But, despite all his troubles, Toby learned to ride faster than his
teacher had expected he would, and in three weeks he found little
or no difficulty in standing erect while his horse went around
the ring at his fastest gait. After that had been accomplished his
progress was more rapid, and he gave promise of be- coming a very
good rider -- a fact which pleased both Mr. Castle and Mr. Lord
very much, as they fancied that in another year Toby would be the
source of a very good income to them.
The proprietor of the circus took considerable interest in Toby's
instruction, and promised Mr. Castle that Mademoiselle Jeannette
and Toby should do an act together in the performance just as soon
as the latter was sufficiently advanced. The boy's costume had
been changed after he could ride without falling off, and now while
he was in the ring he wore the same as that used by the regular
performers.
The little girl had, after it was announced that she and Toby were
to perform together, been an attentive observer during the hour
that Toby was under Mr. Castle's direction, and she gave him many
suggestions that were far more valuable, and quicker to be acted
upon, than those given by the teacher himself.
"Tomorrow you two will go through the exercise together," said Mr.
Castle to Toby and Ella, at the close of one of Toby's lessons,
after he had become so skillful that he could stand with ease on
the pad, and even advanced so far that he could jump through a hoop
without falling more than twice out of three times.
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