Treat
have seen him just then, she would have been very proud of her
handiwork and hugged him harder than ever.
He had been waiting but a few moments when Ella came from her dressing
room, and Toby was much pleased when he saw by the expression of
her face that she was perfectly satisfied with his appearance.
"We'll both do just as well as we can," she whispered to him, "and
I know the people will like us and make us come back after we get
through. And if they do mamma says she'll give each one of us a
gold dollar."
She had taken hold of Toby's hand as she spoke, and her manner was
so earnest and anxious that Toby was more excited than he ever had
been about his debut; and, had he gone into the ring just at that
moment, the chances are that he would have surprised even his
teacher by his riding.
"I'll do just as well as I can," said Toby, in reply to his little
companion, "an' if we earn the dollars I'll have a hole bored in
mine, an' you shall wear it around your neck to remember me by."
"I'll remember you without that," she whispered; "and I'll give you
mine, so that you shall have so much the more when you go to your
home."
There was no time for further conversation, for Mr. Castle entered
just then to tell them that they must go in in another moment. The
horses were all ready -- a black one for Toby, and a white one for
Ella -- and they stood champing their bits and pawing the earth
in their impatience until the silver bells with which they were
decorated rang out quick, nervous little chimes that accorded very
well with Toby's feelings.
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