“The buttered side!  That must be g’easy,” said Diana.

“Well, you keep on it, miss.  If he’s kind to you, why, all will be right, and, for my part, I’ll see you want for nothing.”

“I do believe,” said Diana, her eyes sparkling; she turned as she spoke and clasped one of Orion’s hands—­“I do weally b’lieve this is better nor aunt’s.  Do come ’long, Orion; I always did love circuses.”

Aunt Sarah led the children down a long, narrow passage, and then across an open court, until presently they found themselves inside the entrance of a huge circular tent.  Here seats were arranged for a crowd of people, all of which were, of course, empty at present; but the whole of the center of the tent was occupied by a wide arena covered with sand.  In the middle of this space stood Uncle Ben.  He had a big whip in his hand, and looked very fierce and terrible.

“There you are at last, Sarah!” he called out.  “Oh, and there are the kids!” He stepped forward as he spoke.  “Now, little missy,” he said, looking full at Diana, “what would you say if I was to put you on top of a horse’s back?  You wouldn’t be frightened, would you?”

“No,” replied Diana.

“I don’t believe you would.  I believe you are a plucky little girl.  Well, I’d just as lief give you a lesson straight away, for you’ll have to take your part in the show in a week from now.  We’ll let her ride round the arena on Greased Lightning; eh, Sarah?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t!  Not on that ’orse,” said the woman.  She clasped her hands imploringly together.  “Remember, Ben,” she continued, speaking in a timorous voice, and her color coming and going, “remember that Greased Lightning is a very wicious sort of ’orse, and this is only a little child.  Has you ever been on a ’orse’s back afore, little love?”

“Sometimes,” replied Diana.  “And my faver said when I got older he would give me a horse of my own to wide.  He said I was too young yet, you know; but I aren’t fwightened,” she added.  “I don’t mind a bit sitting on the back of G’eased Lightning.  But what a funny name!”

“Right you are!” said the man.  “You shall have your ride.  I can see that you have plenty of pluck, young ’un.  Come along, then, little missy.  Tom, you go and bring out Greased Lightning this minute.”

A tall lad, with red hair and a cast in one eye, now made his appearance in the arena of the circus.  At Uncle Ben’s words he turned abruptly, disappeared through a curtain, and a moment later re-entered, leading a very graceful chestnut horse by a bridle.  The creature pawed the ground as it walked, and arched its stately neck.

“You had best have a saddle, guv’nor,” said the boy.

“None of your sauce, Tom.  The young ’un must learn to ride bare-back, and at once.  I’ll walk round with her the first time.  Now then, missy.”

Diana was clapping her hands; her eyes were blazing with excitement.