"Not only may, but she has commissioned me to ask you to.
I think we had better be moving over to the cook tent, now,
if we wish any breakfast. I expect the hungry roustabouts
have about cleaned the place out by this time."

They soon arrived at the cook tent. Here Phil left Mr. Sparling
while he passed about among the tables, greeting such of his old
acquaintances as he had not yet seen that morning. He was
introduced to many of the new ones, all of whom had heard pretty
much everything about Phil's past achievements before he reached
their tables. The people of a circus are much like a big family,
and everyone knows, or thinks he knows, the whole family history
of his associates.

Even Phil's plucky work in the big top, less than an hour before,
had already traveled to the cook tent, and many curious glances
were directed to the slim, modest, boy as he passed among his
friends quietly, giving them his greetings.

Teddy, on the other hand, was not saying a word. He was
busy eating.

"How's your appetite this morning, Teddy?" questioned Phil,
sinking down on the bench beside his companion.

"Pretty fair," answered Teddy in a muffled voice. "I began at
the top--"

"Top of what?"