Toby Tyler | Page 4

knees and kissed Mr. Lord's hands in the excess of
his gratitude. But not knowing exactly how such a show of
thankfulness might be received, he contented himself by repeatedly
promising that he would be punctual to the time and place appointed.
He would have loitered in the vicinity of the candy stand in order that
he might gain some insight into the business; but Mr. Lord advised him
to remain away, lest his uncle Daniel would see him, and suspect where
he had gone when he was missed in the morning.
As Toby walked around the circus grounds, whereon was so much to
attract his attention, he could not prevent himself from assuming an air
of proprietorship. His interest in all that was going on was redoubled,
and in his anxiety that everything should be done correctly and in the
proper order he actually, and perhaps for the first time in his life, forgot
that he was hungry. He was really to travel with a circus, to become a
part, as it were, of the whole, and to be able to see its many wonderful
and beautiful attractions every day.
Even the very tent ropes had acquired a new interest for him, and the
faces of the men at work seemed suddenly to have become those of
friends. How hard it was for him to walk around unconcernedly: and
how especially hard to prevent his feet from straying toward that
tempting display of dainties which he was to sell to those who came to
see and enjoy, and who would look at him with wonder and curiosity!
It was very hard not to be allowed to tell his playmates of his
wonderfully good fortune; but silence meant success, and he locked his
secret in his bosom, not even daring to talk with anyone he knew, lest
he should betray himself by some incautious word.
He did not go home to dinner that day, and once or twice he felt
impelled to walk past the candy stand, giving a mysterious shake of the
head at the proprietor as he did so. The afternoon performance passed
off as usual to all of the spectators save Toby. He imagined that each
one of the performers knew that he was about to join them; and even as
he passed the cage containing the monkeys he fancied that one
particularly old one knew all about his intention of running away.

Of course it was necessary for him to go home at the close of the
afternoon's performance, in order to get one or two valuable articles of
his own -- such as a boat, a kite, and a pair of skates -- and in order that
his actions might not seem suspicious. Before he left the grounds,
however, he stole slyly around to the candy stand, and informed Mr.
Job Lord, in a very hoarse whisper, that he would be on hand at the
time appointed.
Mr. Lord patted him on the head, gave him two large sticks of candy,
and, what was more kind and surprising, considering the fact that he
wore glasses and was cross eyed, he winked at Toby. A wink from Mr.
Lord must have been intended to convey a great deal, because, owing
to the defect in his eyes, it required no little exertion, and even then
could not be considered as a really first class wink.
That wink, distorted as it was, gladdened Toby's heart immensely and
took away nearly all the sting of the scolding with which Uncle Daniel
greeted him when he reached home.
That night -- despite the fact that he was going to travel with the circus,
despite the fact that his home was not a happy or cheerful one -- Toby
was not in a pleasant frame of mind. He began to feel for the first time
that he was doing wrong; and as he gazed at Uncle Daniel's stern,
forbidding looking face, it seemed to have changed somewhat from its
severity, and caused a great lump of something to come up in his throat
as he thought that perhaps he should never see it again. Just then one or
two kind words would have prevented him from running away, bright
as the prospect of circus life appeared.
It was almost impossible for him to eat anything, and this very
surprising state of affairs attracted the attention of Uncle Daniel.
"Bless my heart! what ails the boy?" asked the old man, as he peered
over his glasses at Toby's well filled plate, which was usually emptied
so quickly. "Are ye sick, Toby, or what is the matter with ye?"
"No, I hain't sick," said Toby, with a sigh; "but I've been to the circus,
an' I got a good deal to eat."

"Oho! You spent