"Maybe, sir," answered the bill-sticker, "I don't know. She's Max Sordello's child, I'm given to understand; she's been appearing in public with the lions for months, but never yet with Hero—that lion there; they say he's forest-bred. She's to make her first appearance with him next week, on Monday at the Fair, so we shall all have an opportunity of seeing her."
Tom was staring hard at the picture of the little girl in the scarlet frock; there was a strong suspicion in his mind that this "Una," who was considered to be the lion-trainer's child, was actually Grace Lee, and when, a few minutes later, he moved on with his father, he told him what he thought.
"A dwarf!" Tom exclaimed, and stopped to look at him.
"Yes, very likely you're right," agreed Mr. Burford; "I think so myself."
"What a plucky little thing she must be!" cried Tom, excitedly. "You'll let me go and see her performance with the lions on Monday, won't you, Father?"
"I hardly know," Mr. Burford answered hesitatingly; "I don't altogether approve of that sort of entertainment, because I don't believe that lions can be trained by kindness, especially forest-bred animals. And it's terrible to think that a child's life should be risked to amuse the public and for gain; it never ought to be allowed. I begin to see, Tom, that those Sordellos may have been prompted by a selfish motive when they adopted that little orphan— no doubt she adds considerably to the lion-trainer's earnings."
"Yes, of course," Tom agreed. His face had become very thoughtful and grave. "Poor little girl," he said, pityingly; "I wonder if she is afraid of the lions? I know Nellie would be in her place."
Then the conversation turned upon Nellie, and in talking of his dearly loved sister Tom forgot every one else for the time. Later his thoughts reverted to Grace Lee, and he went to bed with the determination to visit Hatwell Green on the morrow, and tell the gipsies all about her.
"One thing is quite certain," he said to himself, "and that is that she's very miserable. I never saw any little girl with such an unhappy face before. And she seemed so frightened! I wonder what she was afraid of? I shall try to find out!"