The Land of Nod by J. Walker McSpadden

Author:J. Walker McSpadden [J. Walker M, Spadden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dover Publications
Published: 2014-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

Tess in Trouble

ITHIN the audience chamber of the palace the children gasped in surprise and admiration. And well they might, as it looked like pictures of fairyland. The walls gleamed with the changing tints of mother-of-pearl. The vast vaulted roof seemed like a bit of blue sky studded with myriads of twinkling stars, and was supported by rows of noble pillars, huge and round, yet clear as crystal. At one end of the hall was a throne carved into the form of a lotus blossom, fringed about with poppies.

The courtiers and ladies were dressed in resplendent colors, though of subdued tinting. Their robes were sheeny like cobwebs wet with dew and glistening in the early dawn. The whole scene was in glowing tints which yet blended in perfect harmony.

Their Somnolent Majesties, King Snooze the Second and Queen Forty Winks (to give them their full and official titles), now took their seats upon the throne, while all the court stood at silent attention. King Snooze, however, looked no more royal than he had upon the balcony. He was small and “fidgety” — at least that is how Tinkie described him afterwards. As for the Queen, she was a motherly looking lady, with mild blue eyes and a double chin. Her regal robes were bedecked with jewels, but, strange to say, she had a piece of knitting in her hands, upon which she was clicking away busily.

“My dear,” she said to the King, while pausing to untangle a snarl in her yarn, “I wish you would wear your crown straight when you go to review the troops.”

“Too much trouble,” said the King, reaching down to scratch his heel. “Anyway, it didn’t fall off.”

“Mercy me!” exclaimed her Majesty; “if the man has n’t got on his carpet slippers!”

“You wouldn’t want me to run around in my stocking-feet, would you ?” asked the King. “Anyway, these are the slippers you gave me Christmas.”

“Oh, won’t you ever learn dignity?” asked the Queen.

“Too much trouble,” said the King.

Just then a page came forward.

“What is it, sonny?” asked King Snooze.

“Your Majesty, the procession of Letters has been waiting an hour for audience, and they are getting impatient.”

“Tut, tut! Impatient is an ugly word to use in the Land of Nod.”

“But they say that some are getting lost, and others are forgetting what they came for. They will be all mixed up and telling stories next.”

“Can’t help that,” said his Majesty, trying to balance one of the Queen’s knitting-needles on his nose until that lady nudged him sharply. “Tell them to bring the Figures along next time, for you know Figures cannot lie.”

“But they say —”

“Too much trouble,” interrupted the King, working one heel in and out of his carpet slipper. “If these Letters don’t subside I shall sentence them to capital punishment. Most of them are in for sentences anyway, sooner or later.”

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