by Enid Blyton
Mr. Galliano cocked his hat even further on one side and beamed all over his broad face.
“That’s the nicest speech I have ever had made to me, yes!” he said. “And I too will make one back to you! I and Tessa are proud of you all—you are like children to us, and we are father and mother to our large circus-family. We must see that you are happy, yes, and then we are happy too. But Britomart—poor Britomart—he cannot know what happiness is.”
“Well, he always looks either angry or fierce,” said Mr. Wally, who did not feel any pity for the harsh ring-master at all. “He deserves to be unhappy for the way he treats us all.”
When Britomart came back, he was surprised to find Mr. Galliano waiting for him. The old ring-master was not unjust or scornful, but he did tell Britomart a few truths that he thought he should know.
“Britomart, my circus is going to pieces under your hand, yes!” he said. “This I cannot allow, for I have built it up myself, and it is my pride and joy. You may handle the show well when it is in the ring, but you cannot handle my circus-folk. Britomart, a little kindness and praise would have kept these folk happy, yes—but all you gave them was harsh words and punishments.”
“Galliano, you have spoilt the people in this circus,” said Britomart in his usual cold, deep voice, his black eyes flashing. “They are disobedient, rude, and quarrelsome. No man can manage a camp like this.”
“I have managed it for years,” said Galliano, “and I am going to manage it again, yes.”
“Everyone is leaving, except Zeno, some of the clowns, and Pierre,” said Britomart.
“No one is leaving—except those you say!” said Mr. Galliano, putting his hat on straight and looking stern. “Britomart, take your share of the money and what performers will go with you. Make your own circus, if you can—you will not keep it long until you learn that only one thing rules a camp, and that is kindness, yes!”
Mr. Galliano left the caravan, his hat still straight on his head. Britomart was left alone. He stared after the old ring-master, and a sad look came into his big black eyes. He knew himself to be a cleverer man than Galliano—but he was impatient and scornful where Mr. Galliano was kind and understanding. He was a lonely and unhappy man—but it was his own fault.
“If I get another chance, I’ll try Galliano’s ideas,” he thought. “Look at the circus-folk out there, crowding round him—they never gave me those smiles and handshakes and claps on the back. They’ll all stay with him—and I shall be left with Pierre and one or two others. I shan’t try to make a new circus—I shall go off again on my own, and be Britomart the conjurer.”
So that evening Britomart packed his things, cleared Galliano’s caravan for him, and drove off in his magnificent blue-and-silver car. He said good-bye to no one, for he was a disappointed and rather ashamed man. No one waved to him. No one wished him luck. He was gone, and nobody cared. Poor Britomart—the worst enemy he had was himself.
What an evening that was in the camp! It happened to be the last evening of the show, and Galliano, of course, was to be ring-master.
“We’ll make it the best show we’ve ever given,” cried Sticky Stanley in delight, turning six somersaults at once. “And, Lotta, you’ll be able to have your turn again!”
Galliano forbade Lisa and Jeanne to go into the ring—much to Jimmy’s delight and Lotta’s, Now that he knew how those two unpleasant children had got Jimmy and Lotta into trouble, Galliano had no time for them, and ordered them out of his way whenever they came near to beg him to let them go into the ring that last splendid evening.
“You have a lesson to learn, yes!” he shouted at red-haired Lisa. “I will treat you as Britomart treated Lotta—you will, both go to your caravan and STAY THERE! And if I see you out of it, I will chase you with my big whip, yes.”
Of course everyone knew that Galliano would do nothing of the sort, but Lisa and Jeanne were very much afraid he might. So they scuttled off to their caravan, crying bitterly, and Lotta and Jimmy watched them go.
“Well, it isn’t kind to be glad when people are unhappy,” said Jimmy, “but really, Lotta, those two deserve a bit of trouble now.”
“I hope they get lots,” said Lotta fiercely. Then she laughed. “Oh, Jimmy—I’m so happy now, that I can’t even feel really fierce about Lisa and Jeanne! I just don’t care about them any more. In fact, I’m so happy that I might even go and show them my lovely new doll! They’ve never seen her yet.”
“Don’t you do anything of the sort,” said Jimmy. “Why, you might find yourself feeling so happy you’d give Rosemary to Lisa!”
“Oh!” said Lotta with a squeal. “You know I’d never do that. Come on, Jimmy—it’s time we got ready for the show. We shall do our turn together again. I shall ride dear old Black Beauty in the ring, and hear the claps and shouts. And it will be Mr. Galliano standing In the middle, cracking his whip, instead of stern old Britomart!”
Lotta danced off to put on her sparkling circus-frock. The little girl was so happy that her eyes shone like stars. It was Galliano’s Circus again—Jimmy was staying on with Lucky—things would be the same as they used to be. And it was she, Lotta, who had found Mr. Galliano and got him back! No wonder Lotta felt proud and excited and happy.
An hour before the circus began, a caravan came up the lane to the field. It was bright orange with blue wheels—and Jimmy knew it at once.
“Lotta! Lotta! Quick! Here’s Madame Prunella come back again—hark at her parrots all screeching!”
And sure enough it was! Somehow Prunella had heard the news that Britomart was gone and Galliano was back, and she too had come to join in the last night of the show. Oh, what fun! How the plump little woman hugged and kissed everyone, and how the parrots screeched and squealed!
“Fried fish and chips, fried fish and chips!” yelled Gringle in excitement, and the children laughed in delight “Good old Gringle! We have missed you!”
It was a splendid show that night, for everyone was happy and determined to do their best for Galliano. He stood in the middle of the ring, his hat well on one side, his sunburnt face very happy indeed. The only things that made him feel uncomfortable were his clothes! They really were much too tight for him now.
The people clapped and shouted and cheered till they were hoarse. They stamped their feet at the end of the show, and waved their hats and handkerchiefs.
“Best circus we’ve ever seen!” they said to one another. “Quite the best!”
It was late before everyone went to bed that night. How they talked! How they sang and laughed in the camp, till the dogs got restless and whined, and Lucky fell fast asleep in her master’s arms.
Galliano sent them all off to their caravans at last.
They stumbled up the steps, yawning, but very happy. The circus was not to split up after all! They were all to go on the road as usual.
All? Well, not quite all. Google did not want to stay, for he said there were too many children in the camp for his liking. And Pierre was not going with the circus either, for Galliano had heard from Mrs. Brown that Lisa and Jeanne would be better away. Also Pierre had been friendly with Britomart, so that no one really felt that they wanted him to stay.
Jimmy was sorry that Neptune was to go, for he liked the clever seal. But never mind, Madame Prunella was back again with her flock of wonderful parrots. Zeno was staying, and Twinkle and Pippi, so the circus was very big still, and had plenty of performers.
“Good-night, Jimmy,” said Lotta, going to her own caravan. “Isn’t everything lovely now?”
“Yes—and all because you were such a fierce little girl and wouldn’t put up with the horrid things that were happening,” said Jimmy. “Good for you, Lotta! I’m proud of you!”
The two children were soon fast asleep. Lulu the spaniel lay on Lotta’s feet, and Rosemary the doll was beside her. Little dog Lucky was on Jimmy’s toes, and they all dreamed happily of the good days to come.
“Good old Galliano!” said Jimmy in his sleep.
“I’m so glad you’re back again, Galliano—good old Galliano!”
The End
Illustrations
Table of Contents
The Circus is on the Road
Madame Prunella and her Parrots
Madame Prunella joins the Show
What Happened on a Windy Night
The Hunt for the Bears
Back to the Camp
Prunella is Found
The Circus Moves On
Zebras—A Seal—And Two Little Girls!
The Three New Clowns
Britomart Joins the Circus
Poor Mrs. Galliano!
Britomart, the Man without a Smile
Lotta Gets into Trouble
Lotta Makes New Friends
Lisa Plays a Trick
Prunella Loses Her Temper
More Trouble!
Lotta is Punished
What Will Happen to the Circus?
Jimmy Learns the Truth
A Fine Old Muddle!
Lotta Disappears!
Lotta’s Big Adventure
Lotta Gets Her Way
Good Old Galliano!
Illustrations
