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at Erin and Nora. “Make sure you’re back in time for practice.”
    â€œYes, Pa!” Erin was already dashing away over the grass with Nora at her heels.
    Lizzie raced after them, puffing by the time she reached the park gates. Erin and Nora were already pasting a bill onto a pillar. It read:
    Fitzy’s Traveling Circus
Every Evening at Dusk
The Astonishing Boissets
Mario the Mighty
Sullivans’ Bareback Balleta
    â€œThat’s us,” Nora pointed to the Balleta. “We perform a whole ballet on horseback, costume changes an’ all.”
    â€œWho’s he?” Lizzie asked, pointing to a handsome young man. The bill said he was one of the Astonishing Boissets. With dark hair and shining eyes, he looked like a prince.
    Erin and Nora looked at one another and giggled.
    â€œTell me!” Lizzie said, growing a little hot in the face.
    â€œTell you? We’ll introduce you,” Nora said with a grin.
    â€œKeep a look out, Lizzie.” Erin slapped another brushful of paste over the poster, covering the handsome youth with a blob of gloop. “Police don’t like us bill-sticking.”
    â€œLeave it to me.” Lizzie was used to playing lookout. She’d kept watch for Pa often enough while he’d been pulling one of his begging scams. She backed out into the road until she had a clear view of both sides of the park and could glance over her shoulder and see straight down Oxford Street. There was no sign of a blue uniform among the shoppers on Oxford Street, and the sidewalks beside the park were empty except for the occasional stroller or a nanny out for a bit of early morning air. “If I see a police officer I’ll do this.” Lizzie whistled a shrill warning.
    Nora grinned. “I think we’ll hear that a mile off.”
    Lizzie spotted a smartly dressed gent on Oxford Street. “Circus ticket, sir?” She crossed the road and fell into step beside him. “I’m sure your family would love to watch the World-Famous Bareback Balleta.” The gent slowed, and Lizzie quickly tore off five tickets. “There’s acrobats and elephants and humpbacked horses.”
    â€œHumpbacked horses?” The gent stopped.
    â€œLike horses, but bigger and much humpier,” Lizzie told him. “I seen them m’self. Big long noses and goo-goo eyes.” She made a face, trying to show him how the odd animals had looked at her last night.
    The gent suddenly smiled. “I think my family would enjoy seeing humpy horses with goo-goo eyes.”
    â€œFive tickets for a shilling.” Lizzie held up the tickets and took his shilling. “Thank you kindly, sir.” Grinning, she checked the roads again for police and headed toward another shopper. “Circus tickets, five for a shilling!”
    * * *
    Back at the circus, Lizzie jingled her dress pockets as she followed Fitzy around the outside of the big tent. They were heavy with coins. “I sold ’em all.”
    â€œI’m impressed!” Fitzy stepped over a rope and tugged it to make sure it was taut. “You’re a natural.”
    â€œWhat can I do now?” Lizzie asked.
    â€œDump your coins there.” Fitzy spread a handkerchief on the grass. “Then go give Anita a hand.” He waved toward the Ten-in-One tent.
    Lizzie emptied her pockets and hurried away, dodging between the stalls until she reached the Ten-in-One tent. As she burst through the door, Anita spun around on her stage.
    â€œHello,” Lizzie panted. “Fitzy sent me to help.” She glanced around the empty stages. “Where is everyone?”
    â€œThe show don’t open till dusk,” Anita said. “Hang about, I’ve seen you before, haven’t I? You was in the audience last night.”
    â€œI’m Lizzie.” She climbed onto the stage beside Anita.
    The tiny woman waved toward her backdrop. “That needs changing. It’s filthy, but I