“Just as soon as we’ve let the wind comb our hair,” came the cry in reply. And the next moment, with Zebra’s ears flopping this way and that, and Monkey doing his best to look entirely at ease, the truants returned to the group.
What a picture they made!
Zebra wore a bridle with a brilliant red plume, while Monkey was lost almost wholly to view in a gorgeous pink hat and a skirt made of blue.
“Well, young sirs, what does this mean?” demanded Lion.
“Why,” whimpered Monkey, “Zebra and I talked it over and thought it would be fun to play circus. So we stole away to the little tents and borrowed some costumes. Now, don’t scold, Lion. We didn’t mean to do anything wrong.”
“Hum,” answered Lion, who was really rather pleased with the thought. “Play circus, eh? Well—go ahead; let us see what you two can do.”
“Oh,” returned Monkey, brightening up, “but we can’t perform without a ring, and a ringmaster and everything like that—”
“And, of course, we must have music,” added Zebra. “You see we thought that since Elephant and Seal and their folks are such splendid musicians, perhaps they—”
“Delighted, I’m sure,” agreed Elephant, amid his family’s ponderous nods of approval.
“At your service, always,” chimed Seal, as his household clapped their funny front fins in consent.