“Oh, Bill,” cried Marjorie, impulsively, “you said if I wanted anything to ask you.  Now I want to go into the tent with this lady,—­she says I may,—­and won’t you please go in the big tent, and tell my people where I’ve gone?  You can’t miss them, they’re in Box number five.  An Englishman named Pompton, who is our chauffeur,—­and three children with him.  Will you, Bill, ’cause I want to see this lady’s little sister?”

“Sure, I’ll ’tend to it, Miss.  They won’t let me in myself, but I’ll fix it with the doorman, and it’ll be all right.  Why, bless you, the tent isn’t a step away.  Run along with Mademoiselle Cora.”

“Is that your name?  What a pretty name,” said Marjorie, and giving Mademoiselle Cora her hand, the two crossed over to the little tent.

CHAPTER XVII

LITTLE VIVIAN

It was about ten minutes later when Pompton and his three charges came out of the circus tent.  There was a great crowd, and not seeing Marjorie at first, Pompton waited until most of the people had gone away, and then began to look around for her.

“I know she wouldn’t go very far away,” said King.  “She must be quite near here.”

“I’m not so sure,” said Kitty.  “You know how Marjorie runs off if she chooses, without thinking of other people.”

“I’m greatly worried, Master King,” said Pompton.  “I suppose I ought not to have let the child come out here alone.  But she was so anxious to come, and she promised she’d stay right here by the door.  I couldn’t come with her, and look after the rest of you at the same time now, could I?”

“Of course you couldn’t, Pompton,” said Kitty.  “You did quite right.  And I don’t believe Marjorie is very far away; I think she’ll be back in a minute or two.”

But they waited several minutes, and the people who had been in the circus tent all went away.  The grounds about were entirely cleared, and save for a few workmen, there was no one in sight.  Uncertain what to do, Pompton appealed to the doorman, who just then came out with his hands full of tickets.

“Do you know anything about a little girl, about twelve years old, who came out of the tent a short time ago?” asked Pompton.

“Naw,” returned the man, curtly, paying little attention to the inquiry.

“But you must have seen her come out,” said King.  “She came out alone, before the performance was over.  She had on a long tan-colored coat.”

“Aw, that kid?  Yes, I seen her, but I don’t know where she went to.”

“But we must find her!  She’s my sister!” said Kitty, and the tears came into her eyes.

The doorman looked at Pompton.  “You ought to keep yer kids together, an’ not let yer party get sep’rated.”

“It wasn’t Pompton’s fault at all!” cried King, indignantly.  “My sister came out here to wait for us, and of course she’s around here somewhere.  She must be in one of the tents.  May we go and look for her?”