“You make that much money just riding a horse?” asked Veve.
“And I only have to be in two performances daily,” added Eva, smoothing an imaginary wrinkle from her costume.
“You don’t go to school either, do you?” questioned Connie.
“Do you see any schoolhouse around here?” asked Eva. She was careful not to say that she never had to study. During winter months, she and the other circus children were sent away to boarding schools in the East. And each night when she traveled with the circus, her parents made her study in her tent or sleeping car.
“I wish I could be in the circus,” sighed Veve.
“What could you do?” demanded Eva discouragingly.
Veve thought she might learn to do a tightrope act or perhaps help Mr. Carsdale.
“Children aren’t allowed to handle wild animals,” Eva told her. “You couldn’t do anything at all in our circus.”
“Who wants to be in your circus?” retorted Veve crossly. “I would be in a better one.”
“Our circus is the best on the road,” Eva said, scowling as she turned away. “But I can’t waste any more time talking to you. I have to go now and get my dinner before the next performance.”