They liked to see the elephant and the camel tread solemnly the
uneven stones of the village street, they liked to hear the roar of
the wild beasts at night when they were safe and warm in their own
comfortable beds, they liked to have solemn consultations with the
gipsy girls as to their mysterious destinies. The animals, indeed,
were not many nor, poor things, were they, after many years' chains
and discipline, very fierce--nevertheless they roared because they
knew it was their duty so to do, and when the lion's turn came a
notice was hung up outside his cage saying: "This is the Lion that
last year, at Clinton, bit Miss Harper." There were also performing
dogs, a bear, and two seals.
The circus was quite close to the farm.
"I do hope," said Mrs. Bolitho to Martin, "that the roaring of the
animals won't disturb you."
It did not disturb him. He seemed to like it, and went out and stood
there watching all the labours of the gipsies and the tent men, and
even went into "The Green Boar" and drank a glass of beer with Mr.
Marquis, the proprietor of the circus.
On the third day after their arrival there was a proper Glebeshire
mist.
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