21. How the King Changed His Mind

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"I don't like that song," he said to the Warblers. "Give us something jolly and rollicking."

So they sang to a joyous, tinkling melody as follows:

    "Bunnies gay
    Delight to play
In their fairy town secure;
    Ev'ry frisker
    Flirts his whisker
At a pink-eyed girl demure.
    Ev'ry maid
    In silk arrayed
At her partner shyly glances,
    Paws are grasped,
    Waists are clasped
As they whirl in giddy dances.
    Then together
    Through the heather
'Neath the moonlight soft they stroll;
    Each is very
    Blithe and merry,
Gamboling with laughter droll.
    Life is fun
    To ev'ry one
Guarded by our magic charm
    For to dangers
    We are strangers,
Safe from any thought of harm."

"You see," said Dorothy to the King, when the song ended, "the rabbits all seem to like Bunnybury except you. And I guess you're the only one that ever has cried or was unhappy and wanted to get back to your muddy hole in the ground."

His Majesty seemed thoughtful, and while the servants passed around glasses of nectar and plates of frosted cakes their King was silent and a bit nervous.

When the refreshments had been enjoyed by all and the servants had retired Dorothy said:

"I must go now, for it's getting late and I'm lost. I've got to find the Wizard and Aunt Em and Uncle Henry and all the rest sometime before night comes, if I poss'bly can."

"Won't you stay with us?" asked the King. "You will be very welcome."

"No, thank you," she replied. "I must get back to my friends. And I want to see Glinda just as soon as I can, you know."

So the King dismissed his court and said he would himself walk with Dorothy to the gate. He did not weep nor groan any more, but his long face was quite solemn and his big ears hung dejectedly on each side of it. He still wore his crown and his ermine and walked with a handsome gold-headed cane.

When they arrived at the room in the wall the little girl found Toto and Billina waiting for her very patiently. They had been liberally fed by some of the attendants and were in no hurry to leave such comfortable quarters.