nd and inviting all the showmen were! Bang! Bang! "Two shots
with a rifle for a penny. Who'll win a cocoa-nut?" "This way for
Signor Antonio, the famous lion-tamer!" And so on, till the brain
reeled, and choice amongst all these excitements became almost
impossible.

Mother had given money for one entertainment, and the children had
agreed beforehand that the wild-beast show would be far the best to see,
but now that they were in the midst of the fair they began to waver. It
was painful to think that whichever entertainment they fixed on the
others might be better. On one point Nurse was firm. Wherever they
went they must all go together, and at last, after a harassing
consultation and some difference of opinion, it was decided that on the
whole the menagerie would be best.

"Though I did want," said David, rather regretfully, as they entered,
"to see that performing pig who knows his letters and dances a
hornpipe."

The wild-beast show over, there remained a great deal to be seen
outside; and now in the bustle and struggle of the narrow ways the party
became separated, the three little girls remaining with Nurse and the
boys with Jane.

"And I hope to goodness," said Nurse anxiously, "that Jane won't lose
her head. Master David's there--that's one comfort. No, Miss Dickie,
you don't let go of my hand for one minute, so it's no good pulling at
me."

Up till now Pennie had had no difficulty in keeping her money in her
pocket, for she had seen nothing she specially wanted to buy. Nancy had
spent hers before she had been five minutes in the fair, had won a
cocoa-nut, and was now hugging it triumphantly under her arm. No doubt
Ambrose and David would also part with theirs before long.

"There's a funny stall," said Nancy suddenly, "nothing but rubbishing
old books."

"Let's go and look at it," said Pennie.

They were very shabby old books indeed. Some of them with cracked
bindings and the letters on the backs rubbed off; others with no binding
at all, in soiled paper covers. There were piles and piles of them, not
neatly arranged, but tossed about anyhow, and behind the stall stood an
old man with a withered face and a pointed chin--a sort of wizard old
man, Pennie thought. Nancy seemed struck with his appearance too.

"He's just like pantaloon, isn't he?" she said in a loud whisper as they
stopped in front of the stall.

The old man peered sharply at the two little girls over the open book he