Озма из страны Оз
19. The King of Ev
Beforelongthecavalcadearrivedattheroyalpalace,whereagreatcrowdofpeoplehadgatheredtowelcometheirQueenandhertenchildren.Therewasmuchshoutingandcheering,andthepeoplethrewflowersintheirpath,andeveryfaceworeahappysmile.
TheyfoundthePrincessLangwidereinhermirroredchamber,whereshewasadmiringoneofherhandsomestheads--onewithrichchestnuthair,dreamywalnuteyesandashapelyhickorynutnose.ShewasverygladtoberelievedofherdutiestothepeopleofEv,andtheQueengraciouslypermittedhertoretainherroomsandhercabinetofheadsaslongasshelived.
ThentheQueentookhereldestsonoutuponabalconythatoverlookedthecrowdofsubjectsgatheredbelow,andsaidtothem:
"Hereisyourfutureruler,KingEvardoFifteenth.Heisfifteenyearsofage,hasfifteensilverbucklesonhisjacketandisthefifteenthEvardotorulethelandofEv."
Thepeopleshoutedtheirapprovalfifteentimes,andeventheWheelers,someofwhomwerepresent,loudlypromisedtoobeythenewKing.
SotheQueenplacedabigcrownofgold,setwithrubies,uponEvardo’shead,andthrewanerminerobeoverhisshoulders,andproclaimedhimKing;andhebowedgratefullytoallhissubjectsandthenwentawaytoseeifhecouldfindanycakeintheroyalpantry.
OzmaofOzandherpeople,aswellasDorothy,TiktokandBillina,weresplendidlyentertainedbytheQueenmother,whoowedallherhappinesstotheirkindoffices;andthateveningtheyellowhenwaspubliclypresentedwithabeautifulnecklaceofpearlsandsapphires,asatokenofesteemfromthenewKing.