Joan and the kittens frolicking among
their feet, and racing here, there, and everywhere, all over the place.

He quite agreed with Miss Turner that from no mistaken feelings of mercy
or pity should Joe Harris be shielded from the reach of the law, so he
gave all the information that he could supply concerning the rascal's
favourite resorts and usual associates. He and the little ones pleaded
hard on Moll's behalf; but Dr. King declared that in her case the
receiver was as bad as the thief, and she would just have to take her
chance along with her husband.

Soon the Barchester police were on their track. They came across Tonio
wandering disconsolately about the streets, with only Puck for company.
He, however, knew nothing of the movements of his late master, except
that the caravan had been returned to its lawful owner, and that the
Satellite Circus Company, as a company, had ceased to exist.

But neither Joe, Moll, nor Bruno was anywhere to be found. They had a
long start of their pursuers; consequently they had disappeared as
completely as last year's snow, leaving not a trace behind.

CHAPTER XVI.

COMING AND GOING.

"For me, my heart that erst did go
Most like a tired child at a show,
That sees through tears the mummers leap,
Would now its wearied vision close,
Would childlike on His love repose
Who giveth His beloved--sleep."

E. B. BROWNING.

The winter, which proved a mild and open one, passed very pleasantly at
Firgrove. By Dr. King's orders Darby and Joan were granted a long
holiday, for Darby was still fragile and delicate looking. He had never
quite got over the effects of the excitement and fatigue of his travels
in search of the Happy Land. They now lived almost out of doors, with
the dwarf as their faithful attendant and constant companion. The little
ones never wearied of his company, he could entertain them in so many
different ways. He showed Darby how to make whistles of the hollow
bore-tree stem, and a huge kite, with a lion painted on its surface, the
Union Jack flying at its head, and an old map of Africa cut into strips
to form the tail. Darby considered this a masterpiece, and laid it
carefully by until he could display it to his father in its full
significance. He caught a squirrel in the wood for Joan, and tamed the
little animal so that it would nibble a nut from her hand, or hold it in
its own paws, looking at her the while w