Oz 06: Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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were disagreeable afterward," returned the yellow Hen ." i_think, Dorothy, if eatables are going to act badly, it's better before than after you eat them ."

"P'raps you're right," said the little girl, with a sigh ." but what shall we_do now ? "

" let_us follow the path back to_the signpost," suggested Billina ." that_will_be better than getting lost again ."

" why, we're lost anyhow," declared Dorothy; " but I guess you're right about going back to_that signpost, Billina ."

they returned along the path to_the place where they had first found it, and at once took " the other road" to Bunnybury . this road was amere narrow strip, worn hard and smooth but not wide enough for Dorothy's feet to tread . still, it_was a guide, and_the walking through_the forest was not at all difficult .

before long they reached a high wall of solid white marble, and_the path came to an end at_this wall .

at first Dorothy thought there_was no opening at all in_the marble, but on looking closely she discovered a small square door about on a level with her head, and underneath this closed door was a bell- push . near the bell- push a sign was painted in neat letters upon_the marble, and_the sign read:

no admittance

except on business

this_did_not discourage Dorothy, however, and she rang the bell .

pretty soon a bolt was cautiously withdrawn and_the marble door swung slowly open . then she saw it_was not really a door, but a window, for several brass bars were placed across it, being set fast in_the marble and so close together that_the little girl's fingers might barely go between_them . back of_the bars appeared the face of a white rabbit--a very sober and sedate face-- with an eye- glass held in_his left eye and attached to a cord in_his button- hole .

" well ! what_is it ? " asked the rabbit, sharply .

"I'm Dorothy," said the girl, " and I'm lost, and--"

" state your business, please," interrupted the rabbit .

" my business," she replied, " is to_find out where I_am, and to--"

" no one is allowed in Bunnybury without an order or a letter of introduction from either Ozma of Oz or Glinda the good," announced the rabbit; " so_that settles the matter," and he started to close the window .

" wait a minute ! " cried Dorothy ."I've got a letter from Ozma ."

" from_the ruler of Oz ? " asked the rabbit, doubtingly .

" of_course .Ozma's my best friend, you_know; and I'm a princess myself," she announced, earnestly .

" hum--ha ! let me see your letter," returned the rabbit, as_if he still doubted her .

so she hunted in her pocket and found the letter Ozma had given her . then she handed it through_the bars to_the rabbit, who took it in_his paws and opened it . he read it aloud in a pompous voice, as_if to let Dorothy and Billina see that he_was educated and could read writing . the letter was as follows:

" it_will please me to_have my subjects greet princess Dorothy, the bearer of_this royal missive, with_the same courtesy and consideration they_would extend to_me ."

"Ha-- hum ! it_is signed 'Ozma of Oz,'" continued the rabbit, " and_is sealed with_the great seal of_the emerald city . well, well, well ! how strange ! how remarkable ! "

" what_are you going to_do about_it ? " inquired Dorothy, impatiently .

" we_must obey the royal mandate," replied the rabbit ." we_are subjects of Ozma of Oz, and we live in her country . also we_are under the protection of_the great sorceress Glinda the good, who_made us promise to respect Ozma's commands ."

" then may I come in ? " she asked .

"I'll open the door," said the rabbit . he shut the window and disappeared, but a moment afterward a big door in_the wall opened and admitted Dorothy to a small room, which seemed to_be a part of_the wall and built into_it .

here stood the rabbit she had_been talking with, and now that she_could see all of him, she gazed at_the creature in surprise . he_was a good sized white rabbit with pink eyes, much like all other white rabbits . but the astonishing thing about him was_the manner in_which he_was dressed . he wore a white satin jacket embroidered with gold, and having diamond buttons . his vest was rose- colored satin, with tourmaline buttons . his trousers were white, to correspond with_the jacket, and_they were baggy at_the knees-- like those of azouave-- being tied with knots of rose ribbons . his shoes were of white plush with diamond buckles, and_his stockings were rose silk .

the richness and even magnificence of_the rabbit's clothing made Dorothy stare at_the little creature wonderingly .Toto and Billina had followed her into_the room and when he_saw them the rabbit ran to a table and sprang upon it nimbly . then he looked at_the three through his monocle and said:

" these companions, princess, cannot enter Bunnybury with_you ."

" why_not ? " asked Dorothy .

" in_the first place they_would frighten our people, who dislike dogs above all things on earth; and, secondly, the letter of_the royal Ozma does_not mention them ."

" but they're my friends," persisted Dorothy, " and go wherever I go ."

" not this_time," said the rabbit, decidedly ." you, yourself, princess, are a welcome visitor, since you come so highly recommended; but unless you consent to leave the dog and_the hen in_this room I_cannot permit you to enter the town ."

" never mind us, Dorothy," said Billina ." go inside and_see what the place is like . you_can tell us about_it afterward, and Toto and_I_will rest comfortably here until you return ."

this seemed the best thing to_do, for Dorothy was curious to_see how the rabbit people lived and she was aware of_the fact that her friends might frighten the timid little creatures . she had_not forgotten how Toto and Billina had misbehaved in Bunbury, and perhaps the rabbit was wise to insist on their staying outside the town .

" very_well," she said, "I'll go in alone .I s' pose you're the king of_this town, aren't you ? "

" no," answered the rabbit, "I'm merely the keeper of_the wicket, and a person of little importance, although I try to_do my duty . I_must now inform you, princess, that before_you enter our town you_must consent to reduce ."

" reduce what ? " asked Dorothy .

" your size . you_must become the size of_the rabbits, although you_may retain your own form ."

"Wouldn't my clothes be too big for_me ? " she inquired .

" no; they_will reduce when your body does ."

" can_you make me smaller ? " asked the girl .

" easily," returned the rabbit .

" and will_you make me big again, when I'm ready to_go away ? "

" i_will," said he .

" all right, then; I'm willing," she announced .

the rabbit jumped from_the table and ran-- or rather hopped-- to_the further wall, where he opened a door so tiny that even Toto could scarcely have crawled through it .

" follow me," he_said .

now, almost any_other little girl would_have declared that she_could_not get through so small a door; but Dorothy had already encountered so_many fairy adventures that she believed nothing was impossible in_the land of Oz . so she quietly walked toward the door, and at every step she grew smaller and smaller until, by_the_time the opening was reached, she_could pass through it with ease . indeed, as she stood beside the rabbit, who sat upon his hind legs and used his paws as hands, her head was just about as high as his own .

then the keeper of_the wicket passed through and she followed, after which the door swung shut and locked itself with a sharp click .

Dorothy now found herself in a city so strange and beautiful that she gave a gasp of surprise . the high marble wall extended all around the place and shut out all the rest of_the world . and here were marble houses of curious forms, most of_them resembling overturned kettles but with delicate slender spires and minarets running far up into_the sky . the streets were paved with white marble and in front of each house was a lawn of rich green clover . everything was as neat as wax, the green and white contrasting prettily together .

but the rabbit people were, after all, the most amazing things Dorothy saw . the streets were full of_them, and their costumes were so splendid that_the rich dress of_the keeper of_the wicket was commonplace when compared with_the others .Silks and satins of delicate hues seemed always used for material, and nearly every costume sparkled with exquisite gems .

but the lady rabbits outshone the gentlemen rabbits in splendor, and_the cut of_their gowns was really wonderful . they wore bonnets, too, with feathers and jewels in_them, and some wheeled baby carriages in_which_the girl could_see wee bunnies . some were lying asleep while others lay sucking their paws and looking around them with big pink eyes .

as Dorothy was no bigger in size than_the grown- up rabbits she had a chance to observe them closely before_they noticed her presence . then they_did_not seem at all alarmed, although the little girl naturally became the center of attraction and regarded her with great curiosity .

" make way ! " cried the keeper of_the wicket, in a pompous voice; " make way for princess Dorothy, who comes from Ozma of Oz ."

Hearing this announcement, the throng of rabbits gave place to_them on_the walks, and as Dorothy passed along they all bowed their heads respectfully .

Walking thus through several handsome streets they came to a square in_the center of_the city . in_this square were some pretty trees and a statue in bronze of Glinda the good, while beyond it were the portals of_the royal palace-- an extensive and imposing building of white marble covered with a filigree of frosted gold .

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 .

the king rolled over and looked at Dorothy with one watery pink eye . then he sat up and wiped his eyes carefully with a silk handkerchief and put on_his jeweled crown, which had fallen off .

" excuse my grief, fair stranger," he_said, in a sad voice ." you behold in me the most miserable monarch in all the world . what time is_it, Blinkem ? "

" one o'clock, your majesty," replied the attendant to_whom the question was addressed .

" serve luncheon at once ! " commanded the king ." luncheon for two-- that's for_my visitor and me-- and_see that_the human has some sort of food she's accustomed to ."

" yes, your majesty," answered the attendant, and went away .

" tie my shoe, bristle," said the king to_the keeper of_the wicket ."Ah me ! how unhappy I_am ! "

" what seems_to_be worrying your majesty ? " asked Dorothy .

" why, it's this king business, of_course," he returned, while the keeper tied his shoe ."I didn't want to_be king of Bunnybury at all, and_the rabbits all knew it . so they elected me-- to save themselves from such a dreadful fate, I suppose-- and here I_am, shut up in a palace, when I_might_be free and happy ."

"Seems to_me," said Dorothy, " it's a great thing to_be a king ."

" were you ever a king ? " inquired the monarch .

" no," she answered, laughing .

" then you_know nothing about_it," he_said ."I haven't inquired who you_are, but it doesn't matter . while we're at luncheon, I'll tell you all my troubles . they're a great deal more interesting than anything you_can say about yourself ."

" perhaps they_are, to_you," replied Dorothy .

"

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