e doubtless sang all
these things and more--he certainly seemed to; though all that was
distinguishable was, "We're-goin'-to-the-circus!" and then, once more,
"We're-goin'-to-the-circus!"--the sweet rhythmic phrase repeated again
and again. But indeed I cannot be quite sure, for I heard confusedly,
as in a dream. Wings of fire sprang from the old mare's shoulders. We
whirled on our way through purple clouds, and earth and the rattle of
wheels were far away below.

The dream and the dizziness were still in my head when I found myself,
scarce conscious of intermediate steps, seated actually in the circus at
last, and took in the first sniff of that intoxicating circus smell that
will stay by me while this clay endures. The place was beset by a
hum and a glitter and a mist; suspense brooded large o'er the blank,
mysterious arena. Strung up to the highest pitch of expectation, we knew
not from what quarter, in what divine shape, the first surprise would
come.

A thud of unseen hoofs first set us aquiver; then a crash of cymbals, a
jangle of bells, a hoarse applauding roar, and Coralie was in the midst
of us, whirling past 'twixt earth and sky, now erect, flushed, radiant,
now crouched to the flowing mane; swung and tossed and moulded by the
maddening dance-music of the band. The mighty whip of the count in the
frock-coat marked time with pistol-shots; his war-cry, whooping clear
above the music, fired the blood with a passion for splendid deeds, as
Coralie, laughing, exultant, crashed through the paper hoops. We gripped
the red cloth in front of us, and our souls sped round and round with
Coralie, leaping with her, prone with her, swung by mane or tail with
her. It was not only the ravishment of her delirious feats, nor her
cream coloured horse of fairy breed, long-tailed, roe-footed, an
enchanted prince surely, if ever there was one! It was her more than
mortal beauty--displayed, too, under conditions never vouchsafed to us
before--that held us spell-bound. What princess had arms so dazzlingly
white, or went delicately clothed in such pink and spangles? Hitherto
we had known the outward woman as but a drab thing, hour-glass shaped,
nearly legless, bunched here, constricted there; slow of movement, and
given to deprecating lusty action of limb. Here was a revelation! From
henceforth our imaginations would have to be revised and corrected up
to date. In one of those swift rushes the mind makes in high-strung
moments, I saw