“To see the jokes with,” replied the Penguin. “Some of them cannot be seen at all without it.”
Following the Royal Microscopist came an old lady in a poke bonnet and black lace shawl, who turned out to be the Head Mistress of the High School at Why. She was a very sharp-featured person and wore blue glasses.
There was a slight pause, and then the Wallypug entered. He was a meek-looking little creature, splendidly dressed in royal robes, which, however, fitted him very badly, and his crown was so much too big that it came quite over his head and just rested on the tip of his nose. He carried an orb in one hand and a sceptre in the other. His long velvet cloak, lined with ermine, was held by two pages, who were giggling and occasionally giving the cloak a tug which nearly upset the poor Wallypug, who seemed to have great difficulty in getting along as it was. (See [Frontispiece].)
“Now then, Wallypug, sparkle up!” called out the Husher, giving him a poke with his wand as soon as he entered the door.
Girlie was greatly surprised to see him treated so disrespectfully, and was quite indignant when, the Wallypug having reached the steps of the dais, the pages gave an extra hard pull at his cloak and caused him to fall awkwardly forward on to his hands and knees, dropping his orb and sceptre and knocking his crown further over his face than ever.
Everybody else, however, seemed to think it a great joke, and even the Wallypug smiled apologetically while he scrambled nervously up to the throne.
During the time that the animals were settling into their places, Girlie found out from the Penguin that the Wallypug was a kind of King, governed by the people instead of governing them. He was obliged to spend his money as they decided, and was not allowed to do anything without their permission. He had to address every one as “Your Majesty,” and had even to wear such clothes as the people directed. The state robes he now wore had belonged to the previous Wallypug, who had been a much larger man, and that was why they fitted him so badly.
So soon as the room was quiet, the Husher announced in a loud voice, “The Speech from the Throne”; and the Wallypug immediately stood up, nervously fumbling at a sheet of parchment which he held in his hand. His crown being quite over his eyes, he had to hold the parchment nearly up to his nose in order to see what was written on it. However, he soon began in a feeble voice,—
“May it please your Majesties——” when he was immediately interrupted by the Cockatoo, who screamed out,—
“We don’t want to hear all that rubbish! Let’s get to business.”