Stubbs, apparently afraid of the sour looking man, retreated to
Toby's shoulder, where he sat chattering and scolding about the
introduction.
Again the skeleton waved his hand, and this time he introduced
"Mademoiselle Spelletti, the wonderful snake charmer, whose exploits
in this country, and before the crowned heads of Europe had caused
the whole world to stand aghast at her daring."
Mademoiselle Spelletti was a very ordinary looking young lady of
about twenty-five years of age, who looked very much as if her name
might originally have been Murphy, and she, too, extended a hand
for Toby to grasp -- only her hand was clean, and she appeared to
be a very much more pleasant acquaintance than the gentleman who
swallowed swords.
This ended the introductions; and Toby was just looking around for
a seat, when Mrs. Treat, the fat lady and the giver of the feast
which was about to come, and which already smelled so invitingly,
entered from behind a curtain of canvas, where the cooking stove
was supposed to be located.
She had every appearance of being the cook for the occasion. Her
sleeves were rolled up, her hair tumbled and frowzy, and there were
several unmistakable marks of grease on the front of her calico
dress.
She waited for no ceremony, but rushed up to Toby and, taking him
in her arms, gave him such a squeeze that there seemed to be every
possibility that she would break all the bones in his body; and she
kept him so long in this bearlike embrace that Mr.
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