cared to
visit the newest ones, and so she and Rosy Posy spent most of the time
wandering about the grounds or sitting on the benches beneath the Elms.
Marjorie and Kitty rambled about as they liked, sometimes going through
the buildings with their father and King, and sometimes staying with Mrs.
Maynard and the baby.

At luncheon time, Mr. Maynard asked the children what they would like
best to do for an afternoon's amusement.

"Aren't we going on to Boston this afternoon?" asked Marjorie, in
surprise.

"No," said her father, "it's a long trip, and so we'll start to-morrow
morning. Now you children may choose what you'd like to do this
afternoon, for your mother and I are going to call on some friends, and
we don't want to take you with us."

"Well," said Marjorie, "I can't think of anything we could do in New
Haven, unless you or Mother were with us; so I suppose we'll just stay
here at the hotel, and,--"

"And cut up jinks," put in King.

Mr. Maynard smiled. "That's exactly what you would do if I left you here
by yourselves! So what do you think of this plan? As we shall be gone all
the afternoon, I think I will let Pompton take you four infants to the
circus."

"Oh, goody, goody!" cried Marjorie. "That will be perfectly gorgeous!
King, won't it be fine to go to the circus?"

"Yes, indeed! And it's a big circus,--I saw the posters yesterday on our
way here."

"There are lovely wild animals!" said Kitty, ecstatically. "I saw
pictures of lions and tigers,--terrific ones!"

"Me loves tigers," commented Rosy Posy. "They eat peoples all up!"

"These don't," said Kitty. "They're trained ones, and they do tricks.
Why, the man who trains them puts his hand right in their mouths!"

"Ugh!" said Marjorie, with a shudder. "I don't like that part of it. I
wish they didn't have the wild beasts. I like the people who swing on a
long swing,--"

"Trapeze," said her father.

"Yes, a trapeze; and they swing and catch each other by the feet. Oh, I
love to see _them_!"

"So do I," said Kitty. "I love it all,--but I love the tigers best."

"You must promise to behave yourselves," said Mrs. Maynard. "Marjorie, I
shall put the baby in your especial care, though of course Pompton will
look out for you all. And you must all obey him, and do exactly as he
tells you."

"There isn't much obeying to do," said King. "We just sit on seats and
watch the show, don't we?"

"Oh, we walk around and see the side-shows," said Marj