"Are you taking the children to the circus?" asked Mrs. Moses, the shopwoman.
The twins pricked up their ears.
"When is it?" asked Nan.
"To-morrow, at Woodstead," answered Mrs. Moses; and she showed the children two large bills with pictures on them, of a beautiful young lady with yellow hair, who was walking on a tight-rope, a dark lady balancing herself on a golden globe, a young man riding, bare-back, on a fierce white horse, and a lion jumping through flames of fire, while in the corner was the picture of a clown grinning through a hoop.
"Oh, Nan!" said Humpty, when they were outside, "can we go?"
"I shall ask mummie when we get home what she thinks about it," said nurse, "but you are not to be disappointed or cross if she won't let you."
That evening when mummie came up to bid good-night to the twins in bed they were told that they might go. Nurse had been promised to-morrow off, so that she might have tea with her sister, who lived at Woodstead, but she had very kindly said that she would be quite willing to take the twins with her, and put them into seats in the circus, and then she would come for them at the end of the performance.
The twins were delighted, and almost too excited to speak. After mummie had gone they lay awake thinking.
"Humpty," said Dumpty presently, "what are you thinking about?"
"The circus," answered Humpty promptly.