by.  But that’s no evidence for the police; and, anyway, this Glasson can’t touch you until he gets hold of the children.  If you’ll leave it to me, he shan’t do that for twenty-four hours.  And now—­isn’t it time you were packing up your show?  You’ll be gettin’ back to the boat to-night, I suppose?  What about the Mortimers?” Sam explained that he would be driving back with the tent, and intended to sleep on board.  The Mortimers would repose themselves at a small public-house, “The Vine Leaf.”  In the morning they would join forces again and proceed to Stratford.  Address there:  “The Red Cow.”

He delivered this explanation jerkily, in the intervals of lugging the lady forth from her durance.  Tilda, scrambling forth ahead of her, noted with inexpressible relief that the aspect of the field was entirely changed.  The crowd had melted away, the flares of the roundabout were extinguished, and a faint glow of lamplight through canvas told where the Mortimer’s tent, far to the left, awaited dismemberment.  Five or six lanterns dotted the lower slopes, where the smaller shows—­the Aunt Sally, the coconut shies and the swing-boats—­ were being hastily packed.  Overhead, in a clean heaven, rode the stars, and by their glimmer the children saw their new protectress draw herself up in all her Amazonian amplitude.  She wore a low bodice of pink, with spangles, and a spangled skirt descended to her knees.  Beneath them her columnar calves were bare as an infant’s.  She extended an arm, and pointed towards her caravan.

“Bear around to the right,” she commanded.  “Keep a look-out on me when I get to the van, and creep up as quietly as you can when I reach the step and bend to pull up my socks.  Good night, young man—­one good turn deserves another:  and now be off, you two . . .  Yes, you may bring the dog.  Only I hope he doesn’t suffer from fleas, for a flea with me is a serious matter.”

They ran around, gained the steps in safety, and were admitted to the Fat Lady’s virgin bower.  It lay in darkness, and enjoining them to stand still and keep silence, she drew the blinds discreetly before lighting her lamp.  She did this (Tilda noted) with extreme deftness, reaching out a hand to a dark shelf and picking up the match-box as accurately as though she saw it.  At once, too, Tilda noted that in the lamp’s rays the whole interior of the caravan shone like a new pin.  A stove stood at the end facing the doorway, and beside the stove a closed washstand of polished teak.  A dressing-table, a wardrobe, and a dresser-sideboard fitted with lockers occupied one side; along the other ran a couch with a padded back, which, let down, became a mattress and converted the couch into a bed.  All the lockers gleamed with brasswork; all the draperies were of muslin or dimity, immaculately white; and looking-glass panelled the doors of every cupboard.  These many mirrors caused the interior to appear even fuller of the Fat Lady than it actually was.  They reflected her from every angle, and multiplied her into a crowd.