Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/436

304 “Here! I ’ve had enough of this,” declared Bud. “You go and stand in that corner, with your face to the wall, till I tell you to sit down,” he added, remembering a time when his father, the ferryman, had inflicted a like punishment upon him.

Somewhat to his surprise, Tullydub at once obeyed the command, and then Bud made his first speech to the people.

“We ’re goin’ to have a dance,” he said; “so pitch in and have a good time. If there ’s anything you want, ask for it, You 're all welcome to stay as long as you please and go home when you get ready.”

This seemed to please the company, for every one applauded the king’s speech, Then the musicians began to play, and the people were soon dancing and enjoying themselves greatly.

Princess Fluff had a good many partners that evening, but Bud did net care to dance—he preferred to look on; and, after a time, he brought old Tullydub out of his comer, and made the chief counselor promise to be good and not annoy him again.

“But it is my duty to counsel the king,” protested the old man, solemnly.

“When I want your advice I ‘ll ask for it,” said Bud.

While Tullydub stood beside the throne, looking somewhat sulky and disagreeable, the door opened and Aunt Rivette entered the reception-room. She was clothed in a handsome gown of bright-green velvet, trimmed with red and yellow flowers, and the wings stuck out from the folds at her back in a way that was truly wonderful.

Aunt Rivette seemed in an amiable mood. She smiled and curtsied to all the people, who stopped dancing to stare at her, and she even fluttered her wings once or twice to show that she was proud of being unlike all the others present.

Bud had to laugh at her, she looked so funny; and then a mischievous thought came to him, and he commanded old Tullydub to dance with her.

“But I don’t dance, your Majesty!” exclaimed the horrified chief counselor.

“Try it; I’m sure you can dance,” returned Bud. “If you don’t know how, it’s time you learned.”

So the poor man was forced to place his arm about Aunt Rivette’s waist and to whirl her around in a waltz. The old woman knew as little about dancing as did Tullydub, and they were exceedingly awkward, bumping into every one they came near. Presently Aunt Rivette’s feet slipped, and she would have tumbled upon the floor with the chief counselor had she not begun to flutter her wings wildly.

So, instead of faliimg, she rose gradually into the air, carrying Tullydub with her; for they clung to each other in terror, and one screamed “Murder!” and the other “Help!” in their loudest voices.

Bud laughed until the tears stood in his eyes; but Aunt Rivette, after bumping both her own head and that of the chief counselor against the ceiling several times, finally managed to control the action of her wings and to descend to the floor again.

As soon as he was released, old Tullydub fled from the room; and Aunt Rivette, vowing she would dance no more, seated herself beside Bud and watched the revel until nearly midnight, when the courtiers and their ladies dispersed to their own homes, declaring that they had never enjoyed a more delightful evening.