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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.Here’savisitor,”calledouttheattendant.
TheKingrolledoverandlookedatDorothywithonewaterypinkeye.Thenhesatupandwipedhiseyescarefullywithasilkhandkerchiefandputonhisjeweledcrown,whichhadfallenoff.
“Excusemygrief,fairstranger,”hesaid,inasadvoice.“Youbeholdinmethemostmiserablemonarchinalltheworld.Whattimeisit,Blinkem?”
“Oneo’clock,yourMajesty,”repliedtheattendanttowhomthequestionwasaddressed.
“Serveluncheonatonce!”commandedtheKing.“Luncheonfortwo—that’sformyvisitorandme—andseethatthehumanhassomesortoffoodshe’saccustomedto.”
“Yes,yourMajesty,”answeredtheattendant,andwentaway.
“Tiemyshoe,Bristle,”saidtheKingtotheKeeperoftheWicket.“Ahme!howunhappyIam!”
“WhatseemstobeworryingyourMajesty?”askedDorothy.
“Why,it’sthiskingbusiness,ofcourse,”hereturned,whiletheKeepertiedhisshoe.
“Ididn’twanttobeKingofBunnyburyatall,andtherabbitsallknewit.
Sotheyelectedme—tosavethemselvesfromsuchadreadfulfate,Isuppose—andhereIam,shutupinapalace,whenImightbefreeandhappy.”
“Seemstome,”saidDorothy,“it’sagreatthingtobeaKing.”
“WereyoueveraKing?”inquiredthemonarch.
“No,”sheanswered,laughing.
“Thenyouknownothingaboutit,”hesaid.
“Ihaven’tinquiredwhoyouare,butitdoesn’tmatter.
Whilewe’reatluncheon,I’lltellyouallmytroubles.
They’reagreatdealmoreinterestingthananythingyoucansayaboutyourself.”
“Perhapstheyare,toyou,”repliedDorothy.
“Luncheonisserved!”criedBlinkem,throwingopenthedoor,andincameadozenrabbitsinlivery,allbearingtrayswhichtheyplaceduponthetable,wheretheyarrangedthedishesinanorderlymanner.
“Nowclearout—allofyou!”exclaimedtheKing.“Bristle,youmaywaitoutside,incaseIwantyou.”
WhentheyhadgoneandtheKingwasalonewithDorothyhecamedownfromhisthrone,tossedhiscrownintoacornerandkickedhiserminerobeunderthetable.
“Sitdown,”hesaid,“andtrytobehappy.It’suselessformetotry,becauseI’malwayswretchedandmiserable.ButI’mhungry,andIhopeyouare.”
“Iam,”saidDorothy.“I’veonlyeatenawheelbarrowandapianoto-day—oh,yes!andasliceofbreadandbutterthatusedtobeadoor-mat.”
“Thatsoundslikeasquaremeal,”remarkedtheKing,seatinghimselfoppositeher;“butperhapsitwasn’tasquarepiano.Eh?”
Dorothylaughed.
“Youdon’tseemsoveryunhappynow,”shesaid.
“ButIam,”protestedtheKing,freshtearsgatheringinhiseyes.“Evenmyjokesaremiserable.
I’mwretched,woeful,afflicted,distressedanddismalasanindividualcanbe.Areyounotsorryforme?”
“No,”answeredDorothy,honestly,“Ican’tsayIam.Seemstomethatforarabbityou’rerightinclover.ThisistheprettiestlittlecityIeversaw.”
“Oh,thecityisgoodenough,”headmitted.
“Glinda,theGoodSorceress,madeitforusbecauseshewasfondofrabbits.
Idon’tmindtheCitysomuch,althoughIwouldn’tlivehereifIhadmychoice.
ItisbeingKingthathasabsolutelyruinedmyhappiness.”
“Whywouldn’tyouliveherebychoice?”sheasked.
“Becauseitisallunnatural,mydear.Rabbitsareoutofplaceinsuchluxury.
WhenIwasyoungIlivedinaburrowintheforest.
Iwassurroundedbyenemiesandoftenhadtorunformylife.
Itwashardgettingenoughtoeat,attimes,andwhenIfoundabunchofcloverIhadtolistenandlookfordangerwhileIateit.
WolvesprowledaroundtheholeinwhichIlivedandsometimesIdidn’tdarestiroutfordaysatatime.Oh,howhappyandcontentedIwasthen!
Iwasarealrabbit,asnaturemademe—wildandfree!
—andIevenenjoyedlisteningtothestartledthrobbingofmyownheart!”
“I’veoftenthought,”saidDorothy,whowasbusilyeating,“thatitwouldbefuntobearabbit.”
“ItISfun—whenyou’rethegenuinearticle,”agreedhisMajesty.“Butlookatmenow!
Iliveinamarblepalaceinsteadofaholeintheground.
IhaveallIwanttoeat,withoutthejoyofhuntingforit.
EverydayImustdressinfineclothesandwearthathorriblecrowntillitmakesmyheadache.
Rabbitscometomewithallsortsoftroubles,whenmyowntroublesaretheonlyonesIcareabout.
WhenIwalkoutIcan’thopandrun;Imuststrutonmyrearlegsandwearanerminerobe!
Andthesoldierssalutemeandthebandplaysandtheotherrabbitslaughandclaptheirpawsandcryout:‘HailtotheKing!’
Nowletmeaskyou,asafriendandayoungladyofgoodjudgment:isn’tallthispompandfoolishnessenoughtomakeadecentrabbitmiserable?”
“Once,”saidDorothy,reflectively,“menwerewildandunclothedandlivedincavesandhuntedforfoodaswildbeastsdo.
Buttheygotciv’lized,intime,andnowthey’dhatetogobacktotheolddays.”
“Thatisanentirelydifferentcase,”repliedtheKing.
“NoneofyouHumanswerecivilizedinonelifetime.Itcametoyoubydegrees.
ButIhaveknowntheforestandthefreelife,andthatiswhyIresentbeingcivilizedallatonce,againstmywill,andbeingmadeaKingwithacrownandanerminerobe.Pah!”
“Ifyoudon’tlikeit,whydon’tyouresign?”sheasked.
“Impossible!”wailedtheRabbit,wipinghiseyesagainwithhishandkerchief.“There’sabeastlylawinthistownthatforbidsit.WhenoneiselectedaKing,there’snogettingoutofit.”
“Whomadethelaws?”inquiredDorothy.
“ThesameSorceresswhomadethetown—GlindatheGood.
Shebuiltthewall,andfixeduptheCity,andgaveusseveralvaluableenchantments,andmadethelaws.
Thensheinvitedallthepink-eyedwhiterabbitsoftheforesttocomehere,afterwhichsheleftustoourfate.”
“Whatmadeyou‘cepttheinvitation,andcomehere?”askedthechild.
“Ididn’tknowhowdreadfulcitylifewas,andI’dnoideaIwouldbeelectedKing,”saidhe,sobbingbitterly.“And—and—nowI’mIt—withacapitalI—andcan’tescape!”
“IknowGlinda,”remarkedDorothy,eatingfordessertadishofcharlotterusse,“andwhenIseeheragain,I’llaskhertoputanotherKinginyourplace.”
“Willyou?Willyou,indeed?”askedtheKing,joyfully.
“Iwillifyouwantmeto,”shereplied.
“Hurroo—huray!”shoutedtheKing;andthenhejumpedupfromthetableanddancedwildlyabouttheroom,wavinghisnapkinlikeaflagandlaughingwithglee.
Afteratimehemanagedtocontrolhisdelightandreturnedtothetable.
“WhenareyoulikelytoseeGlinda?”heinquired.
“Oh,p’rapsinafewdays,”saidDorothy.
“Andyouwon’tforgettoaskher?”
“Ofcoursenot.”
“Princess,”saidtheRabbitKing,earnestly,“youhaverelievedmeofagreatunhappiness,andIamverygrateful.
ThereforeIproposetoentertainyou,sinceyouaremyguestandIamtheKing,asaslightmarkofmyappreciation.Comewithmetomyreceptionhall.”
HethensummonedBristleandsaidtohim:“Assembleallthenobilityinthegreatreceptionhall,andalsotellBlinkemthatIwanthimimmediately.”
TheKeeperoftheWicketbowedandhurriedaway,andhisMajestyturnedtoDorothyandcontinued:“We’llhavetimeforawalkinthegardensbeforethepeoplegethere.”
Thegardenswerebackofthepalaceandwerefilledwithbeautifulflowersandfragrantshrubs,withmanyshadeandfruittreesandmarble-pavedwalksrunningineverydirection.
AstheyenteredthisplaceBlinkemcamerunningtotheKing,whogavehimseveralordersinalowvoice.
ThenhisMajestyrejoinedDorothyandledherthroughthegardens,whichsheadmiredverymuch.
“WhatlovelyclothesyourMajestywears!”shesaid,glancingattherichbluesatincostume,embroidered,withpearlsinwhichtheKingwasdressed.
“Yes,”hereturned,withanairofpride,“thisisoneofmyfavoritesuits;butIhaveagoodmanythatareevenmoreelaborate.
WehaveexcellenttailorsinBunnybury,andGlindasuppliesallthematerial.
Bytheway,youmightasktheSorceress,whenyouseeher,topermitmetokeepmywardrobe.”
“Butifyougobacktotheforestyouwillnotneedclothes,”shesaid.
“N—o!”hefaltered;“thatmaybeso.ButI’vedressedupsolongthatI’musedtoit,andIdon’timagineI’dcaretorunaroundnakedagain.SoperhapstheGoodGlindawillletmekeepthecostumes.”
“I’llaskher,”agreedDorothy.
Thentheyleftthegardensandwentintoafine,bigreceptionhall,whererichrugswerespreaduponthetiledfloorsandthefurniturewasexquisitelycarvedandstuddedwithjewels.
TheKing’schairwasanespeciallyprettypieceoffurniture,beingintheshapeofasilverlilywithoneleafbentovertoformtheseat.
Thesilverwaseverywherethicklyencrustedwithdiamondsandtheseatwasupholsteredinwhitesatin.
“Oh,whatasplendidchair!”criedDorothy,claspingherhandsadmiringly.
“Isn’tit?”answeredtheKing,proudly.
“Itismyfavoriteseat,andIthinkitespeciallybecomingtomycomplexion.
WhileIthinkofit,Iwishyou’daskGlindatoletmekeepthislilychairwhenIgoaway.”
“Itwouldn’tlookverywellinaholeintheground,wouldit?”shesuggested.
“Maybenot;butI’musedtosittinginitandI’dliketotakeitwithme,”heanswered.“Butherecometheladiesandgentlemenofthecourt;sopleasesitbesidemeandbepresented.”
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