21. How the King Changed His Mind

           Justthenarabbitbandofnearlyfiftypiecesmarchedin,playingupongoldeninstrumentsanddressedinneatuniforms.FollowingthebandcamethenobilityofBunnybury,allrichlydressedandhoppingalongontheirrearlegs.Boththeladiesandthegentlemenworewhiteglovesupontheirpaws,withtheirringsontheoutsideofthegloves,asthisseemedtobethefashionhere.Someoftheladyrabbitscarriedlorgnettes,whilemanyofthegentlemenrabbitsworemonoclesintheirlefteyes.

           ThecourtiersandtheirladiesparadedpasttheKing,whointroducedPrincessDorothytoeachcoupleinaverygracefulmanner.Thenthecompanyseatedthemselvesinchairsandonsofasandlookedexpectantlyattheirmonarch.

           "Itisourroyalduty,aswellasourroyalpleasure,"hesaid,"toprovidefittingentertainmentforourdistinguishedguest.WewillnowpresenttheRoyalBandofWhiskeredFriskers."

           Ashespokethemusicians,whohadarrangedthemselvesinacorner,struckupadancemelodywhileintotheroomprancedtheWhiskeredFriskers.Theywereeightprettyrabbitsdressedonlyingauzypurpleskirtsfastenedaroundtheirwaistswithdiamondbands.Theirwhiskerswerecoloredarichpurple,butotherwisetheywerepurewhite.

           AfterbowingbeforetheKingandDorothytheFriskersbegantheirpranks,andtheseweresocomicalthatDorothylaughedwithrealenjoyment.Theynotonlydancedtogether,whirlingandgyratingaroundtheroom,buttheyleapedoveroneanother,stoodupontheirheadsandhoppedandskippedhereandtheresonimblythatitwashardworktokeeptrackofthem.