them. That boy wasn't in this tent more than two minutes, an' he
attends to his work better than anyone you have ever had; so see
that you treat him decent. Get up," she said to Toby, who had not
dared to rise from the ground; "and if he offers to strike you
again, come to me."

Toby scrambled to his feet, and ran to the booth in time to attend
to one or two customers who had just come up. He could see from out
the corner of his eye that Mr. Lord had arisen to his feet also,
and was engaged in an angry conversation with Mrs. Treat, the result
of which he very much feared would be another and a worse whipping
for him.

But in this he was mistaken, for Mr. Lord, after the conversation
was ended, came toward the booth, and began to attend to his business
without speaking one word to Toby. When Mr. Jacobs returned from
his supper, Mr. Lord took him by the arm and walked him out toward
the rear of the tents; and Tony was very positive that he was to
be the subject of their conversation, which made him not a little
uneasy.

It was not until nearly time for the performance to begin that Mr.
Lord returned, and he had nothing to say to Toby save to tell him
to go into the tent and begin his work there. The boy was only
too glad to escape so easily, and he went to his work with as much
alacrity as if he were about entering upon some pleasure.

When he met Mr. Jacobs that gentleman spoke to him very sharply
about being late, and seemed to think it no excuse at all that he
had just been relieved from the outside work by Mr. Lord.