He looked self-conscious. "Law, missy, I nebber tinks I am, but Titus
'lows I am, but he don't know much nohow."

Dolly whinnied again, which recalled Beth's thoughts to the horse.
"Who owns Dolly, January?"

"Law, missy, didn't I tole yo' dat she 'longs to yer paw now?"

Beth was so excited that she jumped to her feet, and began to clap her
hands.

Her antics made her parents and Marian smile as they came from the
hotel.

"Mamma, she's our horse. January said so. Dolly, do you like me?"

Dolly pricked up her ears as if she understood, and whinnied.

"She wants some sugar," declared Beth, believing that she understood
horse language. She took a stale piece of candy out of her pocket, and
gave it to Dolly. This attention sealed a never-ending friendship
between the two.

"Dolly's the surprise, isn't she?" asked Beth, running up to her
father. He smiled enigmatically, and that was all the answer she
received.

Meantime, January, hat in hand, was bowing with Chesterfieldian
politeness to Mrs. Davenport and Marian.