w just where to find it. The skirt was one of those
now old-fashioned affairs that almost swept the ground even on a
grown-up person.

However, Beth was not to be daunted. She heroically jumped into the
skirt, but found that the belt was almost twice too large for her.
This necessitated the use of a safety pin. She took a step towards the
bureau, and fell sprawling over the floor, tangled in yards of trailing
skirt. She tried to rise, and tripped again. For a moment, she rested
on the floor, thinking to herself that it must be a much harder matter
to manage a habit than a horse. Then, gathering up the unruly skirt in
both hands, she managed to reach the bureau where she pinned the skirt
tightly around her. But even now her troubles were not over.

The waist proved almost as big a problem as the skirt. She buttoned it
on over her own dress, but even then it was about twice too large for
her.

She looked at herself in a glass, and burst forth into hearty peals of
laughter.

"I declah"--already she pronounced "declare" almost like the
darkies--"I feel like a cat dressed up in clothes. It can't move
without tumbling all over itself, and neither can I."

She held up her arms and flapped them. They were almost lost in the
voluminous sleeves. Her hands were not to be seen at all.

"I never can manage a horse without hands," she murmured.

She overcame this difficulty by pinning up the bothersome sleeves.

Next, she jammed her mother's riding hat down on her curls. It, too,
was much too large for her, and had some blond frizzes sewn across the
front of it. The hat with its false front added the finishing touch of
rakishness to Beth. She, however, was as proud as a peacock over her
attire.

As fast as her awkward skirt would allow, she hurried in search of
January.

He was very much amused over her appearance.

"Missy, I declah, yo' looks like a rag bag dat needs some rags to fill
it out. Whaffor don't yo' get chuck full of somethin'?"

She would not heed such remarks, but said with great dignity:

"I wish the saddle put on Dollie."

"I'm skeered yo'r maw won't like me to."

"But she told me I might ride."

Still January hesitated.

"I dunno as I kin kotch Dollie."

"You can try. Hurry, January."

For once Dollie was easily caught and saddled. January helped Beth to
mount. Nobody but him saw the start. He was so much interested that
he walked down as far as the gate and opened it.

D