merely of ruling them only; thus in his pride he felt
himself something more great than a king, he did not dare to think
what! He went into the temple of the city of Zorra and stood some time
there alone: all the priests kneeled to him when he came away.

He cared less and less for the things we care about, for the affairs
of Shap, the business-man in London. He began to despise the man with
a royal contempt.

One day when he sat in Sowla, the city of the Thuls, throned on one
amethyst, he decided, and it was proclaimed on the moment by silver
trumpets all along the land, that he would be crowned as king over all
the lands of Wonder.

By that old temple where the Thuls were worshipped, year in, year out,
for over a thousand years, they pitched pavilions in the open air. The
trees that blew there threw out radiant scents unknown in any countries
that know the map; the stars blazed fiercely for that famous occasion. A
fountain hurled up, clattering, ceaselessly into the air armfuls on
armfuls of diamonds. A deep hush waited for the golden trumpets, the
holy coronation night was come. At the top of those old, worn steps,
going down we know not whither, stood the king in the emerald-and-amethyst
cloak, the ancient garb of the Thuls; beside him lay that Sphinx that
for the last few weeks had advised him in his affairs.

Slowly, with music when the trumpets sounded, came up towards him from
we know not where, one-hundred-and-twenty archbishops, twenty angels
and two archangels, with that terrific crown, the diadem of the Thuls.
They knew as they came up to him that promotion awaited them all
because of this night's work. Silent, majestic, the king awaited them.

The doctors downstairs were sitting over their supper, the warders
softly slipped from room to room, and when in that cosy dormitory of
Hanwell they saw the king still standing erect and royal, his face
resolute, they came up to him and addressed him:

"Go to bed," they said--"pretty bed." So he lay down and soon was fast
asleep: the great day was over.

CHU-BU AND SHEEMISH

It was the custom on Tuesdays in the temple of Chu-bu for the priests
to enter at evening and chant, "There is none but Chu-bu."

And all the people rejoiced and cried out, "There is none but Chu-bu."
And honey was offered to Chu-bu, and maize and fat. Thus was he
magnified.

Chu-bu was an idol of some antiquity, as may be seen from the colour
of the wood. He had been carved out