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21. How the King Changed His Mind
Just then a rabbit band of nearly fifty pieces marched in, playing upon
golden instruments and dressed in neat uniforms. Following the band
came the nobility of Bunnybury, all richly dressed and hopping along on
their rear legs. Both the ladies and the gentlemen wore white gloves
upon their paws, with their rings on the outside of the gloves, as this
seemed to be the fashion here. Some of the lady rabbits carried
lorgnettes, while many of the gentlemen rabbits wore monocles in their
left eyes.
The courtiers and their ladies paraded past the King, who introduced
Princess Dorothy to each couple in a very graceful manner. Then the
company seated themselves in chairs and on sofas and looked
expectantly at their monarch.
"
It is our royal duty, as well as our royal pleasure," he said, "to provide
fitting entertainment for our distinguished guest. We will now present
the Royal Band of Whiskered Friskers."
As he spoke the musicians, who had arranged themselves in a corner,
struck up a dance melody while into the room pranced the Whiskered
Friskers. They were eight pretty rabbits dressed only in gauzy purple
skirts fastened around their waists with diamond bands. Their whiskers
were colored a rich purple, but otherwise they were pure white.
After bowing before the King and Dorothy the Friskers began their
pranks, and these were so comical that Dorothy laughed with real
enjoyment. They not only danced together, whirling and gyrating around
the room, but they leaped over one another, stood upon their heads and
hopped and skipped here and there so nimbly that it was hard work to
keep track of them. Finally, they all made double somersaults and
turned handsprings out of the room.
The nobility enthusiastically applauded, and Dorothy applauded with
them.
"
They're fine!" she said to the King.
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