20. How Dorothy Lunched With a King

           Alineofrabbitsoldierswasdrawnupbeforethepalaceentrance,andtheyworegreenandgolduniformswithhighshakosupontheirheadsandheldtinyspearsintheirhands.TheCaptainhadaswordandawhiteplumeinhisshako.

           "Salute!"calledtheKeeperoftheWicket."SalutePrincessDorothy,whocomesfromOzmaofOz!"

           "Salute!"yelledtheCaptain,andallthesoldierspromptlysaluted.

           Theynowenteredthegreathallofthepalace,wheretheymetagailydressedattendant,fromwhomtheKeeperoftheWicketinquirediftheKingwereatleisure.

           "Ithinkso,"wasthereply."IheardhisMajestyblubberingandwailingasusualonlyafewminutesago.Ifhedoesn’tstopactinglikeacry-babyI’mgoingtoresignmypositionhereandgotowork."

           "What’sthematterwithyourKing?"askedDorothy,surprisedtoheartherabbitattendantspeaksodisrespectfullyofhismonarch.

           "Oh,hedoesn’twanttobeKing,that’sall;andhesimplyHASto,"wasthereply.

           "Come!"saidtheKeeperoftheWicket,sternly;"leadustohisMajesty;anddonotairourtroublesbeforestrangers,Ibegofyou."

           "Why,ifthisgirlisgoingtoseetheKing,he’llairhisowntroubles,"returnedtheattendant.

           "Thatishisroyalprivilege,"declaredtheKeeper.

           Sotheattendantledthemintoaroomalldrapedwithcloth-of-goldandfurnishedwithsatin-coveredgoldfurniture.Therewasathroneinthisroom,setonadaisandhavingabig,cushionedseat,andonthisseatreclinedtheRabbitKing.Hewaslyingonhisback,withhispawsintheair,andwhiningverylikeapuppy-dog.

           "YourMajesty!yourMajesty!Getup.