“Well, if that is so, just understand that I won’t come. Go away and let me alone!”
“But the people expect your Majesty to attend the royal reception,” protested old Tullydub, greatly astonished. “It is the usual custom, you know; and they would be greatly disappointed if your Majesty did not appear.”
“I don’t care,” said Bud. “You get out of here and let me alone!”
The king threw a toy cannon at his chief counselor, and the old man ducked to escape it, and then quickly closed the door.
“Bud,” said the princess, softly, “you were just saying it’s great fun to be a king.”
[Illustration: “THE KING THREW A TOY CANNON AT HIS CHIEF COUNSELOR.”]
“But father used to tell us,” continued the girl, trying a red hat on a brown-haired doll, “that people in this world always have to pay for any good thing they get.”
“What do you mean?” said Bud, with surprise.
“I mean if you’re going to be the king, and wear fine clothes, and eat lovely dinners, and live in a palace, and have countless servants, and all the playthings you want, and your own way in everything and with everybody—then you ought to be willing to pay for all these pleasures.”
“How? But how _can_ I pay for them?” demanded Bud, staring at her.
“By attending the royal receptions, and doing all the disagreeable things the king is expected to do,” she answered.
Bud thought about it for a minute. Then he got up, walked over to his sister, and kissed her.
“I b’lieve you’re right, Fluff,” he said, with a sigh. “I’ll go to that reception to-night, and take it as I would take a dose of medicine.”
“Of course you will!” returned Fluff, looking up at him brightly; “and I’ll go with you! The dolls can wait til to-morrow. Have Jikki brush your hair, and I’ll get my maids to dress me!”
Old Tullydub was wondering how he might best explain the king’s absence to the throng of courtiers gathered to attend the royal reception, when, to his surprise and relief, his Majesty entered the room, accompanied by the Princess Fluff. The king wore a velvet suit trimmed with gold lace, and at his side hung the beautiful jeweled sword. Meg was dressed in a soft white silken gown, and looked as sweet and fair as a lily.
The courtiers and their ladies, who were all wearing their most handsome and becoming apparel, received their little king with great respect, and several of the wealthiest and most noble among them came up to Bud to converse with him.