give me two for each one of 'em before I crack 'em, an' then they
won't be spoiled so you can't sell 'em again."

As this offer of barter was made, the man looked amused, and he
asked, as he counted out the number which Toby desired, "If I give
you these, I suppose you'll want me to give you two more for each
one, and you'll keep that kind of a trade going until you get my
whole stock?"

"I won't open my head if every one of em's bad."

"All right; you can keep what you've got, and I'll give you these
besides; but I don't want you to buy any more, for I don't want to
do that kind of business."

Toby took the nuts offered, not in the least abashed, and seated
himself on a convenient stone to eat them, and at the same time to
see all that was going on around him. The coming of a circus to the
little town of Guilford was an event, and Toby had hardly thought
of anything else since the highly colored posters had first been
put up. It was yet quite early in the morning, and the tents were
just being erected by the men. Toby had followed, with eager eyes,
everything that looked as if it belonged to the circus, from the
time the first wagon had entered the town until the street parade
had been made and everything was being prepared for the afternoon's
performance.

The man who had made the losing trade in peanuts seemed disposed
to question the boy still further, probably owing to the fact that
he had nothing better to do.