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

" ," she said, "I'll go in alone I s'pose you're the King town, aren't you ? "

"No," answered the rabbit, "I'm merely the Keeper Wicket, and person of little importance, although I try my duty now inform you, Princess, that enter our town consent to reduce "

"Reduce what ? " asked Dorothy

"Your size become the size rabbits, although retain your own form "

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

"No; reduce when your body does "

" make me smaller ? " asked the girl

"Easily," returned the rabbit

"And make me big again, when I'm ready away ? "

" ," said he

"All right, then; I'm willing," she announced

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

"Follow me,"

Now, almost little girl declared that get through so small door; but Dorothy had already encountered fairy adventures that she believed nothing was impossible Land of Oz So she quietly walked toward the door, and at every step she grew smaller and smaller until, the opening was reached, 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 Wicket passed through and she followed, after which the door swung shut and locked itself with sharp click

Dorothy now found herself in city so strange and beautiful that she gave gasp of surprise The high marble wall extended all around the place and shut out all the rest world And here were marble houses of curious forms, most resembling overturned kettles but with delicate slender spires and minarets running far up sky The streets were paved with white marble and in front of each house was 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 , and their costumes were so splendid rich dress Keeper Wicket was commonplace when compared 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, cut gowns was really wonderful They wore bonnets, too, with feathers and jewels , and some wheeled baby carriages girl 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 grown-up rabbits she had chance to observe them closely noticed her presence Then 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 Wicket, in pompous voice; "make way for Princess Dorothy, who comes from Ozma of Oz "

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

Walking thus through several handsome streets they came to square center City square were some pretty trees and statue in bronze of Glinda the Good, while beyond it were the portals Royal Palace--an extensive and imposing building of white marble covered with filigree of frosted gold

20 How Dorothy Lunched With King

line of rabbit soldiers was drawn up palace entrance, wore green and gold uniforms with high shakos upon their heads and held tiny spears in their hands The Captain had sword and white plume shako

"Salute ! " called the Keeper 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 palace, where they met gaily dressed attendant, from whom the Keeper Wicket inquired King were at leisure

" so," reply "I heard his Majesty blubbering and wailing as usual only If he doesn't stop acting like 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 monarch

"Oh, he doesn't want King, that's all; and he simply ," reply

"Come ! " said the Keeper Wicket, sternly; "lead us Majesty; and air our troubles before strangers, I beg of you "

"Why, girl is going the King, he'll air his own troubles," returned the attendant

" his royal privilege," declared the Keeper

So the attendant led them into room all draped with cloth-of-gold and furnished with satin-covered gold furniture throne room, set on dais and having big, cushioned seat, and seat reclined the Rabbit King lying back, paws air, and whining very like puppy-dog

"Your Majesty ! your Majesty ! Get up Here's 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 silk handkerchief and put jeweled crown, which had fallen off

"Excuse my grief, fair stranger," , in sad voice "You behold in me the most miserable monarch in all the world What time , Blinkem ? "

"One o'clock, your Majesty," replied the attendant the question was addressed

"Serve luncheon at once ! " commanded the King "Luncheon for two--that's visitor and me-- 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 Keeper Wicket "Ah me ! how unhappy ! "

"What worrying your Majesty ? " asked Dorothy

"Why, it's this king business, ," he returned, while the Keeper tied his shoe "I didn't want King of Bunnybury at all, rabbits all knew it So they elected me--to save themselves from such dreadful fate, I suppose--and here , shut up in palace, when free and happy "

"Seems ," said Dorothy, "it's great thing King "

"Were you ever King ? " inquired the monarch

"No," she answered, laughing

"Then nothing ," "I haven't inquired who , but it doesn't matter While we're at luncheon, I'll tell you all my troubles They're great deal more interesting than anything you about yourself "

"Perhaps , ," replied Dorothy

"Luncheon is served ! " cried Blinkem, throwing open the door, and in came dozen rabbits in livery, all bearing trays which they placed table, where they arranged the dishes in an orderly manner

"Now clear out--all of you ! " exclaimed the King "Bristle, wait outside, you "

had gone King was alone with Dorothy down throne, tossed his crown into corner and kicked his ermine robe under the table

"Sit down," , "and try happy It's useless , because I'm always wretched and miserable But I'm hungry, and "

" ," said Dorothy "I've only eaten wheelbarrow and piano to-day--oh, yes ! and slice of bread and butter that used door-mat "

"That sounds like square meal," remarked the King, seating himself opposite her; "but perhaps it wasn't square piano Eh ? "

Dorothy laughed

"You don't seem so very unhappy now," she said

"But ," protested the King, fresh tears gathering eyes "Even my jokes are miserable I'm wretched, woeful, afflicted, distressed and dismal as an individual not sorry ? "

"No," answered Dorothy, honestly, " 't say Seems that for rabbit you're right in clover prettiest little city I ever saw "

"Oh, the city is good enough," he admitted "Glinda, the Good Sorceress, made it because she was fond of rabbits I don't mind the City , although I wouldn't live here if I had my choice being King that has absolutely ruined my happiness "

"Why wouldn't you live here by choice ? " she asked

"Because all unnatural, my dear Rabbits are out of place luxury When young I lived in burrow forest surrounded by enemies and often had to run life hard getting enough to eat, at times, and when bunch of clover I had to listen and look for danger while I ate it Wolves prowled around the hole I lived and sometimes I didn't dare stir out for days Oh, how happy and contented then ! real rabbit, as nature made me--wild and free ! --and I even enjoyed listening startled throbbing own heart ! "