flashing gray wall with a white line in the middle.  Then my eyes blurred.  My face burned.  My ears grew full of a hundred thousand howling devils.  I was about ready to die when the car stopped.  I looked and looked, and when I could see, there you stood!”

“Helen, I thought you were fond of speeding,” said Madeline, with a laugh.

“I was.  But I assure you I never before was in a fast car; I never saw a road; I never met a driver.”

“Perhaps I may have a few surprises for you out here in the wild and woolly West.”

Helen’s dark eyes showed a sister’s memory of possibilities.

“You’ve started well,” she said.  “I am simply stunned.  I expected to find you old and dowdy.  Majesty, you’re the handsomest thing I ever laid eyes on.  You’re so splendid and strong, and your skin is like white gold.  What’s happened to you?  What’s changed you?  This beautiful room, those glorious roses out there, the cool, dark sweetness of this wonderful house!  I know you, Majesty, and, though you never wrote it, I believe you have made a home out here.  That’s the most stunning surprise of all.  Come, confess.  I know I’ve always been selfish and not much of a sister; but if you are happy out here I am glad.  You were not happy at home.  Tell me about yourself and about Alfred.  Then I shall give you all the messages and news from the East.”