“I’s awfu’ sossy; I’s all wight now,” she said.  “Where’s Pole Star?”

“Nay, little gal,” said Uncle Ben, knowing well the temper of the house, “you must do no more to-night.  The company, I know, will excuse you.”

Seating the child on his shoulder, and patting her hand affectionately, as if he were her father, he brought little Diana to the front.

“I hope, ladies and gentlemen,” he called out, “that you will excuse this great lady huntress to-night.  But if you wish her to take another turn round on the back of the great Pole Star, she is willing to comply.”

“No!” shouted voice after voice in the gallery; “let little missy off.  We’ll come to see little missy another night.  Three cheers for little missy!”

The next moment Diana and Orion found themselves at the back of the stage.

“Is it true, Di?” gasped Orion.  “Is it all over?”

“Yes; it’s all over,” answered little Diana.  She leaned against the wall.  “I’s a bit giddy,” she said; “but I’ll be all wight by and by.”

Aunt Sarah, with tears in her eyes, brought the child a restorative.

“Drink this, little love,” she said; “you’ll soon be much better, I’m sure.”

The curtain had fallen on the first half of the performance, and Uncle Ben came up in a huge good humor.

“Missy, I hope you aint hurt,” he said.

“Hurt?” answered Diana.  “What do a fall matter?  I’s as wight as wain.  Didn’t Orion do well, Uncle Ben?”

“Yes, all things considerin’,” said Uncle Ben.  “We has a full house, missy, and I’m very much obliged to you.  Now you had best go straight to bed.  Sarah, take the kids off and give them a good supper, for they has earned it.”

Aunt Sarah took Diana’s hand and led her to their bedroom.

“But aren’t we going away now?” said Orion.

Aunt Sarah sat down at the foot of one of the beds with a white face.

“Come to me, little missy,” she said to Diana.

The child went to her.

“I’s k’ite well,” she said, “only a little giddy.  Why, Aunt Sawah, you’s kying.”

“I thought you were dead for a minute, my little miss; you that is the image of my Rachel, what the good God took from me.  I thought you were dead, and it ’most broke my ’eart—­oh, little missy, little darlin’!”

“But, Diana, aren’t we going away?” Said Orion.  “You promised, and you never broke your word.”

“I pwomised, and I never break my word,” said Diana.  “Yes, Orion, yes; we is going away.”

“I declare,” said Aunt Sarah, “I believe it would be the right thing to do.  It would kill me if you was killed, missy—­and them ’orses!”

“They is darlin’s,” interrupted Diana.

“Well, go to sleep now, and I’ll fetch some supper,” said Aunt Sarah.

She shut the door behind the children, returning in a few minutes with bowls of bread and milk.  Diana sat listlessly down on the nearest bench.