She was quite as young as Toby, and small of her age; but there was an old look on her face, that made the boy think of her as quite an old woman cut down to fit children's clothes. Toby had looked at her so long and earnestly, that she observed him, and asked, "What is your name?"
"Toby Tyler."
"What do you do in the circus?"
"Sell candy for Mr. Lord."
"Oh, I thought you was a new member of the company."
Toby knew by the tone of her voice that he had fallen considerably in her estimation by not being one of the performers, and it was some little time before he ventured to speak; then he asked, timidly, "What do you do?"
"I ride one of the horses with mother."
"Are you the little girl that comes out with the lady an' four horses?" asked Toby, in awe that he should be conversing with so famous a person.
"Yes, I am. Don't I do it nicely?"
"Why, you're a perfect little—little—fairy!" exclaimed Toby, after hesitating a moment to find some word which would exactly express his idea.