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Gentlytheraftgratedonthesandybeach.ThenBetsyeasilywadedashore,themulefollowingcloselybehindher.Thesunwasnowshiningandtheairwaswarmandladenwiththefragranceofroses.
“I’dlikesomebreakfast,Hank,”remarkedthegirl,feelingmorecheerfulnowthatshewasondryland;“butwecan’teattheflowers,althoughtheydosmellmightygood.”
“Hee-haw!”repliedHankandtrottedupalittlepathwaytothetopofthebank.
Betsyfollowedandfromtheeminencelookedaroundher.Alittlewayoffstoodasplendidbiggreenhouse,itsthousandsofcrystalpanesglitteringinthesunlight.
“Thereoughttobepeoplesomewhere‘round,”observedBetsythoughtfully;“gardeners,orsomebody.Let’sgoandsee,Hank.I’mgettinghungrierev’ryminute.”
Sotheywalkedtowardthegreatgreenhouseandcametoitsentrancewithoutmeetingwithanyoneatall.
Adoorstoodajar,soHankwentinfirst,thinkingiftherewasanydangerhecouldbackoutandwarnhiscompanion.
ButBetsywascloseathisheelsandthemomentsheenteredwaslostinamazementatthewonderfulsightshesaw.
Thegreenhousewasfilledwithmagnificentrosebushes,allgrowinginbigpots.
OnthecentralstemofeachbushbloomedasplendidRose,gorgeouslycoloredanddeliciouslyfragrant,andinthecenterofeachRosewasthefaceofalovelygirl.
AsBetsyandHankentered,theheadsoftheRosesweredroopingandtheireyelidswereclosedinslumber;butthemulewassoamazedthatheutteredaloud“Hee-haw!”
andatthesoundofhisharshvoicetheroseleavesfluttered,theRosesraisedtheirheadsandahundredstartledeyeswereinstantlyfixedupontheintruders.
“I—Ibegyourpardon!”stammeredBetsy,blushingandconfused.
“O-o-o-h!”criedtheRoses,inasortofsighingchorus;andoneofthemadded:“Whatahorridnoise!”
“Why,thatwasonlyHank,”saidBetsy,andasiftoprovethetruthofherwordsthemuleutteredanotherloud“Hee-haw!”
AtthisalltheRosesturnedontheirstemsasfarastheywereableandtrembledasifsomeonewereshakingtheirbushes.AdaintyMossRosegasped:“Dearme!Howdreadfullydreadful!”
“Itisn’tdreadfulatall,”saidBetsy,somewhatindignant.“WhenyougetusedtoHank’svoiceitwillputyoutosleep.”
TheRosesnowlookedatthemulelessfearfullyandoneofthemasked:
“IsthatsavagebeastnamedHank?”
“Yes;Hank’smycomrade,faithfulandtrue,”answeredthegirl,twiningherarmsaroundthelittlemule’sneckandhugginghimtight.“Aren’tyou,Hank?”
Hankcouldonlysayinreply:“Hee-haw!”andathisbraytheRosesshiveredagain.
“Pleasegoaway!”beggedone.“Can’tyouseeyou’refrighteningusoutofaweek’sgrowth?”
“Goaway!”echoedBetsy.“Why,we’venoplacetogo.We’vejustbeenwrecked.”
“Wrecked?”askedtheRosesinasurprisedchorus.
“Yes;wewereonabigshipandthestormcameandwreckedit,”explainedthegirl.
“ButHankandIcaughtholdofaraftandfloatedashoretothisplace,and—we’retiredandhungry.Whatcountryisthis,please?”
“ThisistheRoseKingdom,”repliedtheMossRose,haughtily,“anditisdevotedtothecultureoftherarestandfairestRosesgrown.”
“Ibelieveit,”saidBetsy,admiringtheprettyblossoms.
“ButonlyRosesareallowedhere,”continuedadelicateTeaRose,bendingherbrowsinafrown;“thereforeyoumustgoawaybeforetheRoyalGardenerfindsyouandcastsyoubackintothesea.”
“Oh!IsthereaRoyalGardener,then?”inquiredBetsy.
“Tobesure.”
“AndisheaRose,also?”
“Ofcoursenot;he’saman—awonderfulman,”wasthereply.
“Well,I’mnotafraidofaman,”declaredthegirl,muchrelieved,andevenasshespoketheRoyalGardenerpoppedintothegreenhouse—aspadingforkinonehandandawateringpotintheother.
Hewasafunnylittleman,dressedinarose-coloredcostume,withribbonsathiskneesandelbows,andabunchofribbonsinhishair.
Hiseyesweresmallandtwinkling,hisnosesharpandhisfacepuckeredanddeeplylined.
“O-ho!”heexclaimed,astonishedtofindstrangersinhisgreenhouse,andwhenHankgavealoudbraytheGardenerthrewthewateringpotoverthemule’sheadanddancedaroundwithhisfork,insuchagitationthatpresentlyhefelloverthehandleoftheimplementandsprawledatfulllengthupontheground.
BetsylaughedandpulledthewateringpotofffromHank’shead.ThelittlemulewasangryatthetreatmenthehadreceivedandbackedtowardtheGardenerthreateningly.
“Lookoutforhisheels!”calledBetsywarninglyandtheGardenerscrambledtohisfeetandhastilyhidbehindtheRoses.
“YouarebreakingtheLaw!”heshouted,stickingouthisheadtoglareatthegirlandthemule.
“WhatLaw?”askedBetsy.
“TheLawoftheRoseKingdom.Nostrangersareallowedinthesedomains.”
“Notwhenthey’reshipwrecked?”sheinquired.
“TheLawdoesn’texceptshipwrecks,”repliedtheRoyalGardener,andhewasabouttosaymorewhensuddenlytherewasacrashofglassandamancametumblingthroughtheroofofthegreenhouseandfellplumptotheground.
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