e base-ball park to the bare field under the
seared face of Torrey's Hill, where circuses were wont to settle. A
sirocco-like breeze from the southwest whirled into eddies the clouds
of germ-laden dust stirred up by the automobiles, blowing their skirts
against their legs, and sometimes they were forced to turn, clinging to
their hats, confused and giggling, conscious of male glances. The crowd,
increasing as they proceeded, was in holiday mood; young men with a
newly-washed aspect, in Faber Street suits, chaffed boisterously groups
of girls, who retorted with shrill cries and shrieks of laughter;
amorous couples strolled, arm in arm, oblivious, as though the place
were as empty as Eden; lady-killers with exaggerated square shoulders,
wearing bright neckties, their predatory instincts alert, hovered about
in eager search of adventure. There were men-killers, too, usually to be
found in pairs, in startling costumes they had been persuaded were the
latest Paris models,--imitations of French cocottes in Hampton, proof of
the smallness of our modern world. Eda regarded them superciliously.

"They'd like you to think they'd never been near a loom or a bobbin!"
she exclaimed.

In addition to these more conspicuous elements, the crowd contained
sober operatives of the skilled sort possessed of sufficient means
to bring hither their families, including the baby; there were
section-hands and foremen, slashers, mule spinners, beamers,
French-Canadians, Irish, Scotch, Welsh and English, Germans, with only
an occasional Italian, Lithuanian, or Jew. Peanut and popcorn men,
venders of tamales and Chile-con-carne hoarsely shouted their wares,
while from afar could be heard the muffled booming of a band. Janet's
heart beat faster. She regarded with a tinge of awe the vast expanse of
tent that rose before her eyes, the wind sending ripples along the heavy
canvas from circumference to tent pole. She bought the tickets; they
entered the circular enclosure where the animals were kept; where the
strong beams of the sun, in trying to force their way through the canvas
roof, created an unnatural, jaundiced twilight, the weirdness of which
was somehow enhanced by the hoarse, amazingly penetrating growls of
beasts. Suddenly a lion near them raised a shaggy head, emitting a
series of undulating, soul-shaking roars.

"Ah, what's eatin' you?" demanded a thick-necked youth, pretending not
to be awestricken by this demonstration.

"Suppose he'd