The clear, soft eyes, still dim with tears, sought his with an innocent gaze of inquiry and wonder.

At that moment, the expression of the sad and lovely little face seemed to say--"You look as if you wanted to be kind to me; I wish you could find out some way of telling me of it." Valentine's heart told him what was the only way.

He caught her up in his arms, and half smothered her with kisses.

The frail, childish hands rose trembling, and clasped themselves gently round his neck; and the fair head drooped lower and lower, wearily, until it lay on his shoulder.
The clown's wife turned away her face, desperately stifling with both hands the sobs that were beginning to burst from her afresh.

She whispered, "Oh, go, sir,--pray go! Some of the riders will be in here directly; you'll get us into dreadful trouble!" Valentine rose, still holding the child in his arms.