's birthday presents a diadem of diamonds set in
radium.

The next comer proved to be King Renard of Foxville; or King Dox, as he
preferred to be called. He was magnificently dressed in a new feather
costume and wore white kid mittens over his paws and a flower in his
button-hole and had his hair parted in the middle.

King Dox thanked Dorothy fervently for getting him the invitation to
come to Oz, which he had all his life longed to visit. He strutted
around rather absurdly as he was introduced to all the famous people
assembled in the Throne-Room, and when he learned that Dorothy was a
Princess of Oz the Fox King insisted on kneeling at her feet and
afterward retired backward--a dangerous thing to do, as he might have
stubbed his paw and tumbled over.

No sooner was he gone than the blasts of bugles and clatter of drums and
cymbals announced important visitors, and the High Chamberlain assumed
his most dignified tone as he threw open the door and said proudly:

"Her Sublime and Resplendent Majesty, Queen Zixi of Ix! His Serene and
Tremendous Majesty, King Bud of Noland. Her Royal Highness, the Princess
Fluff."

[Illustration: HER MAJESTY, QUEEN ZIXI OF IX]

That three such high and mighty royal personages should arrive at once
was enough to make Dorothy and her companions grow solemn and assume
their best company manners; but when the exquisite beauty of Queen Zixi
met their eyes they thought they had never beheld anything so charming.
Dorothy decided that Zixi must be about sixteen years old, but the
Wizard whispered to her that this wonderful queen had lived thousands
of years, but knew the secret of remaining always fresh and beautiful.

King Bud of Noland and his dainty fair-haired sister, the Princess
Fluff, were friends of Zixi, as their kingdoms were adjoining, so they
had traveled together from their far-off domains to do honor to Ozma of
Oz on the occasion of her birthday. They brought many splendid gifts; so
the table was now fairly loaded down with presents.

Dorothy and Polly loved the Princess Fluff the moment they saw her, and
little King Bud was so frank and boyish that Button-Bright accepted him
as a chum at once and did not want him to go away. But it was after noon
now, and the royal guests must prepare their toilets for the grand
banquet at which they were to assemble that evening to meet the reigning
Princess of this Fairyland; so Queen Zixi was shown to her room by a
troop of maidens led