re I'd love to see the Pilgrim's Progress--that picture
where Christian is crossing through the Dark Valley just gives me
thrills--and yet I don't go round like a big baby complaining. And I
didn't even see the circus when it was here, only the side show!" she
said.

Lafe gave her a withering glance. He felt inclined to catch hold of
that provoking curl that bobbed so impertinently in his direction as
she tossed her head, and give it a good hard pull.

But Laura, who had just come in, soothed his ire by saying in a
sympathetic voice:

"Lafe seems so much taken with the circus and things I shouldn't wonder
if he turns out to be an actor! Don't you remember how well he did at
our exhibition?" Ivy nodded. "So of course, he feels it worse than we
do. But I'd love to go too and take Nettie. She's wild about that
picture where the angels are flying. She thinks they have real angels
at the show. Mat has a quarter saved up toward a bicycle and--"

"He'd better get an automobile while he's about it," interrupted Lafe.

"He wants me to take it and go; as if I would do such a thing! You
know, Ivy, he made me take that dime he had saved up when the circus
came, and go to the side show with you; and we had a lot of fun shaking
hands with the giant and the fat lady and seeing the animals; but this
is different, and his mind is quite set on the bicycle."

Which remark reminded Ivy that her admission to the side show--the
bright silver dime--was given her by Lafe, and that before he had any
hope of himself seeing the circus. So she began to feel sorry for her
flippant attitude and said in a more kindly tone:

"Well, this is only Friday noon and the performance doesn't come off
till to-night. Who knows what may turn up before then?"

This might have had the intended effect were it not for that curl which
in some way affected Lafe's nerves. It now gave a careless bob that
exasperated him.

"'Something may turn up;'" he muttered, "an earthquake or Mat's
motor-car, perhaps!"

He went away in disgust and Ivy turned to Laura with a sigh:

"Now, what did I say to make him flare up that way?"

"He thought you didn't care--"

"Well, I don't--I don't! Laura, if I were to go sympathizing with six
brothers--and boys are always clamoring for attention--I'd end in a mad
house!"

Laura could hardly repress a smile at the thought of Ivy's six sturdy
brothers depending on her in their troubles, knowing as she did that
st