"You're hungry; aren't you?" asked Grandpa Brown.

"Hungry. Oh, sir--I--I haven't had anything since breakfast, and then it
was only a green apple and some berries I picked."

"Land sakes!" cried Grandma Brown. "Why didn't you go up to the first
house you came to and ask for a meal?"

"I--I didn't like to, ma'am. I thought maybe they'd set the dog on me,
thinking I was a tramp."

By this time Splash, the big pet dog, had come around the path. The
strange boy looked around as though getting ready to run.

"He won't hurt you," said Bunny quickly. "Splash is a good dog."

Splash went up to the strange boy, rubbed his cold, wet nose on the
boy's legs, and then Splash began to wag his tail.

"See, he likes you," said Sue. "He's going to be in our show; Splash is.
He's going to be half a blue-striped tiger when we have our circus."

"Circus!" cried the strange boy. "Is--is there a circus around here?"
and he seemed much surprised, even frightened, Bunny thought afterward.

"No, there isn't any circus," said Grandpa Brown. "It's only a
make-believe one the children are getting up. But we musn't keep you
standing here talking when you're half starved. Get him something to
eat, Mother. The idea of being afraid to go to a house and ask for
something!" said Grandpa Brown, in a low voice.