For a long time she and Humpty tried alternately to open the door, but
nothing that they could do was of any avail.
[Sidenote: Locked in]
"I think it is locked," said Humpty at last, sitting down despondently.
He was panting breathlessly, and began to swing his legs.
Dumpty's eyes grew wide with terror, her lips trembled.
"Have they locked us in on purpose?" she asked.
"Yes," said Humpty, "the circus people have locked us in, and they won't
unlock the door until they have left Woodstead."
"And then?" asked Dumpty.
"Then they will keep us, and never let us come home again--like they did
to Poor Jane's brother, and I shall be a bare-back rider, and you will
wear the blue velvet gown, and ride in the processions on the piebald
pony."
"And we shall never see mummie or daddy again--or Nan--or Poor Jane,"
said Dumpty, beginning to cry.
"No, we shall never see them again," answered Humpty, swallowing hard to
keep himself from crying.
Dumpty was crying bitterly now, and the loud sobs shook her small body.
Humpty looked dismally at his surroundings, and continued to swing his
legs.
"Give over!" he said to Dumpty, after one of her loudest sobs; "it will
never do for them to see that you've been crying, or they will be just
furious."
After a time Dumpty dried her eyes, and went to the window, and drew
back the curtains.
"It's getting dark," she said.
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