lly not allowed out
here at this time."

Marjorie wanted very much to go in to the tent with the young lady, and
to see the little sister, and she wondered if she could in any way get
word to Pompton telling him where she was. Just then Bill came round that
way again, and smiled at her.

"Oh, Bill," cried Marjorie, impulsively, "you said if I wanted anything
to ask you. Now I want to go into the tent with this lady,--she says
I may,--and won't you please go in the big tent, and tell my people where
I've gone? You can't miss them, they're in Box number five. An Englishman
named Pompton, who is our chauffeur,--and three children with him. Will
you, Bill, 'cause I want to see this lady's little sister?"

"Sure, I'll 'tend to it, Miss. They won't let me in myself, but I'll fix
it with the doorman, and it'll be all right. Why, bless you, the tent
isn't a step away. Run along with Mademoiselle Cora."

"Is that your name? What a pretty name," said Marjorie, and giving
Mademoiselle Cora her hand, the two crossed over to the little tent.

CHAPTER XVII

LITTLE VIVIAN

It was about ten minutes later when Pompton and his three charges came
out of the circus tent. There was a great crowd, and not seeing Marjorie
at first, Pompton waited until most of the people had gone away, and then
began to look around for her.

"I know she wouldn't go very far away," said King. "She must be quite
near here."

"I'm not so sure," said Kitty. "You know how Marjorie runs off if she
chooses, without thinking of other people."

"I'm greatly worried, Master King," said Pompton. "I suppose I ought not
to have let the child come out here alone. But she was so anxious to
come, and she promised she'd stay right here by the door. I couldn't come
with her, and look after the rest of you at the same time now, could I?"

"Of course you couldn't, Pompton," said Kitty. "You did quite right. And
I don't believe Marjorie is very far away; I think she'll be back in a
minute or two."

But they waited several minutes, and the people who had been in the
circus tent all went away. The grounds about were entirely cleared, and
save for a few workmen, there was no one in sight. Uncertain what to do,
Pompton appealed to the doorman, who just then came out with his hands
full of tickets.

"Do you know anything about a little girl, about twelve years old, who
came out of the tent a short time ago?" asked Pompton.

"Naw," returned the man, curtly, pa