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20. How Dorothy Lunched With a King
A line of rabbit soldiers was drawn up before the palace entrance, and
they wore green and gold uniforms with high shakos upon their heads
and held tiny spears in their hands. The Captain had a sword and a
white plume in his shako.
"
Salute!" called the Keeper of the Wicket. "Salute Princess Dorothy, who
comes from Ozma of Oz!"
"
Salute!" yelled the Captain, and all the soldiers promptly saluted.
They now entered the great hall of the palace, where they met a gaily
dressed attendant, from whom the Keeper of the Wicket inquired if the
King were at leisure.
"
I think so," was the reply. "I heard his Majesty blubbering and wailing
as usual only a few minutes ago. If he doesn't stop acting like a cry-baby
I'm going to resign my position here and go to work."
"
What's the matter with your King?" asked Dorothy, surprised to hear the
rabbit attendant speak so disrespectfully of his monarch.
"
Oh, he doesn't want to be King, that's all; and he simply HAS to," was
the reply.
"
Come!" said the Keeper of the Wicket, sternly; "lead us to his Majesty;
and do not air our troubles before strangers, I beg of you."
"
Why, if this girl is going to see the King, he'll air his own troubles,"
returned the attendant.
"
That is his royal privilege," declared the Keeper.
So the attendant led them into a room all draped with cloth-of-gold and
furnished with satin-covered gold furniture. There was a throne in this
room, set on a dais and having a big, cushioned seat, and on this seat
reclined the Rabbit King. He was lying on his back, with his paws in the
air, and whining very like a puppy-dog.
"
Your Majesty! your Majesty! Get up. Here's a visitor," called out the
attendant.
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