“It means, little daughter,” said her father, as he joined her, “that Mr. Ryder and I have decided that you are to be Billy’s future mistress, since you have evidently won his confidence and love. You need a saddle-horse, and he is perfectly trained. Add this pet to your many others, for I dare say your heart is large enough to hold even Billy.” A note addressed to Miss Marion Taylor was handed to her by the groom, and contained the following message: “For Billy’s champion, with whom I hope he may dwell long and serve faithfully, and henceforth be known, not as Billy Ryder, but as ‘Billee Taylor.’” From that moment “Billee’s” life was revolutionized, and he was as happy as his days were long. Marion tended him herself until the poor nose was quite healed. Billee’s gratitude was boundless, and he showed it in every possible way. Could he have done so he would have followed his beloved young mistress straight into the house, and very often, indeed, he did follow her on to the piazza. Her pony was rather small for the saddle, so Billee was always used for riding; and many a delightful canter they had; the beautiful animal fully realizing how precious was the burden he carried, and swinging along as smoothly as a rocking-chair. Long after the sore nose was entirely well Billee remembered the cruel blow, and when Marion said, “Poor Billee, where did he get hurt?” the comical fellow would lift up his head and raise his upper lip to show the scar, which he still carried upon it and his nostril. In a wonderfully short time his nervousness, and what had seemed to be a sort of resentment toward mankind in general, entirely vanished, and he became the sweetest-tempered animal one could wish for, and as full of pranks and mischief as a kitten. Marion could always control him with a word, and even in the midst of one of his wildest pranks, her voice was sufficient to bring him back to his senses. He and Toddles, the pony, became fast friends, and it was a common thing for the neighbors to see Marion seated upon the lawn with Billee, Toddles, Jingles, and the two kittens, Blink and Wink, lying or standing beside her. No matter where she went, whether it was for a stroll by the river, a walk to the post office, or a drive behind little Toddles, if Billee caught sight of her he was determined to follow her, and, if prevented by his groom from so doing, would neigh to her as long as she was in sight.