thoughtfully. "It's better for you, I know; for a circus hain't no place
for a boy, even if he wants to stay, an' I can't say but I'm glad you're
still determined to go."

Toby felt relieved at the tone of this leave-taking. He had feared that
Old Ben, who thought a circus-rider was almost on the topmost round of
Fortune's ladder, would have urged him to stay, since he had made his
_debut_ in the ring, and he was almost afraid that he might take some
steps to prevent his going.

"I wanted to say good-bye now," said Toby, in a choking voice, "'cause
perhaps I sha'n't see you again."

"Good-bye, my boy," said Ben as he took the boy's hand in his. "Don't
forget this experience you've had in runnin' away; an' if ever the time
comes that you feel as if you wanted to know that you had a friend,
think of Old Ben, an' remember that his heart beats just as warm for you
as if he was your father. Good-bye, my boy, good-bye, an' may the good
God bless you!"

"Good-bye, Ben," said Toby; and then, as the old driver turned and
walked away, wiping something from his eye with the cuff of his sleeve,
Toby gave full vent to his tears, and wondered why it was that he was
such a miserable little wretch.

There was one more good-bye to be said, and that Toby dreaded more than
all the others. It was to Ella. He knew that she would feel badly to
have him go, because she liked to ride the act with him that gave them
such applause, and he felt certain that she would urge him to stay.

Just then the thought of another of his friends--one who had not yet
been warned of what very important matter was to occur--came into his
mind, and he hastened toward the old monkey's cage. His pet was busily
engaged in playing with some of the younger members of his family, and
for some moments could not be induced to come to the bars of the cage.

At last, however, Toby did succeed in coaxing him forward, and then,
taking him by the paw, and drawing him as near as possible, Toby
whispered, "We're goin' to run away to night, Mr. Stubbs, an' I want
you to be all ready to go the minute I come for you."

The old monkey winked both eyes violently, and then showed his teeth to
such an extent that Toby thought he was laughing at the prospect, and he
said, a little severely, "If you had as many friends as I have got in
this circus you wouldn't laugh when you was goin' to leave them. Of
course I've got to go, an' I want to go; but it makes me feel bad to
leave