not very easy for them to find a place for all their
horses here in town," said Father, "and I shall make the condition that
they behave themselves there."

"Well, as you like," said Mother.

Outside in the hall stood the same man I had seen in the morning, and
another fellow of just the same sort, but smaller and rougher-looking.
Father went out and talked with them; the one in the green cap mixed in
a lot of German. "_Danke schoen--danke schoen_," they said as they went
away.

Hurrah!--the circus-riders were to keep their horses in our barn, right
here on our place--hurrah!--hurrah! what fun!

The horses were to come by land from the nearest town, nobody knew just
when. I took my geography up on the barn steps that afternoon to study
my lesson. I didn't want to miss seeing them come, you may be sure.

Little by little, a whole lot of children collected up there. Away out
on the Point they had heard that the circus-riders were to have our
barn. Some of the boys began to try to run things, and to push us girls
away, but they learned better soon enough.

"No, sir," I gave one a thump--"be off with you; get away, and be quick
about it, or you'll catch it."

Most of the boys in the town are afraid of me, I can tell you, because I
have strong hands and a quick tongue, and behind me, like an invisible
support, is always Father, and all the police, who are under him--so
it's not often any one makes a fuss. Besides, I should like to know
when you should have the say about things if not on your own barn steps.

More and more children gathered; they swarmed up the hill. I stood on
the barn steps with a long whip. If any one came too near--swish!

At last--here came the horses! First a big white horse that a groom was
leading by the bridle, then two small shaggy ponies, then a big red
horse that carried his head high, and then the whole troop following.
Some were loose and jumped in among us children; the grooms scolded and
shouted both in German and in Polish; a few small, rough-coated dogs
rushed around catching hold of the skirts of some of the girls, who ran
and screamed.

Suddenly a little swarthy groom got furious at all of us children who
were standing around and drove us down the hill. It made me angry to
have him chase me away too, especially because all the others saw it. At
first I thought of making a speech to him in German and telling him who
I was and that the barn was mine; but I didn't know at all what