d that
Vivian meant she must practise her gymnastic exercises.

"Come, Miss Marjorie, we must be going," said Pompton, who felt moved
himself by the pathetic face of the little circus girl.

"Well, perhaps you'd better go now," said Cora, who had received
imperative glances from her mother. "But we've enjoyed seeing you, and
we thank you for your call."

Mademoiselle Cora had very polite manners, but she seemed to be under the
rule of her mother, and it was with evident reluctance that she bade the
visitors good-bye.

"I'll give you my picture," said Vivian to Marjorie, as they parted,
"because I want you to remember me. I would like to have your picture,
but Mother won't let me have little girls' photographs. She thinks it
makes me feel envious to see pictures of little home-girls."

"Well, I'll give you something to remember me by," said Marjorie,
impulsively, and she took from her neck a string of blue beads, and
clasped it round Vivian's throat.

"Oh, thank you," said Vivian, with sparkling eyes. "I shall wear them
always, and love them because you gave them to me. Good-bye, dear,
_dear_ little home-girl!"

The tears came into Marjorie's eyes at the tremor in Vivian's voice, and
she kissed her affectionately, and then bidding good-bye to Mademoiselle
Cora they followed Pompton out of the tent.

They were all rather silent as they trudged along to the trolley-car, and
then Kitty said slowly, "Isn't it awful to be like that? I suppose she
never has any home-life at all."

"Of course she hasn't, Miss Kitty, as she has no home," said Pompton;
"it's wicked to put a child like that in a circus, it certainly is! She's
a sweet little girl, and her sister is a fine young lady, too."

"The mother is horrid," said King. "She was awful cross about our being
there."

"Well," said Kitty, who sometimes saw deeper than the rest, "you mustn't
blame her too much. Couldn't you see she didn't want us there, because
just the sight of happy home-children makes little Vivian feel sorry that
she has to live in a circus?"

"Yes, that was it," said Marjorie. "I suppose they haven't any other way
to earn their living."

The children could scarcely wait to get home to tell their parents of
this wonderful experience.

They found Mr. and Mrs. Maynard waiting for them at the hotel, and
wondering a little because they were late.

"Oh," cried Marjorie, flinging herself into her mother's arms, "we've had
a most 'stonishing time!