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. Finally,theyallmadedoublesomersaultsandturnedhandspringsoutoftheroom. Thenobilityenthusiasticallyapplauded,andDorothyapplaudedwiththem. “They’refine!”shesaidtotheKing. “Yes,theWhiskeredFriskersarereallyveryclever,”hereplied. “IshallhatetopartwiththemwhenIgoaway,fortheyhaveoftenamusedmewhenIwasverymiserable.IwonderifyouwouldaskGlinda—” “No,itwouldn’tdoatall,”declaredDorothy,positively. “Therewouldn’tberoominyourholeinthegroundforsomanyrabbits,‘spec’lywhenyougetthelilychairandyourclothesthere. Don’tthinkofsuchathing,yourMajesty.” TheKingsighed.Thenhestoodupandannouncedtothecompany: “WewillnowholdamilitarydrillbymypickedBodyguardofRoyalPikemen.” Nowthebandplayedamarchandacompanyofrabbitsoldierscamein. Theyworegreenandgolduniformsandmarchedverystifflybutinperfecttime. Theirspears,orpikes,hadslendershaftsofpolishedsilverwithgoldenheads,andduringthedrilltheyhandledtheseweaponswithwonderfuldexterity. “Ishouldthinkyou’dfeelprettysafewithsuchafineBodyguard,”remarkedDorothy. “Ido,”saidtheKing.“Theyprotectmefromeveryharm.IsupposeGlindawouldn’t—” “No,”interruptedthegirl;“I’msureshewouldn’t.It’stheKing’sownBodyguard,andwhenyouarenolongerKingyoucan’thave‘em.” TheKingdidnotreply,buthelookedrathersorrowfulforatime. Whenthesoldiershadmarchedouthesaidtothecompany: “TheRoyalJugglerswillnowappear.” Dorothyhadseenmanyjugglersinherlifetime,butneveranysointerestingasthese. Thereweresixofthem,dressedinblacksatinembroideredwithstrangesymbolsinsilver—acostumewhichcontrastedstronglywiththeirsnow-whitefur. First,theypushedinabigredballandthreeoftherabbitjugglersstooduponitstopandmadeitroll. Thentwoofthemcaughtupathirdandtossedhimintotheair,allvanishing,untilonlythetwowereleft. Thenoneofthesetossedtheotherupwardandremainedaloneofallhisfellows. Thislastjugglernowtouchedtheredball,whichfellapart,beinghollow,andthefiverabbitswhohaddisappearedintheairscrambledoutofthehollowball. Nexttheyallclungtogetherandrolledswiftlyuponthefloor. Whentheycametoastoponlyonefatrabbitjugglerwasseen,theothersseemingtobeinsidehim. Thisoneleapedlightlyintotheairandwhenhecamedownheexplodedandseparatedintotheoriginalsix. Thenfourofthemrolledthemselvesintoroundballsandtheothertwotossedthemaroundandplayedballwiththem. Thesewerebutafewofthetrickstherabbitjugglersperformed,andtheyweresoskillfulthatallthenobilityandeventheKingapplaudedasloudlyasdidDorothy. “Isupposetherearenorabbitjugglersinalltheworldtocomparewiththese,”remarkedtheKing. “AndsinceImaynothavetheWhiskersFriskersormyBodyguard,youmightaskGlindatoletmetakeawayjusttwoorthreeofthesejugglers.Willyou?” “I’llaskher,”repliedDorothy,doubtfully. “Thankyou,”saidtheKing;“thankyouverymuch.AndnowyoushalllistentotheWinsomeWaggishWarblers,whohaveoftencheeredmeinmymomentsofanguish.” TheWinsomeWaggishWarblersprovedtobeaquartetteofrabbitsingers,twogentlemenandtwoladyrabbits. ThegentlemenWarblersworefull-dressswallow-tailedsuitsofwhitesatin,withpearlsforbuttons,whiletheladyWarblersweregownedinwhitesatindresseswithlongtrails. Thefirstsongtheysangbeganinthisway: Andwearingclothesandfurbelows HescornstheBunwhohastorun Andpitiesthosewhosewatchfulfoes DorothylookedattheKingwhensheheardthissongandnoticedthatheseemeddisturbedandillatease. “Idon’tlikethatsong,”hesaidtotheWarblers.“Giveussomethingjollyandrollicking.” Sotheysangtoajoyous,tinklingmelodyasfollows: Atherpartnershylyglances, Astheywhirlingiddydances. ‘Neaththemoonlightsofttheystroll; Gambolingwithlaughterdroll. Safefromanythoughtofharm.” “Yousee,”saidDorothytotheKing,whenthesongended,“therabbitsallseemtolikeBunnyburyexceptyou. AndIguessyou’retheonlyonethateverhascriedorwasunhappyandwantedtogetbacktoyourmuddyholeintheground.” HisMajestyseemedthoughtful,andwhiletheservantspassedaroundglassesofnectarandplatesoffrostedcakestheirKingwassilentandabitnervous. WhentherefreshmentshadbeenenjoyedbyallandtheservantshadretiredDorothysaid: “Imustgonow,forit’sgettinglateandI’mlost.I’vegottofindtheWizardandAuntEmandUncleHenryandalltherestsometimebeforenightcomes,ifIposs’blycan.” “Won’tyoustaywithus?”askedtheKing.“Youwillbeverywelcome.” “No,thankyou,”shereplied.“Imustgetbacktomyfriends.AndIwanttoseeGlindajustassoonasIcan,youknow.” SotheKingdismissedhiscourtandsaidhewouldhimselfwalkwithDorothytothegate. Hedidnotweepnorgroananymore,buthislongfacewasquitesolemnandhisbigearshungdejectedlyoneachsideofit. Hestillworehiscrownandhisermineandwalkedwithahandsomegold-headedcane. WhentheyarrivedattheroominthewallthelittlegirlfoundTotoandBillinawaitingforherverypatiently. Theyhadbeenliberallyfedbysomeoftheattendantsandwereinnohurrytoleavesuchcomfortablequarters. TheKeeperoftheWicketwasbythistimebackinhisoldplace,buthekeptasafedistancefromToto.DorothybadegoodbyetotheKingastheystoodjustinsidethewall. “You’vebeengoodtome,”shesaid,“andIthankyoueversomuch. Assoonasposs’bleI’llseeGlindaandaskhertoputanotherKinginyourplaceandsendyoubackintothewildforest. AndI’llaskhertoletyoukeepsomeofyourclothesandthelilychairandoneortwojugglerstoamuseyou. I’msureshewilldoit,‘causeshe’ssokindshedoesn’tlikeanyonetobeunhappy.” “Ahem!”saidtheKing,lookingratherdowncast.“Idon’tliketotroubleyouwithmymisery;soyouneedn’tseeGlinda.” “Oh,yesIwill,”shereplied.“Itwon’tbeanytroubleatall.” “But,mydear,”continuedtheKing,inanembarrassedway,“I’vebeenthinkingthesubjectovercarefully,andIfindtherearealotofpleasantthingshereinBunnyburythatIwouldmissifIwentaway.SoperhapsI’dbetterstay.” Dorothylaughed.Thenshelookedgrave. “Itwon’tdoforyoutobeaKingandacry-babyatthesametime,”shesaid. “You’vebeenmakingalltheotherrabbitsunhappyanddiscontentedwithyourhowlsaboutbeingsomiserable. SoIguessit’sbettertohaveanotherKing.” “Oh,noindeed!”exclaimedtheKing,earnestly.“Ifyouwon’tsayanythingtoGlindaI’llpromisetobemerryandgladallthetime,andnevercryorwailagain.” “OntheroyalwordofaKingIpromiseit!”heanswered. “Allright,”saidDorothy.“You’dbeareg’larlunatictowanttoleaveBunnyburyforawildlifeintheforest,andI’msureanyrabbitoutsidethecitywouldbegladtotakeyourplace.” “Forgetit,mydear;forgetallmyfoolishness,”pleadedtheKing,earnestly.“HereafterI’lltrytoenjoymyselfanddomydutybymysubjects.” Sothenshelefthimandenteredthroughthelittledoorintotheroominthewall,whereshegrewgraduallybiggerandbiggeruntilshehadresumedhernaturalsize. TheKeeperoftheWicketletthemoutintotheforestandtoldDorothythatshehadbeenofgreatservicetoBunnyburybecauseshehadbroughttheirdismalKingtoarealizationofthepleasureofrulingsobeautifulacity. “IshallstartapetitiontohaveyourstatueerectedbesideGlinda’sinthepublicsquare,”saidtheKeeper.“Ihopeyouwillcomeagain,someday,andseeit.” “PerhapsIshall,”shereplied. Then,followedbyTotoandBillina,shewalkedawayfromthehighmarblewallandstartedbackalongthenarrowpathtowardthesign-post. 
