Orion looked charming in his pretty dress.  He wore a little sky-blue tunic, with small, tight knickers of white; his little legs and feet were bare, round his waist was a crimson girdle, and at his side was attached a toy sword.

Diana wore a silk skirt and tights, her curling black hair fell partly over her forehead; her bold, black eyes were full of a strange mixture of frolic, affection, and defiance.  She looked the personification of healthy life and courageous fire.  In her hand she held the bow of Diana, and round her neck was slung a couple of arrows.  She was a wonderfully graceful child in all her movements, and looked charming in her picturesque dress.

The call for the children came, and the two bounded on the stage.  The moment they did so, Diana ran up to Uncle Ben and took hold of the great whip which he carried.

“You must let me do it my own way,” she said; “you have pwomised.  Orion won’t be bwave boy if I don’t manage him.  Give me that whip.”

“Oh, but I say, little missy——­”

“Give me that whip,” repeated Diana, flashing her eyes up at the man.  “I is the gweat Diana and I order you.  Give me the whip; I’ll slash it; I know how.  Ah, here comes G’eased Lightning.  Come ’long, you beauty; come ’long, you darlin’.”

Diana ran fearlessly up to the horse, fondled its nose, and looked into its eyes; the creature stood perfectly still, bent its graceful head, and licked her little hand.

“And it’s a perfect brute to everyone else,” thought Uncle Ben to himself, but this time he did not utter a word.

The horse stood perfectly motionless until little Orion was mounted on its back.

“Now, G’eased Lightning, you has got to be a good horse,” said Diana, speaking to him in a confiding voice.  “You isn’t to fwighten Orion; ’member he’s a giant, and it’s a gweat honor for you to carry him, ’cos most times he lives up in the stars.”

“Come, missy, we have no time for that sort of nonsense,” said Uncle Ben, who began to get impatient.  “Give me back my whip.”

“No; I is going to slash the whip.  Come, G’eased Lightning; twot, twot, p’ease.”

The horse began to amble gently forward.  Little Diana went and stood by Uncle Ben’s side.

“I’s managing,” she said; “you shall have whip to-night; but I’s managing now.”

The other performers stood round in breathless silence.  Orion kept his seat manfully.  Greased Lightning was as gentle as a lamb.

“Good boy!” called out Diana; “vedy good little boy.  Good horse, G’eased Lightning! you is a vedy good horse.  Now then, go faster.”  Diana gave the whip a crack.

The horse looked at her out of his big, intelligent eyes, and began to trot, but still very gently, round and round the circus.

“Good boy,” repeated Diana; “good horse!  Now then, Orion, get up on to yous two foots; don’t be fwightened.  ’Member what will happen when it’s over.  Get up on to yous foots this minute.”