“Tag! you're it!” Polly cried, as she touched the widow's auburn-haired offspring on the sleeve. There was much wailing when Willie passed the tag to little Jennie, the smallest girl in the crowd. “I won't play no more,” she sobbed; “'cause I's always it.” To comfort her, Polly began to sing an old circus song that the children had learned to love; and the little ones huddled about her in a circle to hear of the wonderful “Van Amberg” who used to “walk right into the lion's cage and put his head in the lion's mouth.” The children were in a state of nerves that did credit to Polly as an entertainer, when Hasty broke in upon the song. “When you get a minute I want ter tell yer somethin'.” “I have one right now.” And turning to the eager mites at her side, Polly told them to run along into the grove, and that she'd come pretty soon to teach them a new game. The youngsters went screaming and laughing on their way, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she threw herself down on the rustic seat that encircled the elm tree. “What is it, Hasty?” she asked, suspecting that he was in trouble with Mandy. “It's 'bout de circus,” Hasty informed her bluntly. “The circus?” She rose and crossed to him quickly. “It's in Wakefield--en' nex' month it's a-comin' here.” “Here?” Polly gasped. “I thought you'd want ter know,” said Hasty, little surprised at her lack of enthusiasm. “Yes, of course.” She turned away and pretended to look at the flowers. “Don' yous tell Mandy I been talkin' 'bout dat circus,” said Hasty, uneasily. He was beginning to fear that he had made a mistake; but before Polly could answer, Mandy came out of the house, carrying baskets and food, which Hasty was to take to the Sunday-school-room. She looked at the girl's troubled face and drooping shoulders in surprise. “What make you look so serious, Honey?” “Just thinking,” said Polly absently. “My! Don' you look fine in your new dress!” She was anxious to draw the girl out of her reverie. “Do you like it?” Polly asked eagerly, forgetting her depression of a moment before. “Do you think Mr. John will like it?” “Masse John? Mercy me! He nebber takes no notice ob dem things. I done got a bran', spankin' new allapaca, one time, an' do you think HE ebber seed it? Lawsy, no! We might jes' well be goin' roun' like Mudder Eve for all dat man know.” Polly looked disappointed. “But udder folks sees,” Mandy continued, comfortingly, “an' you certainly look mighty fine. Why, you's just as good now as you was afore you got hurled!” “Yes, I'm well now and able to work again.” There was no enthusiasm in her tone, for Hasty's news had made her realise how unwelcome the old life would be to her. “Work! You does work all de time. My stars! de help you is to Massa John.” “Do you think so? Do I help him?--Do I?”