“And how about you, Miss Steenie? Are you anxious to resume your ‘teaching’?”
“Oh, yes, sir! I am a’most hungry to see Diablo! I told Papa ’bout him; an’ he said, ‘Then you’re happy, dearie!’ and I am. Horses are so dear and lovely. They are so—so—what is it when you love anything and it loves you back?” asked Steenie, who had slipped her hand into one of Judge Courtenay’s, while his own little daughter held fast to the other.
“Responsive may be the word. But what is Sir Tito being brought along for? Is he to be introduced to Diablo?”
“Ye-es. But that wasn’t the first, the truly why. I—I have—there’s something I want to ask you, by-and-by. That is, do you own that big race-track over yonder, as Sutro says?”
“Yes. I had it prepared for speeding my own horses; but some of the neighbors use it also. I am anxious to increase the interest, hereabouts, in well-bred stock, and so we have trials on it occasionally. By the way, there is to be a public affair soon. The very best horses in the county are entered for the contest,—prizes, and so forth. I am quite anxious and doubtful over the result; for, till now, my black filly Trix has carried everything before her. But Doctor Gerould, of South Knollsboro, has just bought the famous Mordaunt, and I fear my lady Trix will be hard pushed this time.”
“Isn’t it funny, Steenie? My mama says that Papa would rather win that race than the biggest ‘case’ that ever was! She says live horses are his hobby-horses, ’at he rides to death! ’Cause she says ’at a’most every rich man finds out some way to use money foolishly, an’ Papa’s way is the goodest way there is, maybe.”
“Come, come, Miss Beatrice! Retailing family affairs for a stranger’s benefit?” asked the father, pinching his little girl’s cheek, roguishly.
“Steenie an’ Sutro aren’t strangers, are they? They’re just—us, I thought.”
“‘Just us’—quite right. But here we are! Now, my fine fellow, look out for yourself!”
“I’ll go in first with this halter, please. Then you can come when I call you,” said the small mistress of ceremonies, and vaulted over the paling, lightly and joyously.