Part 51 (1/2)

”Come on, Dump,” said Humpty at last; ”it's no good staying, she doesn't seem to want us.” Dumpty joined him, and there were tears in her eyes.

What Poor Jane had said was so very, very sad. The twins had so much to think about now that they talked very little during their walk, but when they did, it was all about Poor Jane and her brother, who was the clown in a circus.

When they got home the children had tea and games downstairs, and altogether it was great fun, but they did not mention their meeting with Poor Jane. That was their secret.

For days afterwards they talked it over and wondered whether Jane would speak to them the next time they met on the road, but when they went down the village again with nurse the old woman pa.s.sed them by without a sign of recognition.

Three months pa.s.sed and June had come, and one day Nan and the children went down to the village shop to buy slate-pencils.

[Sidenote: Mrs. Moses' Question]

”Are you taking the children to the circus?” asked Mrs. Moses, the shopwoman.

The twins p.r.i.c.ked up their ears.

”When is it?” asked Nan.

”To-morrow, at Woodstead,” answered Mrs. Moses; and she showed the children two large bills with pictures on them, of a beautiful young lady with yellow hair, who was walking on a tight-rope, a dark lady balancing herself on a golden globe, a young man riding, bare-back, on a fierce white horse, and a lion jumping through flames of fire, while in the corner was the picture of a clown grinning through a hoop.

”Oh, Nan!” said Humpty, when they were outside, ”can we go?”

”I shall ask mummie when we get home what she thinks about it,” said nurse, ”but you are not to be disappointed or cross if she won't let you.”

That evening when mummie came up to bid good-night to the twins in bed they were told that they might go. Nurse had been promised to-morrow off, so that she might have tea with her sister, who lived at Woodstead, but she had very kindly said that she would be quite willing to take the twins with her, and put them into seats in the circus, and then she would come for them at the end of the performance.

The twins were delighted, and almost too excited to speak. After mummie had gone they lay awake thinking.

”Humpty,” said Dumpty presently, ”what are you thinking about?”

”The circus,” answered Humpty promptly.

”And I,” said Dumpty pensively--”I have been thinking about Poor Jane.”

”I have been thinking about her lots too,” said Humpty.

”And oh, Humpty! supposing the clown should be her brother, what should we do?”

”We should bring him back to Poor Jane of course,” said Humpty.

”But how shall we know whether he is her brother?”

”He will look like her, of course, stupid,” replied Humpty, a little crossly, for he was beginning to feel sleepy.

[Sidenote: At the Circus]

They had an early dinner next day, and then Edward brought the pony round to the door, and they set off for Woodstead. Nurse was looking very smart in a black bonnet and silk mantle, and the children felt almost as if she were a stranger. Soon they came to a large meadow, where stood a great tent with steps leading up to it, and a man stood on the top of the steps beating a drum and crying, ”Children half-price!

Walk up! Walk up!”

There was a nice man inside, who led the children past rows of bare seats, raised one above the other, till he came to a part which was curtained off from the rest. He drew the curtain to one side to let the children pa.s.s in, and they saw four rows of comfortable seats with backs, covered with scarlet cloth.

”Yes, these will do nicely,” said Nan; ”and now, children, you must sit here quietly till the circus is over, and I shall come and fetch you at half-past four.”