“It seems to me, then,” remarked Bumper, “that a king must have a hard time selecting a queen.”
“He has, O Bumper, and that is one reason why a king isn’t always happy. He must think of his people first, and of his own happiness second.”
Bumper bowed meekly, and thought once more that being a king was not as agreeable as he had always thought.
“And if his queen is not the one the people choose,” he added, “what becomes of her and the king?”
“They’re often dethroned, O Bumper, driven away into exile!” There was a threat in the Old Blind Rabbit’s voice as he said this. His blind, sightless eyes seemed to go through Bumper and read his thoughts.
“You wish to select a queen?” continued Blind Rabbit.
Bumper said yes, and blushed the color of his eyes.
Old Blind Rabbit looked distressed. “You should not have thought of that,” he said severely, “without first consulting your people. I have already selected a queen for you!”
Bumper’s heart dropped. This blunt announcement took away all his happiness. Then a slow sense of anger and rebellion came into his mind. He wasn’t going to submit to any such dictation.
“And I have selected one for myself!” he replied, stubbornly.