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194 “No, I don’t see,” he said. “But if you say it ’s all right, Fluff, why, it must be all right.”

“Of course it ’s all right,” declared the girl, throwing off her pretty cloak and placing it on a chair. “You ’re the rightful king, and can do whatever you please; and I ’m the rightful princess, because I ’m your sister; so I can do whatever I please. Don’t you see, Bud?”

“But, look here, Fluff,” returned her brother, “if you ’re a princess, why do you wear that old gray dress and those patched-up shoes? Father used to tell us that princesses always wore the loveliest dresses.”

Meg looked at herself and sighed.

“I really ought to have some new dresses, Bud. And I suppose if you order them they will be ready in no time. And you must have some new clothes, too, for your jacket is ragged and soiled.”

“Do you really think it ’s true, Fluff?” he asked anxiously.

“Of course it ’s true. Look at your kingly robe, and your golden crown, and that stick with all those jewels in it!”—meaning the scepter. “They ‘re true enough, are n’t they?”

Bud nodded.

“Call in that old man,” he said, “I ’ll order something, and see if he obeys me. If he does, then I ’ll believe I ’m really a king.”

“But now listen, Bud,” said Meg, gravely; “don’t you let these folks see you ’re afraid, or that you ’re not sure whether you're a king or not. Order them around and make them afraid of you. That’s what the kings do in all the stories I ever read.”

“I will,” replied Bud. “I ’ll order them around. So you call in that old donkey with the silver buttons all over him.”

“Here’s a bell-rope,” said Meg; “I ’ll pull it.”

Instantly Jikki entered and bowed low to each of the children.

“What ’s your name?” asked Bud.

“Jikki, your gracious Majesty.”

“Who are you?”

“Your Majesty’s valet, if you please,” answered Jikki.

Oh!” said Bud. He did n’t know what a valet was, but he was n't going to tell Jikki so,

“I want some new clothes, and so does my sister,” Bud announced, as boldly as possible.

“Certainly, your Majesty. I ’ll send the lord high steward here at once.”

With this he bowed and rushed away, and presently Tallydab, the Lord high steward, entered the room and also respectfully bowed before the children.

“I beg your Majesty to command me,” said Tallydab, gravely.

Bud was a little awed by his appearance, but he resolved to be brave.

“We want some new clothes,” he said.

“They are already ordered, your Majesty, and will be here presently.”

“Oh!” said Bud, and stopped short.

“I have ordered twenty suits for your Majesty and forty gowns for the princess,” continued Tallydab; “and I hope these will content your Majesty and the princess until you have time to select a larger assortment.”

“Oh!” said Bud, greatly amazed,

“I have also selected seven maidens, the most noble in all the land, to wait upon the princess. They are even now awaiting her Highness in her own apartments.”

Meg clapped her hands delightedly.

“I ’ll go to them at once,” she cried.

“Has your Majesty any further commands?” asked Tallydab. “If not your five high counselors would like to confer with you in regard to your new duties and responsibilities.”

“Send ’em in,” said Bud, promptly; and while Margaret went to meet her new maids the king held his first conference with his high counselors.

Tn answer to Tallydab’s summons the other four periwigs, pompous and solemn, filed into the room and stood in a row before Bud, who looked upon them with a sensation of awe.

“Your Majesty,” began the venerable Tullydub, in a grave voice, “we are here to instruct you, with your gracious consent, in your new and important duties.”

Bud shifted uneasily in his chair. It all seemed so unreal and absurd—this kingly title and polite deference bestowed upon a poor boy by five dignified and periwigged men—that it was hard for Bud to curb his suspicion that all was not right.

“See here, all of you,” said he, suddenly, “is this thing a joke? tell me, is it a joke?”