The people quickly rose to the spirit of the occasion. What mattered it if the old king was dead, now that a new king was already before them? They broke into a sudden cheer, and, joyously waving their hats and bonnets above their heads, joined eagerly in the cry: “Long live the King of Noland!” Aunt Rivette was fairly stupefied. Such a thing was too wonderful to be believed. A man in the crowd snatched the bonnet from the old woman’s head, and said to her brusquely: “Why don’t you greet the new king? Are you a traitor to your country?” So she also waved her bonnet and screamed: “Long live the king!” But she hardly knew what she was doing or why she did it. Meantime the high counselors had risen from their knees and now stood around the donkey. “May it please your Serene Majesty to condescend to tell us who this young lady is?” asked Tullydub, bowing respectfully. “That’s my sister Fluff,” said Bud, who was enjoying his new position very much. All the counselors, at this, bowed low to Margaret. [Illustration: “SO SHE ALSO WAVED HER BONNET AND SCREAMED: ‘LONG LIVE THE KING!’”] “A horse for the Princess Fluff!” cried the lord high general; and the next moment she was mounted upon a handsome white palfrey, where, with her fluffy golden hair and smiling face and the magnificent cloak flowing from her shoulders, she looked every inch a princess. The people cheered her, too; for it was long since any girl or woman had occupied the palace of the King of Noland, and she was so pretty and sweet that every one loved her immediately. [Illustration: “‘MAY IT PLEASE YOUR SERENE MAJESTY TO TELL US WHO THIS YOUNG LADY IS?’ ASKED TULLYDUB, RESPECTFULLY.”] And now the king’s chariot drove up, with its six prancing steeds, and Bud was lifted from the back of the donkey and placed in the high seat of the chariot. Again the people shouted joyful greetings; the band struck up a gay march tune, and then the royal procession started for the palace. First came Tollydob and the officers; then the king’s chariot, surrounded by soldiers; then the four high counselors upon black horses, riding two on each side of Princess Fluff; and, finally, the band of musicians and the remainder of the royal army. It was an imposing sight, and the people followed after with cheers and rejoicings, while the lord high purse-bearer tossed silver coins from his pouch for any one to catch who could. A message had been sent to warn Jikki that the new king was coming, so he stopped tolling the death knell, and instead rang out a glorious chime of welcome. As for old Rivette finding herself and the donkey alike deserted, she once more seized the bridle and led the patient beast to her humble dwelling; and it was just as she reached her door that King Bud of Noland, amid the cheers and shouts of thousands, entered for the first time the royal palace of Nole. [Illustration: “‘I WANT SOME NEW CLOTHES, AND SO DOES MY SISTER,’ BUD ANNOUNCED, AS BOLDLY AS POSSIBLE.”]