Now that the glamour of the “circus” was partially dispelled by the more prosaic appearance of surrounding objects, the boy from Berry’s Corner began to question himself as to whether he had not, as his companion suggested, spent too much money.
“I s’pose mother would think I was gettin’ reckless,” he said to himself, “an’ I reckon it comes pretty nigh bein’ true; but p’rhaps the woodchuck skins will bring a good price, so it won’t make very much difference after all. I guess I’d better sell ’em before I go to that other show.”
Having thus quieted his conscience, Josiah was enabled to take more heed of his own movements, and asked his companion:—
“How far do you live from here?”
“It’s quite a walk; but you see I want to go there before we begin to find Baker’s Court, ’cause I don’t know where the place is, an’ it may take us a good while. Mother Hunter will be jest ravin’ if I ain’t back to give her some money pretty soon.”
“How much have you got for her?”
“Eight cents.”
“That won’t buy a great deal.”
“It’ll be better’n nothin’, an’ kinder keep her quiet. If she knows I ain’t got any more she can’t say very much, though she does raise awful rows when I don’t bring home enough to pay for fillin’ her bottle.”
“What bottle?”