th some hesitation, as he looked around at the two
or three empty seats that remained, "I didn't want to get in anybody
else's place, an' I didn't know where to sit."

"Come right here," said the lady, as she pointed to a seat by the side
of a little girl who did not look any older than Toby; "the lady who
usually occupies that seat will not be here to-night, and you can have
it."

"Thank you, ma'am," 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 had
then 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 about her face that made the boy think of her as being an old
woman cut down to fit children's clothes. Toby had looked at her so
earnestly that she observed him, and asked, "What is your name?"

"Toby Tyler."

"What do you do in the circus?"

"Sell candy for Mr. Lord."

"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; and then he asked, timidly,
"What do you do?"

"I ride one of the horses with mother."

"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.

"Yes, I am. Don't I do it nicely?"

"Why, you're a perfect little--little--fairy!" exclaimed Toby, after
hesitating a moment to find some word which would exactly express his
idea.

[Illustration: TOBY IN THE "WOMEN'S WAGON."]

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 about Mr. Stubbs, and in return had
told him that her name was Ella Mason, though on the bills she was
called "Mademoiselle Jeannette."

For a long time the two