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.

Dollie did not seem to wish to go for Beth, but the latter settled the question with a switch cut by January.  She headed Dollie in the direction of the Fair grounds.

There was more driving than usual on the shell road, because of the Fair and the races.  Many a person turned, stared, and smiled to see that quaint little figure on Dollie going along so primly.

A young lady, a cousin of Beth’s, was spending the winter in Jacksonville that year, and was very popular in society.  On this particular afternoon she, too, was driving on the shell road and chanced upon Beth.  She and her escort laughed so heartily over the child’s ludicrous appearance that Beth, at first, was inclined to be offended.  However, she drew Dollie up alongside of the carriage.

“Are you laughing because we’re going slow?  I’m not a bit afraid.  Say, Cousin Lulu, would you like to have a race with me?”

Lulu and her escort laughed harder than ever.  Beth tried to look more dignified.

“I bet I could beat you, Cousin Lulu.  Are you afraid I would?  Come on and try.”