Petticoat Rebellion Read Free Page B

hastened to the front door, her bronze head bobbing in excitement. Over her shoulder she called to Abbie, “Call the girls, Miss Fairly. They will not want to miss this.”
    It was not necessary to call them. Kate and Annabelle had heard the drum and had come running, with Lady Susan following at a more sedate gait. Her haughty face was in contrast to the other girls’excitement.
    “What luck!”Kate exclaimed. “I feared we would be dull as ditch water in the country, but a circus! That is something like!”
    It was hard to deny them a look at the parade when their hostess stood at the doorway, urging them out. Truth to tell, Abbie felt a surge of excitement herself at the insistent beat of the drum. A brown mongrel of no identifiable breed appeared at her skirt tails, barking furiously. They went in a troupe across the sun-dappled lawn to a lane leading to the meadow where the tents were already under construction. Servants ran out to join them as the motley parade passed, accompanied by the ragtag and bobtail of village youngsters.
    A covered wagon led the way, with “O’Leary’s Traveling Circus”painted on the canvas side in glaring red, enlivened with details of the show. “Dancing girls, tumblers, elephants, performing horses, monkeys.”In the driver’s seat sat a handsome young fellow with a bold smile and flashing eyes. His outfit resembled the scarlet regimentals of an army officer, liberally trimmed with brass buttons and gold braid. In place of a shako, he wore a red-peaked cap trimmed in gilt. He lifted his cap to the ladies, revealing a head of glossy black hair, and called a greeting as he passed.
    Abbie noticed with a sinking heart that Kate waved back frantically, Annabelle stared in fascination, and even Lady Susan evinced some interest, which was unusual for her. But the most excited of them all was Lady Penfel.
    “What fun!”she cried. “I wish Algie were here. How he would love it. Oh, look, Cuddles! A mama elephant and her baby.”
    Abbie looked to see if Lady Penfel was addressing her stately butler in this familiar fashion, and realized it was to the mutt that she spoke. Cuddles barked his agreement and went running after the parade, tail wagging in delight.
    Lady Penfel turned to Sifton and asked, “Where is Algie? I wonder why he is not here for this show.”
    “His lordship is at Lewes, your ladyship.”
    “So he is. I had forgotten. Wretched how things slip out of your mind when you are old. He went to offer for Lady Eleanor. Surely, she will not have him, do you think?”Before Sifton could reply, she turned her attention back to the parade. A flat-bottomed carriage came into view. On its floor three young ladies in immodest outfits of vaguely Egyptian style undulated to raucous music provided by the marching band.
    “How do they do it?”Lady Penfel asked. “Only look how they swing their rumps. Their bones must be made of rubber.”She tried to imitate them, gave a wince of pain, and grabbed at her back.
    The dancing girls were followed by donkeys decked out in bells and ribbons and hats, and by tumblers and jugglers in motley suits. These bold fellows leered at the female servants and called out, urging them to attend the grand opening that night.
    Lady Penfel turned to Abbie. “I have free tickets for us all. Algie sent them,”she said, with the air of conferring a great treat.
    “Oh, I am not at all sure Miss Slatkin would—”
    “Deuce take Miss Slatkin. The ladies are under my care!”In the twinkling of a bedpost, the foolish-looking woman turned into a grande dame. “I would not dream of depriving them of such a rare treat. Where else will they see dancing dogs and such sights? Marvelous. I can hardly wait.”
    Abbie stood, disliking what she was hearing, but forbidden by both etiquette and orders from disagreeing with her hostess. Miss Slatkin had made perfectly clear she was to defer to Lady Penfel’s decisions, but Miss Slatkin was not personally acquainted