He gradually pushed himself back into a more comfortable
position, and had then an opportunity of seeing more plainly the
young girl who rode by his side.
She was quite as young as Toby, and small of her age; but there
was an old look about her face that made the boy think of her as
being an old woman cut down to fit children's clothes. Toby had
looked at her so earnestly that she observed him, and asked, "What
is your name?"
"Toby Tyler."
"What do you do in the circus?"
"Sell candy for Mr. Lord."
"Oh! I thought you was a new member of the company."
Toby knew by the tone of her voice that he had fallen considerably
in her estimation by not being one of the performers, and it was
some little time before he ventured to speak; and then he asked,
timidly, "What do you do?"
"I ride one of the horses with mother."
"Are you the little girl that comes out with the lady an' four
horses?" asked Toby, in awe that he should be conversing with so
famous a person.
"Yes, I am. Don't I do it nicely?"
"Why, you're a perfect little -- little -- fairy!" exclaimed Toby,
after hesitating a moment to find some word which would exactly
express his idea.
This praise seemed to please the young lady, and in a short time
the two became very good friends, even if Toby did not occupy a
more exalted position than that of candy seller. She had learned
from him all about the accident to the monkey cage, and about Mr.
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