Then they could all live together at the dear home place.

So the stay at Cousin Harriet's would not probably be perpetual.
Cousin Harriet was a widow.

She looked after her ranch with great diligence.

She had several hired men and women, and the ranch was a very busy place.

Cousin Harriet was not much used to children, having none of her own, but she tried to do her duty by the three left in her charge.