When Toby reached the interior of the tent he was astonished at the
extent of the preparations that were being made, and gazed around
him in surprise. The platform on which the lean man and fat woman
were in the habit of exhibiting themselves now bore a long table,
loaded with eatables; and, from the fact that eight or ten chairs
were ranged around it, Toby understood that he was not the only
guest invited to the feast. Some little attempt had also been made
at decoration by festooning that end of the tent where the platform
was placed with two or three flags and some streamers, and the tent
poles also were fringed with tissue paper of the brightest colors.
Toby had only time enough to notice this when the skeleton advanced
toward him, and, with the liveliest appearance of pleasure, said,
as he took him by the hands with a grip that made him wince:
"It gives me great joy, Mr. Tyler, to welcome you at one of our
little home reunions, if one can call a tent, that is moved every
day in the week, home."
Toby hardly knew whom Mr. Treat referred to when he said "Mr.
Tyler"; but by the time his hands were released from the bony grasp
he understood that it was himself who was spoken to.
The skeleton then formally introduced him to the other guests
present, who were sitting at one end of the tent, and evidently
anxiously awaiting the coming feast.
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