'What is it, Toby?' asked Rosalie.

'It's a large circus, Miss Rosie; master said they were going to be here,
and he was afraid they would carry a good many people off from us.'

The theatre party had to draw up on one side of the street to let the long
procession pass.

First came a gilded car filled with musicians, who were playing a noisy
tune. This was followed by about a dozen men on horseback, some dressed in
shining armour, as knights of the olden time, and others as cavaliers of
the time of the Stuarts.

Then came another large gilded car, on the top of which was a golden
dragon, with coloured reins round its neck, which were held by an old man,
dressed as an ancient Briton, and supposed to personate St. George. Then
came a number of mounted ladies, dressed in brilliant velvet habits, one
green, one red, one yellow, one violet; each of them holding long orange
reins, which were fastened to spirited piebald horses, which they drove
before them.

These were followed by a man riding on two ponies, standing with one leg on
each, and going at a great pace. Then two little girls and a little boy
passed on three diminutive ponies, and next a tiny carriage, drawn by four
little cream-coloured horses, and driven by a boy dressed as the Lord
Mayor's coachman.

Then came an absurd succession of clowns, driving, riding, or standing on
donkeys, and dressed in hideous costumes. Then, three or four very tall and