Rhoda burst into the room and ran to hug her three friends. She was
already dressed.

"There goes Dan's bunch already," she said. "And see 'em turn and
look back. They're just showing off; they know we sleep on this
side of the house. Daddy will give them a wigging, for maybe Mrs.
Janeway wants to sleep."

Breakfast was an early repast at Rose Ranch. Mrs. Hammond and Mrs.
Janeway were served in their rooms; but the rest of the family were
soon at the table. It was a bountiful repast, with Ah Foon, the
Chinese cook, coming to the door every few minutes to see for
himself if the flapjack plates did not need replenishing.

"We are going to get our ponies first of all," Rhoda announced. "Oh!
I am so hungry for a ride--a good ride--again."

"But, goodness! don't we have to be fitted to them?" demanded Bess,
the incorrigible. "I would not like to walk right up to a pony and
say 'You're mine!'--just like that!"

"Hess will pick them out for us, won't he. Daddy?"

"I reckon so," said her father, without looking up from his mail
that one of the Mexicans had brought in the minute before.

"Goodness!" exclaimed Grace. "We'll never be able to get the ponies
to-day, then, that is sure. He won't be able to answer you so
quickly."