e pair
of 'em. You can go and sit on one of them chairs over there, children,
and see us as we go through our rehearsal."

The rest of the morning was a truly exciting, not to say breathless,
time to Diana. She had not an instant to regret her absence from Iris
and Apollo. The exploits, the feats performed by the three circus
girls, and by Tom the clown, to say nothing of the advent of the
elephant and of the donkey who could perform numberless tricks, and
finally, the performances of the troop of dogs, who seemed more human
than most human beings, all fascinated the little girl. Even Orion
forgot his terrors as he looked on; his cheeks flamed through their
walnut dye, and his dark eyes grew brighter than ever.

When the rehearsal was at last over, the whole party rushed back to
their rooms, where a hasty meal was served; and little Diana sat
between two of the circus girls and was petted, and laughed at, and
made much of, and Orion kept close to Aunt Sarah, who took care that
he should have as many tit-bits as she could manage to secure for him.

At three o'clock there was a public performance, but now neither Diana
nor Orion was allowed to be present. They found themselves shut up
once more in the ugly little room, where Mother Rodesia had first
taken them. From this place they could hear as a sort of distant echo
the shouts of the men and women who were performing, and the cheers of
the people who were looking on.

At six o'clock the performance came to an end, and then, indeed, began
a fearful bustle and excitement. People were running here, there, and
everywhere, and, two hours later, the great vans were all packed, the
animals properly secured, and the party, with the exception of Aunt
Sarah, Diana, and Orion, had started _en route_ for the west of
England.

"Why isn't we going with the others?" asked Diana.

"'Cos the train is faster, little miss," answered Aunt Sarah. "And now
the cab is at the door, and, if you will jump in at once we will be at
the station in no time."

"I calls it lovely," said Diana, turning to secure Orion's approval.
"I like it miles better nor lessons with Miss Wamsay nor being beated
by Aunt Jane. Only, course," she added, in a meditative voice, "I's
twuly, twuly sossy for Uncle William and Iris and Apollo."

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE HEART OF THE LITTLE MOTHER.

It may seem almost impossible to believe that two little children
could be kidnaped in the England of to-day. N