“It’s music of some kind,” said Anne. “Oh — I believe I know what it is!”

“What?” said the others.

“It must be Tapper’s Travelling Circus Band practising for opening night,” said Anne.

“Well, that’s tomorrow,” yawned George. “Yes — it does sound like a band. Maybe we shall see the bandsmen after tea, when we put up our tents. I’d like to see the Boneless Man, wouldn’t you?”

“NO!” said Anne. “He’d be all limp and wriggly and horrid — like a worm or a jellyfish! I shan’t go and see him. But I’d love to see the horses and the Dancing Donkey. Does he dance to the band, do you think?”

“We’ll find out when we go,” said Dick, “as it opens tomorrow. If Mr Tapper isn’t annoyed about Tinker trying to turn them out, he might let us wander round.”

“I don’t think I want to come,” said Tinker. “Mr Tapper was rude — and that boy knocked me flat.”

“Well, I expect I’d do the same if I thought you were being rude to my Grandad,” said Julian, lazily “Now — it’s settled, is it, that we go down with our things to the field after tea, and see if we can put up our tents in some sheltered corner?”

“Yes,” said everyone. Dick idly tickled Mischief’s nose with a thin blade of grass. The monkey sneezed at once, and then again. He rubbed his little paw across his nose and stared disapprovingly at Dick. Then he sneezed once more.

“Borrow a hanky, old thing,” said Julian. And, to everyone’s intense amusement, Mischief leapt across to Dick and neatly pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket! Then he pretended to blow his nose.

Everyone roared with laughter, and Mischief was delighted. “You’ll be stolen to act in a circus one day, if you behave like that!” said Dick, snatching back his hanky. “The Pick-pocket Monkey!”

“He’d be very good in a circus,” said Julian.

“I’d never let him join a circus!” said Tinker at once. “He might have a dreadful life.”

“No. I don’t think he would,” said Julian. “Circus-folk love their animals and are proud of them. And after all, if they treated them unkindly, the animals wouldn’t be happy or healthy, and couldn’t enjoy their acts. Most circus people treat their animals like one of the family.”

“What? Even a chimpanzee?” said Anne, in horror.

“They’re nice creatures — and very clever,” said Julian. “Mischief, do not remove my handkerchief, please. It was funny the first time, but not a second time. Look at him now, trying to undo Timmy’s collar.”

“Come and sit quietly by me, Mischief,” ordered Tinker, and the little creature obediently went to him and cuddled on to his knee, making a soft, crooning noise.

“You’re a humbug,” said Tinker, fondling him. “You be careful I don’t give you away to the circus, and get an elephant in exchange!”

“Idiot!” said Dick, and everyone laughed at the thought of Tinker and an elephant. What in the world would he do with it?