Ella squeezed Toby's hand as they stood waiting for the curtain
to be raised that they might enter, and he had just time to return
it when the signal was given, and almost before he was aware of it
they were standing in the ring, kissing their hands to the crowds
that packed the enormous tent to its utmost capacity.
Thanks to the false announcement about the separation of the children
in Europe and their reunion in this particular town, the applause
was long and loud, and before it had died away Toby had time to
recover a little from the queer feeling which this sea of heads
gave him.
He had never seen such a crowd before, except as he had seen them
as he walked around at the foot of the seats, and then they had
simply looked like so many human beings; but as he saw them now from
the ring they appeared like strange rows of heads without bodies,
and he had hard work to keep from running back behind the curtain
whence he had come.
Mr. Castle acted as the ringmaster this time, and after he had
introduced them -- very much after the fashion of the posters --
and the clown had repeated some funny joke, the horses were led in
and they were assisted to mount.
"Don't mind the people at all," said Mr. Castle, in a low voice,
"but ride just as if you were alone here with me."
The music struck up, the horses cantered around the ring, and Toby
had really started as a circus rider.
Pages:
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149