eds of places before.
Some of them had even appeared in the almanac! But in Banbury they were
all new, and so funny that everybody laughed till their sides ached. And
the wonderful horses! Madame Orley's educated steed, which picked out
letters from a card alphabet and spelled words with them, went through
the military drill with the precision of a trooper, and waltzed about
the arena with his mistress on his back!--well, he was not a horse; he
was a wizard steed, like the one described in the "Arabian Nights
Tales." Alice almost thought she detected the little peg behind his ear!

She shuddered over the feats of the sky-blue trapezeist, who seemed to
do every thing but fly. The knights in imitation armor were real knights
to Alice; the pink and gold ladies were veritable damsels of romance,
undergoing adventures. But, delightful as all this was, she was
conscious that the best remained behind, and eagerly watched the door of
entrance, in hopes of the appearance of the white steed and the little
rider who had so fascinated her imagination in the morning. Papa noticed
it, and laughed at her; but, for all that, she watched.

At last they came, and Alice was satisfied. Mignon looked prettier and
daintier than ever in her light fantastic robe of white and spangles,
with silver bracelets on her wrists and little anklets hung with bells
about her slender ankles. Round and round and round galloped the white
horse, the fairy figure on his back now standing, now lying, now on her
knees, now poised on one small foot, or, again, dancing to the music on
top of the broad saddle, keeping exact time, every movement graceful and
light as that of a happy elf. Hoops, wreathed with roses and covered
with silver paper, were raised across her path. She bounded through them
easily, smiling as she sprang. The white horse seemed to love her, and
to obey her every gesture; and Mignon evidently loved the horse, for
more than once in the pauses Alice saw her pat and caress the pretty
creature. At length the final bound was taken, the last rose-wreathed
hoop was carried away, Mignon kissed her hand to the audience and
disappeared at full gallop, the curtain fell, and the ring-master
announced that Part First was ended, and that there would be an
intermission of fifteen minutes.

By this time Alice was in a state of tumultuous admiration which knew no
bounds.

"Oh, if I could only speak to her and kiss her, just once!" she cried.
"Isn't she the