"

A tall lad, with red hair and a cast in one eye, now made his
appearance in the arena of the circus. At Uncle Ben's words he turned
abruptly, disappeared through a curtain, and a moment later
re-entered, leading a very graceful chestnut horse by a bridle. The
creature pawed the ground as it walked, and arched its stately neck.

"You had best have a saddle, guv'nor," said the boy.

"None of your sauce, Tom. The young 'un must learn to ride bare-back,
and at once. I'll walk round with her the first time. Now then,
missy."

Diana was clapping her hands; her eyes were blazing with excitement.

"It's kite 'licious," she said, jumping up and down. "I aren't
fwightened," she continued; "that aren't me."

The next moment she was lifted on to the back of Greased Lightning. In
all probability the horse which bore that title had never carried
such a feather-weight as little Diana before. Uncle Ben began to lead
him round and round the circus. Diana sat perfectly upright; she did
not attempt even to clutch a hair of his mane. Uncle Ben praised her.

"You are a plucky little missy," he said. "Why, you'll do fine. Now,
do you think you can stand on the horse?"

"Course," replied Diana. "What's foots for, you silly man, if not to
stand? You is silly, Uncle Ben."

"I never!" said Uncle Ben, bursting out laughing. "Well, missy, if I
am silly, you has got a lot of sauce. 'What's good for the goose is
good for the gander.'"

"That sounds howid vulgar, and I don't underland," answered Diana, in
a dignified tone. "I'll stand on my two foots if you'll hold G'eased
Lightning k'ite still."

"Woe! stay quiet this minute," said the man to the horse. The pretty
creature instantly obeyed, and little Diana, nothing loath, scrambled
on to her small feet. The horse moved gently forward, and the little
child managed to keep her balance. She went the entire round of the
circus two or three times in this position, and then Uncle Ben, saying
that she was a very fine little creature, and would answer his
purposes to a nicety, lifted her down in the height of good humor.

"Take care of her," he said, bringing her back to Aunt Sarah; "there's
a fortune in her, little mite that she is. She need not do any more
to-day. Why, I'll have her trained in no time when we get down to the
west of England. She'll do her work beautiful, and will take the house
by storm. Now then, master, it's your turn. We must have a pair of
you, you know--a boy and a