Elverson's behaviour was beyond their power of expression. Miss
Perkins turned to the pastor, as though he were somehow to blame
for the deacon's backsliding, but before she could find words to
argue the point, the timid little deacon appeared in the doorway,
utterly unconscious of the hostile reception that Hasty had
prepared for him. He glanced nervously from one set face to the
other, then coughed behind his hat,
"We're all very much interested in the circus," said Douglas.
"Can't you tell us about it?"
"I just went into the lot to look for my son," stammered the
deacon. "I feared Peter had strayed."
"Why, deacon," said Mrs. Willoughby. "I just stopped by your
house and saw Mrs. Elverson putting Peter to bed."
The deacon was saved from further embarrassment by an exclamation
from Julia, who had stayed at the window. "Oh, look; something
has happened!" she cried. "There's a crowd. They are coming
this way."
Douglas crossed quickly to Julia's side, and saw an excited mob
collecting before the entrance to the main tent. He had time to
discover no more before Mandy burst in at the door, panting with
excitement and rolling her large, white-rimmed eyeballs.
"Mars John, a little circus girl done fall off her hoss!" she
cried.
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