"Can you ride yet?" he asked, mockingly, as Toby stepped behind
the counter to attend to his regular line of business.
Toby made no reply, for he knew that the question was only asked
sarcastically and not through any desire for information. In a few
moments Mr. Lord left him to attend to the booth alone and went into
the tent, where Toby rightly conjectured he had gone to question
Mr. Castle upon the result of the lesson just given.
That night Old Ben asked him how he had got on while under the
teaching of Mr. Castle; and Toby, knowing that the question was
asked because of the real interest which Ben had in his welfare,
replied:
"If I was tryin' to learn how to swing round the ring, strapped to
a rope, I should say that I got along first rate; but I don't know
much about the horse, for I was only on his back a little while at
a time."
"You'll get over that soon," said Old Ben, patronizingly, as he
patted him on the back. "You remember my words, now: I say that
you've got it in you, an' if you've a mind to take hold an' try
to learn you'll come out on the top of the heap yet, an' be one of
the smartest riders they've got in this show."
"I don't want to be a rider," said Toby, sadly; "I only want to
get back home once more, an' then you'll see how much it 'll take
to get me away again."
"Well," said Ben, quietly, "be that as it may, while you're here
the best thing you can do is to take hold an' get ahead just as
fast as you can; it 'll make it a mighty sight easier for you while
you're with the show, an' it won't spoil any of your chances for
runnin' away whenever the time comes.
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