I had been the means of Spitz's death--very well, I could hide myself in some obscure corner of the amphitheater, and gaze at her mournfully from the distance.

While she gazed at the ring, I would gaze at _her_.
So I went to the circus, along with a good many other people.

_She_ came early with the Cooper party, and seemed interested and amused by the rough-board seats, and the novelty of the scene, and the audience.
I had not yet chosen my perch on the boards, for I wanted to get as near to her as I could without her observing me.
The sight of her--resolved as I was to be cool, calm, and collected--so affected my eyesight that I walked right into the rope stretched around the ring, and fell over into the tan-bark.
All the boys hooted and laughed, and made personal remarks, wanting to know if I were the clown, and similar questions, which I heard with silent dignity.

I hoped and prayed that _she_ had not recognized the tumbler who had begun the performances as an amateur, and without any salary from Barnum.

They were on the opposite side of the circle, and perhaps I escaped their remark.
Contriving to mingle myself with some newcomers, I made my way more cautiously to within a few feet of my charmer.