As she was thinking, a young girl came out of a small tent nearby.  She had a long cloak wrapped round her, but her gaily-dressed hair with silver stars pinned in it, made Marjorie feel sure she was one of the performers.  She had a very pretty face, and she smiled pleasantly at Marjorie, as she said, “What are you doing here, little girl?”

“I’m waiting for my people,” said Marjorie.  “They’re coming out in a minute, but I couldn’t stand those fierce animals any longer.”

“How funny,” said the young lady, and she sat down in the seat beside Marjorie.  “Do you know I always shiver when I look at the wild animals, too.  I’ve been with the circus a year, and I can’t get used to those lions and tigers.  I always think they’re going to spring at me, though I know perfectly well they’re not.  Is that the way you feel?”

“Yes, I feel just like that, and I know it’s silly, but I can’t help it.  What do you do in the circus?”

The girl partly flung open her long cloak, and disclosed her costume of spangled pink satin.

“I’m one of the trapeze performers; you probably saw me swing this afternoon.”

“Oh, are you really one of those swinging ladies?  Do tell me about it, won’t you?  Don’t you get dizzy, swinging through the air upside down?”

“No, we never get dizzy; that would never do!  Why, we’d fall and break our necks, and I assure you we don’t want to do that!”

“Don’t you ever fall?”

“Oh, of course accidents have happened, but much more rarely than most people think.  Trapeze performers are a very careful lot, and we seldom have an accident.”

“Are all those trapeze people your family?” asked Marjorie, for the troupe was billed as one family.

“Many of them are, but not all.  I have one sister who is an acrobat.  She is really one of the best I ever saw for her age.  She’s only twelve, and she can do wonderful feats for such a child.”

“I’m twelve,” said Marjorie, smiling, “but my brother says I’m too fat to do anything like that.”

“Yes, you are,” and the young lady smiled, showing her even, white teeth.  She was a very pretty girl, and had a sweet, refined voice, which surprised Marjorie, as she had not thought circus people were like this.

“You do weigh too much to be very agile; my sister is slender, but very muscular.  Would you like to see her?  She’s right over there in our tent, with Mother.”

“Oh, I’d love to see her, but I mustn’t go away from here, for I told Pomp where to find me.  He’ll be out soon.”

“Yes, the performance will be over in about five minutes.  But I’d like you to see my sister.  Her name is Vivian, and she’s so sweet and pretty!  But of course if you think you’d better stay here, I don’t want to persuade you.  I must go back now myself.  We’re really not allowed out here at this time.”

Marjorie wanted very much to go in to the tent with the young lady, and to see the little sister, and she wondered if she could in any way get word to Pompton telling him where she was.  Just then Bill came round that way again, and smiled at her.