"My friends," he said, "you have done us the honor to attend our simple performance, and you have shown by your applause that it has pleased you. Now you must know that we do not give these performances for our own amusement, but to gain our daily bread. We are by no means well-off even if we do possess an elephant and a horse. We need every sou that we can earn to pay for the food of our animals and ourselves, and to meet our other needs. If you have enjoyed our performance so much we would like you to show it not only by applauding, but by putting into the bowl which my little sister is about to pass around, what you can spare us. We do not expect silver from everybody, you know," he added with a humorous twinkle of his eyes. "We are glad to get copper—if there is only enough of it."
This clever little speech, delivered in a clear voice, and without the slightest suggestion of presumption, touched the listeners in the right way. It opened both their hearts and their pockets, and when Lydia went her rounds amongst them they responded in a most creditable manner, so that the receipts were enough to cover a whole week's expenses.
Nadine was particularly pleased at this, because it enabled them to push right on to Beaulieu without halting to give performances en route. Their holiday therefore was an unalloyed success, and, thoroughly refreshed by it, they kept on day after day until at last they reached Beaulieu, a whole day before the opening of the fair, and in ample time to secure an excellent position for their van, where it could not fail to attract attention, and so insure no lack of spectators when they gave their performances.
CHAPTER XI.
AT THE BEAULIEU FAIR.
A country fair was no novelty to the Tambys. They had attended too many of them already in their young lives to get excited over the inevitable bustle and confusion. Their chief concern was not to see everybody and everything, but to attract as large gatherings as possible to their performances, and induce them to give liberally when the little bowl was passed around.
This time they felt full of hope. They were greatly benefited by the brief holiday, and they were thoroughly satisfied with the location they had secured, and so on the opening day of the fair, after having carefully locked up the van, and seen to it that Nalla and Steady were securely tethered, they left Vigilant in charge of their property while all four of them made a tour of the streets which were given up to the fair.
In this they had a double purpose. They would "see the sights," and they would also get a good idea of what were the rival attractions with which they must needs contend for the patronage of the people.
They found the streets thick-set with booths displaying all sorts of small-wares, and thronged with light-hearted folk, who, if they had not much money to spend, would at all events get the full value of every sou with which they parted. It was neither a brilliant nor a costly display, but it was quite attractive notwithstanding, and the two younger Tambys saw many things that they very much wanted to purchase.