But Aunt Jane, the imitation wheat in her hat trembling with emotion, was already “clearing.”
“They quite misunderstood,” she said, as soon as she had “cleared.” “The word ‘abnormal’ conveys no insult, surely. I think I’ll return and explain. I’ll refer them to the dictionary and the derivation of the word. It simply means something outside the usual rule. If——”
She was returning eagerly to the tent to explain, but found the entrance blocked by a crowd, so she was persuaded to postpone her explanation. Moreover, she had caught sight of the Hoop-la, and was anxious to have the system explained to her. William wearily explained it.
“Oh, I see,” said Aunt Jane, “a test of dexterity and accuracy of aim. Shall we—shall we try?”
They tried. They tried till William was tired. She had determined to “get something” or die. The crowd was gathering again. They applauded her efforts. Aunt Jane was too short-sighted to notice the crowd, but she heard its shouts.
“Isn’t everyone encouraging?” she murmured to William. “It’s most gratifying. It’s really a very pleasant place.”
She actually did get something. One of her wildly-flung hoops fell over a tie-pin of the extremely flashy variety, which she received with glowing pride and handed to William. The crowd cheered, but Aunt Jane was quite oblivious of the crowd.
“Come along,” she said. “Let’s do something else.”
Ginger disconsolately announced his intention of going home. Henry and Douglas followed his example, and William was left alone to escort Aunt Jane through the mazes of the Land of Pleasure. It was at this point that things really seemed to go to Aunt Jane’s head. She went down the Helter Skelter four or five times—sailing down on her little mat with squeaks of joy. She forgot now to straighten her hat or her hair. Her eye gleamed with a strange light, her cheeks were flushed.
“There’s something quite rejuvenating about it all, William,” she murmured. She had her fortune told by a Gipsy Queen, who prophesied an early marriage with one of her many suitors.