It's more cheerfuller."
The side-showman was already beginning his spiel in the lot
below. The lemonade venders{sic} and the popcorn sellers were
heard crying their wares. Douglas did not answer her. She
bustled from the room, declaring "she was jes' goin' ter bring
him a morsel."
He crossed to the window and looked out upon the circus lot. The
flare of the torches and the red fire came up to meet his pale,
tense face. "How like the picture of thirteen months ago," he
thought, and old Toby's words came back to him-- "The show has
got to go on."
Above the church steeple, the moon was battling its way through
the clouds. His eyes travelled from heaven to earth. There was
a spirit of unreality in it all. Something made him mistrust
himself, his very existence. He longed to have done with dreams
and speculation, to feel something tangible, warm, and real
within his grasp. "I can't go on like this!" he cried. "I
can't!" He turned from the window and walked hurriedly up and
down the room; indoors or out, he found no rest. He threw
himself in the armchair near the table, and sat buried in
thought.
Mandy came softly into the room. She was followed by Hasty, who
carried a tray, laden with things that ought to have tempted any
man.
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