按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
would still love him。〃
〃Too bad； too bad！〃 sighed Googly…Goo。 〃I have laid
aside more than a bushel of precious gems each worth a
king's ransom to present to your Majesty on the day I
wed Gloria。〃
The King's eyes sparkled； for he loved wealth above
everything； but the next moment he frowned deeply again。
〃It won't help us to kill Pon；〃 he muttered。 〃What we
must do is kill Gloria's love for Pon。〃
〃That is better； if you can find a way to do it；〃
agreed Googly…Goo。 〃Everything would come right if you
could kill Gloria's love for that gardener's boy。 Really；
Sire； now that I come to think of it； there must be fully
a bushel and a half of those jewels！〃
Just then a messenger entered the court to say that the
banquet was prepared for the strangers。 So Cap'n Bill；
Trot and Button…Bright entered the castle and were taken
to a room where a fine feast was spread upon the table。
〃I don't like that Lord Googly…Goo；〃 remarked Trot as
she was busily eating。
〃Nor I；〃 said Cap'n Bill。 〃But from the talk we heard I
guess the gardener's boy won't get the Princess。〃
〃Perhaps not；〃 returned the girl； 〃but I hope old
Googly doesn't get her； either。〃
〃The King means to sell her for all those jewels；〃
observed Button…Bright； his mouth half full of cake and
jam。
〃Poor Princess！〃 sighed Trot。 〃I'm sorry for her；
although I've never seen her。 But if she says no to
Googly…Goo； and means it； what can they do？〃
〃Don't let us worry about a strange Princess；〃 advised
Cap'n Bill。 〃I've a notion we're not too safe； ourselves；
with this cruel King。〃
The two children felt the same way and all three were
rather solemn during the remainder of the meal。
When they had eaten； the servants escorted them to
their rooms。 Cap'n Bill's room was way to one end of the
castle； very high up； and Trot's room was at the opposite
end； rather low down。 As for Button…Bright； they placed
him in the middle； so that all were as far apart as they
could possibly be。 They didn't like this arrangement very
well； but all the rooms were handsomely furnished and
being guests of the King they dared not complain。
After the strangers had left the courtyard the King and
Googly…Goo had a long talk together； and the King said：
〃I cannot force Gloria to marry you just now； because
those strangers may interfere。 I suspect that the wooden…
legged man possesses great magical powers； or he would
never have been able to carry himself and those children
across the deadly desert。〃
〃I don't like him； he looks dangerous；〃 answered
Googly…Goo。 〃But perhaps you are mistaken about his being
a wizard。 Why don't you test his powers？〃
〃How？〃 asked the King。
〃Send for the Wicked Witch。 She will tell you in a
moment whether that wooden…legged person is a common man
or a magician。〃
〃Ha！ that's a good idea；〃 cried the King。 〃Why didn't I
think of the Wicked Witch before？ But the woman demands
rich rewards for her services。〃
〃Never mind； I will pay her；〃 promised the wealthy
Googly…Goo。
So a servant was dispatched to summon the Wicked Witch；
who lived but a few leagues from King Krewl's castle。
While they awaited her； the withered old courtier
proposed that they pay a visit to Princess Gloria and see
if she was not now in a more complaisant mood。 So the two
started away together and searched the castle over
without finding Gloria。
At last Googly…Goo suggested she might be in the rear
garden； which was a large park filled with bushes and
trees and surrounded by a high wall。 And what was their
anger； when they turned a corner of the path； to find in
a quiet nook the beautiful Princess； and kneeling before
her； Pon； the gardener's boy！ With a roar of rage the
King dashed forward； but Pon had scaled the wall by means
of a ladder； which still stood in its place； and when he
saw the King coming he ran up the ladder and made good
his escape。 But this left Gloria confronted by her angry
guardian； the King； and by old Googly…Goo； who was
trembling with a fury he could not express in words。
Seizing the Princess by her arm the King dragged her
back to the castle。 Pushing her into a room on the lower
floor he locked the door upon the unhappy girl。 And at
that moment the arrival of the Wicked Witch was
announced。
Hearing this； the King smiled； as a tiger smiles；
showing his teeth。 And Googly…Goo smiled； as a serpent
smiles； for he had no teeth except a couple of fangs。 And
having frightened each other with these smiles the two
dreadful men went away to the Royal Council Chamber to
meet the Wicked Witch。
Chapter Twelve
The Wooden…Legged Grass…Hopper
Now it so happened that Trot； from the window of her
room； had witnessed the meeting of the lovers in the
garden and had seen the King come and drag Gloria away。
The little girl's heart went out in sympathy for the poor
Princess； who seemed to her to be one of the sweetest and
loveliest young ladies she had ever seen； so she crept
along the passages and from a hidden niche saw Gloria
locked in her room。
The key was still in the lock； so when the King had
gone away； followed by Googly…Goo； Trot stole up to the
door； turned the key and entered。 The Princess lay prone
upon a couch； sobbing bitterly。 Trot went up to her and
smoothed her hair and tried to comfort her。
〃Don't cry；〃 she said。 〃I've unlocked the door； so you
can go away any time you want to。〃
〃It isn't that；〃 sobbed the Princess。 〃I am unhappy
because they will not let me love Pon； the gardener's
boy！〃
〃Well； never mind； Pon isn't any great shakes； anyhow；
seems to me；〃 said Trot soothingly。 〃There are lots of
other people you can love。〃
Gloria rolled over on the couch and looked at the
little girl reproachfully。
〃Pon has won my heart； and I can't help loving him；〃
she explained。 Then with sudden indignation she added：
〃But I'll never love Googly…Goo never； as long as I
live！〃
〃I should say not！〃 replied Trot。 〃Pon may not be much
good； but old Googly is very； very bad。 Hunt around； and
I'm sure you'll find someone worth your love。 You're very
pretty； you know； and almost anyone ought to love you。〃
〃You don't understand； my dear；〃 said Gloria； as she