They squeezed under a gate and entered the road. Nobody noticed them, for all eyes were looking for the first sight of the Fair. They passed a row of caravans, with buckets at the doors, and shining knockers, and lace curtains at the windows. Through the open doors they could see the china shepherdesses on the ledges, and the photographs and artificial flowers.

They came to the swing boats, which stood in the main street of the old town, with the boats flying up to the trees and children pulling the ropes….

He led them to the roundabouts, where very little children in bonnets and shawls sat upon the smallest wooden horses, which moved when a handle was turned. Fathers and mothers stood proudly by and the little boys and girls clung anxiously to their steeds.

He pointed across the square to a fine merry-go-round with prancing horses, three in a row, which galloped so dizzily they were amazed. The music blared and the horses tossed their scraggy tails, and held their painted heads so bravely that Ann thought they were alive. Their red mouths were open, and their glassy eyes blinked in the sunshine. Round and round they circled, under the scarlet and yellow canopy. Behind them was the black and white timbered Saracen's Head, with a water-trough and a mounting block. Opposite was the grey tower of the church, and all along the pavements were booths with peppermint rock and brandy snap and mint cakes.

Among the great elm trees by the church-yard was a man trying his strength with a hammer. Next they came to a coconut shy, three balls for a penny, and they watched some children throwing at the great brown nuts.

They walked round the Fair, winding their way through the maze of caravans and sideshows, the booths and tents which filled the centre of the market town. The roadway was thronged with people, and at each little stall was a crowd of children sucking peppermints, nibbling toffee apples, and clutching their pennies in hot sticky hands. Some of the children looked at them with curious glances, and then turned back to the more entrancing hobby-horses and green-scaled sea-serpents, and golden dragons which pranced and swam in dizzy circles.