he pointed to an old man, shabbily dressed, with long white hair, thin visage, and unsteady eyes. for some years past this aged person had been wandering about among the hills, inquiring of all travellers whom he met for his daughter. the girl, it seemed, had gone off with a company of circus-performers, and occasionally tidings of her came to the village, and fine stories were told of her glittering appearance as she rode on horseback in the ring, or performed marvellous feats on the tight-rope.