" fun-- 're the genuine article," agreed his Majesty "But look at me now ! I live in marble palace instead of hole ground all to eat, without the joy of hunting Every day dress in fine clothes and wear that horrible crown till it makes my head ache Rabbits come with all sorts of troubles, when my own troubles are the only ones I care about When I walk out 't hop and run; strut on my rear legs and wear an ermine robe ! soldiers salute me band plays other rabbits laugh and clap their paws and cry out: 'Hail King ! ' Now let me , as friend and young lady of good judgment: isn't all this pomp and foolishness enough decent rabbit miserable ? "

"Once," said Dorothy, reflectively, "men were wild and unclothed and lived in caves and hunted for food as wild beasts do But they got civ'lized, , and now they'd hate back old days "

" an entirely different case," replied the King "None of you Humans were civilized in one lifetime It came by degrees But known the forest free life, is why I resent being civilized all at once, against my will, and being made King with crown and an ermine robe Pah ! "

" don't like it, why don't you resign ? " she asked

"Impossible ! " wailed the Rabbit, wiping his eyes again handkerchief "There's beastly law town that forbids it When one is elected King, there's no getting out of it "

" the laws ? " inquired Dorothy

"The same Sorceress the town--Glinda the Good She built the wall, and fixed up the City, and several valuable enchantments, and made the laws Then she invited all the pink-eyed white rabbits forest here, after which she left us to our fate "

"What made you 'cept the invitation, and come here ? " asked the child

"I didn't know how dreadful city life was, and I'd no idea elected King," said he, sobbing bitterly "And--and--now I'm It--with capital I--and can't escape ! "

" Glinda," remarked Dorothy, eating for dessert dish of charlotte russe, "and when her again, I'll ask her another King in your place "

" ? , indeed ? " asked the King, joyfully

" me to," she replied

"Hurroo--huray ! " shouted the King; and then he jumped up table and danced wildly room, waving his napkin like flag and laughing with glee

After time he managed to control his delight and returned table

"When likely Glinda ? " he inquired

"Oh, p'raps ," said Dorothy

"And you won't forget to ask her ? "

" not "

"Princess," said the Rabbit King, earnestly, " relieved me of great unhappiness, and very grateful Therefore I propose to entertain you, since my guest and the King, as slight mark appreciation Come with me to my reception hall "

He then summoned Bristle and said to him: "Assemble all the nobility great reception hall, and also tell Blinkem that him immediately "

The Keeper Wicket bowed and hurried away, Majesty turned to Dorothy and continued: "We'll have time for walk gardens people get here "

The gardens were back palace and were filled with beautiful flowers and fragrant shrubs, with many shade and fruit trees and marble-paved walks running in every direction entered this place Blinkem came running King, who gave him several orders in low voice Then his Majesty rejoined Dorothy and led her gardens, which she admired

"What lovely clothes your Majesty wears ! " she said, glancing rich blue satin costume, embroidered, with pearls King was dressed

"Yes," he returned, with an air of pride, " one favorite suits; but even more elaborate excellent tailors in Bunnybury, and Glinda supplies all the material , Sorceress, see her, to permit me my wardrobe "

"But go back forest need clothes," she said

"N--o ! " he faltered; " so But I've dressed up that I'm used , and I don't imagine I'd care to run around naked again So perhaps the Good Glinda will let me keep the costumes "

"I'll ask her," agreed Dorothy

Then they left the gardens and went into fine, big reception hall, where rich rugs were spread tiled floors furniture was exquisitely carved and studded with jewels The King's chair was an especially pretty piece of furniture, being shape of silver lily with one leaf bent over the seat The silver was everywhere thickly encrusted with diamonds seat was upholstered in white satin

"Oh, what splendid chair ! " cried Dorothy, clasping her hands admiringly

"Isn't it ? " answered the King, proudly " my favorite seat, and it especially becoming to my complexion While of it, you'd ask Glinda to let me keep this lily chair when I go away "

"It wouldn't look in hole ground, would it ? " she suggested

"Maybe not; but I'm used to sitting and I'd like it with me," he answered "But here come the ladies and gentlemen court; so please sit beside me and be presented "

21 How the King Changed His Mind

Just then rabbit band of nearly fifty pieces marched in, playing upon golden instruments and dressed in neat uniforms Following the band came the nobility of Bunnybury, all richly dressed and hopping along on their rear legs Both the ladies gentlemen wore white gloves upon their paws, with their rings outside gloves, seemed the fashion here lady rabbits carried lorgnettes, while gentlemen rabbits wore monocles in their left eyes

The courtiers and their ladies paraded past the King, who introduced Princess Dorothy to each couple in very graceful manner Then the company seated themselves in chairs and on sofas and looked expectantly at their monarch

" our royal duty, as our royal pleasure," , " fitting entertainment distinguished guest now present the Royal Band of Whiskered Friskers "

As he spoke the musicians, who had arranged themselves in corner, struck up dance melody while room pranced the Whiskered Friskers They were eight pretty rabbits dressed only in gauzy purple skirts fastened around their waists with diamond bands Their whiskers were colored rich purple, but otherwise they were pure white

After bowing King and Dorothy the Friskers began their pranks, and these were so comical that Dorothy laughed with real enjoyment They danced together, whirling and gyrating around the room, but they leaped over one another, stood upon their heads and hopped and skipped here and there so nimbly hard work track Finally, they all made double somersaults and turned handsprings room

The nobility enthusiastically applauded, and Dorothy applauded

"They're fine ! " she said King

"Yes, the Whiskered Friskers are really very clever," he replied " hate to part when I go away, for often amused me when very miserable I wonder ask Glinda--"

"No, it wouldn't do at all," declared Dorothy, positively "There wouldn't be room in your hole ground for rabbits, 'spec'ly get the lily chair and your clothes there Don't think thing, your Majesty "

The King sighed Then he stood up and announced company:

" now hold military drill by my picked Bodyguard of Royal Pikemen "

Now the band played march and company of rabbit soldiers came in They wore green and gold uniforms and marched very stiffly but in perfect time Their spears, or pikes, had slender shafts of polished silver with golden heads, and during the drill they handled these weapons with wonderful dexterity

" think you'd feel pretty safe fine Bodyguard," remarked Dorothy

" ," said the King "They protect me from every harm I suppose Glinda wouldn't--"

"No," interrupted the girl; "I'm sure she wouldn't It's the King's own Bodyguard, and no longer King 't have 'em "

The King reply, but he looked rather sorrowful for time

soldiers had marched out company:

"The Royal Jugglers will now appear "

Dorothy had seen many jugglers in her lifetime, but never any so interesting There were six , dressed in black satin embroidered with queer symbols in silver--a costume which contrasted strongly with their snow-white fur

First, they pushed in big red ball and three rabbit jugglers stood upon its top and made it roll Then two caught up third and tossed him air, all vanishing, until only the two were left Then tossed the other upward and remained alone of all his fellows This last juggler now touched the red ball, which fell apart, being hollow, five rabbits who had disappeared air scrambled hollow ball

Next they all clung together and rolled swiftly floor came to stop fat rabbit juggler was seen, the others seeming inside him leaped lightly air and when down he exploded and separated original six Then four rolled themselves into round balls other two tossed them around and played ball