All the girls except Veve and Connie bought something. Veve had no money, while Connie felt it would be impolite to make a purchase when Miss Gordon and her little friend were without funds.
Rosemary and Belinda offered some of their popcorn to the two girls, but eating a little only made them hungrier.
The circus was only half over when a man in the seat ahead moved directly in front of Veve. Unable to see, she stood up to watch the trained seals balance red balls on the tips of their noses.
Now Veve, who had worn a hat, had been holding it on her lap. Before she could catch it, down it tumbled between the gap in the board seats. She saw it drop to the ground beneath the stand.
“Oops! There goes my hat!” she exclaimed.
“Oh, Veve!” groaned Jane, annoyed by the interruption, “why weren’t you more careful?”
“I was as careful as I could be,” Veve insisted in a hurt voice. “The hat slipped before I could catch it.”
“I’ll go with you to get it,” offered Connie, who knew Veve would not want to go alone.
“Are you certain you can find your way back?” Miss Gordon asked the girls.
“That’s easy,” Connie said. “We’re five rows from the top of the tent.”