efore the Six Snubnosed Princesses went to the Royal Banquet Hall,
Cobalt stuck her head through a crack of the door and said to Trot, "If
you want any dinner, you'll find it in the servants' hall. I advise you
to eat, for after our dinner we will decide upon a fitting punishment
for you, and then I'm sure you won't have much appetite."

"Thank you," replied the girl. "I'm right hungry, jus' now." She waited
until the snubnosed sextette had pranced haughtily away, and then she
came out, followed by all the pets, and found her way to the servants'
quarters.

THE KING'S TREASURE CHAMBER

CHAPTER 10

All the Blueskins assembled in the servants' hall were amazed to see
the pets of the Princesses trailing after the strange little girl, but
Trot took her place next to Button-Bright at the table, and the parrot
perched upon her shoulder, while the peacock stood upon one side of her
chair, and the lamb upon the other, and the cat and dog lay at her feet
and the blue rabbit climbed into her lap and cuddled down there. Some
of the Blueskins insisted that the animals and birds must be put out of
the room, but Ghip-Ghisizzle said they could remain, as they were the
favored pets of the lovely Snubnosed Princesses.

Cap'n Bill was delighted to see his dear little friend again, and so
was Button-Bright, and now that they were reunited--for a time, at
least--they paid little heed to the sour looks and taunting remarks of
the ugly Blueskins and ate heartily of the dinner, which was really
very good.

The meal was no sooner over than Ghip-Ghisizzle was summoned to the
chamber of his Majesty the Boolooroo, but before he went away, he took
Trot and Cap'n Bill and Button-Bright into a small room and advised
them to stay there until he returned so that the servants and soldiers
would not molest them. "My people seem to dislike strangers," said the
Majordomo thoughtfully, "and that surprises me because you are the
first strangers they have ever seen. I think they imagine you will
become favorites of the Boolooroo and of the Princesses, and that is
why they are jealous and hate you."

"They needn't worry 'bout that," replied Trot. "The Snubnoses hate me
worse than the people do."

"I can't imagine a bootblue becoming a royal favorite," grumbled
Button-Bright.

"Or a necktie mixer," added Cap'n Bill.

"You don't mix neckties; you're a nectar mixer," said Ghip-Ghisizzle
correcting the sailor. "I'll not be gone long, for I'm