He did not go home to dinner that day, and once or twice he felt
impelled to walk past the candy stand, giving a mysterious shake of
the head at the proprietor as he did so. The afternoon performance
passed off as usual to all of the spectators save Toby. He imagined
that each one of the performers knew that he was about to join them;
and even as he passed the cage containing the monkeys he fancied
that one particularly old one knew all about his intention of
running away.

Of course it was necessary for him to go home at the close of the
afternoon's performance, in order to get one or two valuable articles
of his own -- such as a boat, a kite, and a pair of skates -- and
in order that his actions might not seem suspicious. Before he left
the grounds, however, he stole slyly around to the candy stand, and
informed Mr. Job Lord, in a very hoarse whisper, that he would be
on hand at the time appointed.

Mr. Lord patted him on the head, gave him two large sticks of candy,
and, what was more kind and surprising, considering the fact that
he wore glasses and was cross eyed, he winked at Toby. A wink from
Mr. Lord must have been intended to convey a great deal, because,
owing to the defect in his eyes, it required no little exertion,
and even then could not be considered as a really first class wink.

That wink, distorted as it was, gladdened Toby's heart immensely
and took away nearly all the sting of the scolding with which Uncle
Daniel greeted him when he reached home.

That night -- despite the fact that he was going to travel with the
circus, despite the fact that his home was not a happy or cheerful