"You will soon know."

"How soon?"

"To-morrow. There's a blacksmith in the next town, Aaron Bickford, who
has agreed to take you as an apprentice."

"So it's all settled, is it?" Kit asked, full of indignation.

"Yes, if Mr. Bickford likes your appearance. He's coming to Smyrna on
business to-morrow, and will call here. You're to live at his house."

"Indeed! I am very much obliged for the information."

"Oh, you needn't get grouty about it. I've no doubt you'll have enough
to eat."

"So I am to be a blacksmith, and you a merchant or----"

"Lawyer. I think I shall decide to be a lawyer," said Ralph,
complacently.

"That will make quite a difference in our social positions."

"Of course; but I will help you all I can. If you have a shop of your
own, I will have my horses shod at your place."

"Does your father think I am particularly well fitted to be a
blacksmith?"

"He thinks you will get along very well in the business, if you are
industrious. A poor boy can't choose. He must take the best he can get."

Kit did not sleep very much that night. He was full of anger and
indignation with his uncle. Why should his future be so different from
his cousin's? At school he had distinguished himself more in his
studies, and he did not see why he was not as well fitted to become a
merchant or a lawyer as Ralph.

"They can't make me a blacksmith without my consent," was his final
thought, as he closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Kit was up early the next morning. As breakfast was not ready, he
strolled over to the hotel, which was only five minutes' walk from his
uncle's house.

The circus tent had vanished. Late at night, after the evening
performance was over, the canvas men had busied themselves in taking
them down, and packing them for transportation to a town ten miles
distant on the railroad, where they were to give two exhibitions the
next day. The showy chariots, the lions, tigers, elephants and camels,
with all the performers, were gone. But Mr. Barlow, the owner of the
circus, had remained at the Smyrna Hotel all night, preferring to
journey comfortably the next morning.

He was sitting on the piazza when Kit passed. Though he had never seen
Kit but once, his business made him observant of faces, and he
recognized him immediately.

"Aha!" he said, "this is the young hero of last evening, is it not?"

Kit smiled.

"I am the boy who jumped into the ring," he said.

"So I thought. I hope yo