"'Deed an' I ain't gwine t' no circus. I doan't want t' be et up by no ragin' lion who goeth about seekin' what he may devour, laik it says in de Good Book. Dere's enough wild animiles right yeah on dish year farm--wild bulls, wild rams an' turkey gobblers, what pulls cats by dere tails. No, sah! honey lamb--I ain't gwine t' no circus!" CHAPTER XIV FREDDIE IS MISSING Flossie came back from her talk with Dinah, looking very disappointed. "What is the matter, dear?" asked her mother, noting the sorrowful look on the little girl's face. "Dinah isn't going to the circus," said Flossie, almost ready to cry, for she was very fond of the faithful and loving colored woman. "Oh, I guess she'll go with us," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Why doesn't she want to come?" "She's afraid of the wild animals," answered Flossie. "Pooh! I'm not afraid!" boasted Freddie. "You tell her, Flossie, that I'll take my fire engine along an' scare 'em. Wait, I'll tell her myself." Out Freddie ran to the kitchen, where Dinah was helping Martha with the baking. "Don't you be afraid, Dinah!" he cried. "I won't let any of the wild animals get you!" "Bress yo' heart, honey lamb!" exclaimed the colored cook with a laugh that made her shake "like a bowl full of jelly." "I--I'll scare 'em off with my fire engine," Freddie went on. "Will yo', honey lamb? So yo' won't let ole black Dinah get hurted, eh? Well, honey, lamb, I'd gib yo' all a hug but mah hands am all flour," and Dinah held them up for Freddie to see. "Never mind, you can hug me some other time--you can hug me twice to make up for this," said Freddie. "Now you'll come to the circus, won't you?" "I--I'll see, honey lamb," Dinah half-promised. Later Mrs. Bobbsey told the colored cook there would be no danger, and when Dinah learned that Uncle Daniel was going, as well as one of his hired men, she made no more objections. The day of the circus came, bright and sunny. Everyone was up early in the farm-house, for Uncle Daniel said they wanted to be in time to see the morning parade. Then they would eat their dinner, which they would take with them, as though it were a picnic, and go to the show in the afternoon. "Oh, I wish papa were here!" sighed Nan, as she and Bert left the breakfast table. "Why, you're not afraid, are you?" he asked. "No, only I'd like him to see the show," she said. Nan was always thoughtful for her father. "Yes, it would be nicer if he could come with us," agreed Bert. And then he forgot all about it, because he and Harry had a discussion as to whether an elephant or a hippopotamus could eat the most hay. Work on the farm was almost forgotten that circus day. Uncle Daniel and the hired man did what had to be done, and then the horses were hitched to the big wagon, which was filled with straw. Mrs. Bobbsey and Aunt Sarah were busy dressing Flossie and Freddie. Bert, Harry and Nan could look out for themselves. Dinah and Martha were busy in the kitchen putting up the lunch.