The children set the roll on the floor; then Mary Jane held the rolled up part while John pulled it open.  They didn’t have it half unrolled before both children exclaimed, “A circus!  It’s a circus.  Grandfather!  Are we going to a circus?”

“Shouldn’t wonder a bit,” said Grandfather indifferently as he took another piece of toast; “shouldn’t wonder a bit.  That is, of course,” he added with marked politeness, “unless you don’t care to go.”

“You know we care to go,” laughed Mary Jane and she jumped up and gave him a big bear hug.  “You know we just want to go the mostest of anything in the world, we do!”

“Then we’ll go!” said Grandfather and he stopped his teasing and told them all about his plans.  “We’ll start about nine o’clock so we’ll have plenty of time because we have to drive about fifteen miles and get our lunch and—­”

“And see the parade,” interrupted John.

“Oh, yes, we see the parade before lunch, you’re right,” laughed Grandfather.  “I see there’s going to be nothing skipped in this day.  Then we want to see all the animals and get good seats and everything.”

“Then we’d better start right now,” suggested Mary Jane.

“Dear me, no, not for two hours yet!” exclaimed Grandfather.  “That’s the reason I got you that poster.  See?  It’s all rolled up again.  Now I’ll help you unroll it so you can look at it while you wait for the time to start.”

Grandmother helped too, and the big poster picture was unrolled and a chair set on each end of it to hold it open.  Then Mary Jane and John could walk around and see it well.  It was a picture of the parade and showed camels and lions in cages and elephants and clowns and pretty ladies and everything and of course it was most interesting to look at.  But it wasn’t so interesting that the children forgot to look at the clock—­indeed, no!  They watched and watched and watched and finally the clock said, “Eight!”

“Now then,” said Mary Jane, “that’s all I’m going to look.  Let’s roll it up and get ready.  Maybe we can help Grandmother.”

They found a good many interesting things to do.  Grandmother had decided that they had better take their lunch with them and eat it in the car because the town where the circus was to be was small and there might be no good place for them to eat.

John got the lunch box from the storeroom and Mary Jane helped wrap sandwiches and chicken and cake in oiled paper; and by quarter of nine everything was ready.

“Fifteen minutes to wash hands and faces and change your clothes,” exclaimed Grandmother as she heard Grandfather bring the car up to the house.  “Can you do it?”

“’Deed yes,” said Mary Jane, scampering on ahead up the stairs.  “I can wash myself and you just look at the cracks.  And I can put my own dress and shoes on.  I can do lots!”

“I should say you can!” exclaimed Grandmother admiringly.  “You do all you can then, dear, and I’ll help John.”