"Thank you, marm," said Toby, as he sat timidly down on the edge of the seat, hardly daring to sit back comfortably, and feeling very awkward meanwhile, but congratulating himself on being thus protected from the pouring rain.
The wagon started, and as each one talked with her neighbor, Toby felt a most dismal sense of loneliness, and almost wished that he was riding on the monkey cart with Ben, where he could have some one to talk with. He gradually pushed himself back into a more comfortable position, and then had 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 on her face, that made the boy think of her as quite an old woman cut down to fit children's clothes. Toby had looked at her so long and earnestly, that she observed him, and asked, "What is your name?"
"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; then he asked, timidly, "What do you do?"
"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.
"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 Mr. Stubbs, and in return had told him that her name was Ella Mason, though on the bills she was called Mademoiselle Jeannette.
[Illustration: TOBY IN THE "WOMEN'S WAGON."]
For several hours the two children sat talking together, and then Mademoiselle Jeannette curled herself up on the seat, with her head in her mother's lap, and went to sleep.
Toby had resolved to keep awake and watch her, for he was quite struck with admiration at her face, but sleep got the better of him in less than five minutes after he had made such a resolution, and he sat bolt-upright, with his little round head nodding and bobbing, until it seemed almost certain that he would shake it off.