t if she disappointed them she wanted to change.

"All are so fine. It can't make a bit of difference to me."

"Choose! Choose! You dear old slow-poke, for I'm just dying to do so,
too. I can't wait--do choose!" cried impatient Molly, skipping about and
trying to cut short Dorothy's hesitation.

"All right, then. I choose the 'calico'. She's so like another Portia
that I used to ride 'back home.'"

"Zaraza, for Dolly. A Spanish title, too, dear, and means 'chintz'--a
'calico', if you please. Lead her out, Lem!"

The pretty creature was brought out, arching her graceful neck and
lifting her dainty hoofs as if she were dancing to music, as she was now
to the clapping of hands and lusty cheers of healthy young throats. Then
she was saddled, a decorative "D" attached to her saddle-cloth, Dorothy
put upon her back, to take her stand beside Alfaretta on Blanca, while
the others chose and were mounted.

"It has been a real ceremony and a delightful one! Here's to the health
and happiness of our young equestrians! Hip, hip, hurra!" cried the
master of the ranch, with a boyish heartiness that sent the hats of the
ranchmen from their heads and their voices echoing the gay "Hip, hip,
hurra!"

But, despite her happiness, Dorothy's face was thoughtful. There had
been eight horses in the corral, as there had been, at first, eight
young guests at San Leon. To Helena had been allotted a fine bay, big
and powerful as well as comely, by name Benito; to Herbert a black,
chosen by him for its resemblance to his own "Bucephalus," "back home"
where Portia was, and from a sentiment similar to Dolly's. Then Lady
Gray was asked to choose for the absent James Barlow, and did so as
calmly as if he had but stepped around the corner and had deputed her to
act for him.

But it was noticeable that of all the splendid thoroughbreds within the
paddock one was by far the finest. That was a dappled gray, perfect in
every, point, and looking as if he were king of that four-footed
company.

"For Jim, I choose Azul, the Gray! You all know I love gray in color and
I love the 'blue,' as his Spanish owners named him. Captain Lemuel,
please saddle Azul for Jim Barlow, and, Daniel, will you use him,
please, till Jim comes back?"

Dorothy flashed a grateful look upon her hostess, then glanced at
Alfaretta, sure of finding sympathy in that girl's honest eyes. But Alfy
nodded, well pleased, and Mr. Ford rode to the head of the little
cavalcade and took