So all he said was:
"Good-afternoon!"
And the little tiny lady in the crimson gown gave him something too,—a silver button from her dress. Then the giant handed him over to a lady who sat next. A very funny lady was she, for she had a woman's voice and a woman's dress and a woman's hair, too, but on her chin was a long, long beard, just like a man's.
The bearded lady kissed Marmaduke. He didn't like that, she tickled so.
He didn't go very near the one who sat next. Yet she was a very pretty lady with blue eyes and golden hair, but around her arms and neck instead of necklaces were curled up snakes!
"They won't bite, little boy," she said smiling. "Look out for the snakes in the grass, but don't mind these. They can't hurt you at all."
With that she handed him some candy.
Marmaduke's hands were so full now, with the candy and the big ring and the silver button, that he didn't know what to do.
Just ahead of him was little Wienerwurst's tail. The very thing! So he put that big ring over that little tail. That felt so funny that Wienerwurst tried to reach his tail and that round shiny thing on it.
Around and around he went in a circle, trying to bite it off. He looked as if his head and tail were tied together. Like a little yellow merry-go-round, whirling so swiftly after itself, was he. All the strange circus people laughed and cheered and the giant clapped his huge hands till they sounded like thunder.