Boy called in at the House of Words just out of curiosity to see the Busybody Extraordinary, and found him, looking very dignified indeed, seated on the great gilded throne at one end of the Hall; the effect was rather marred, though, by the dais being littered with all kinds of household furniture which had been hastily brought across from his old home. Her Majesty the Queen, his wife, was busy making up a bed for the baby on one of the lower steps, and the Princess, his daughter, and the Crown Prince, his son, were squabbling as to who should wash up the dinner plates in a tin pail at the back of the throne. [Illustration: 0179] They received Boy in great state, however, for when they perceived him coming towards them the King arose and the Queen and the Prince and Princess formed a group around him, with their noses in the air in a very superior style, and the Queen informed Boy that “he might kiss her hand if he wished.” Boy, however, said, “it didn’t matter, thank you, and he had only called to see how they liked living on the dais.” “Oh, of course,” said the King with a grand air, “it’s only for a very short time--until I have an opportunity of re-organising my Kingdom. It’s rather awkward, at present, you see, there being so many other Kings and Queens about.” “Yes, I should think so,” laughed Boy. The King got down from the throne, and coming close to Boy, whispered in his ear,-- “Would you mind calling me ‘Your Majesty’ when you speak to me, please?” and then went back to his throne again. “What nonsense!” replied Boy. “I can’t keep addressing everybody as ‘Your Majesty,’ you know, and, besides, I’m as much of a King as you are.” The Queen looked very severe. “What shall we do about it, my dear?” asked the King anxiously. “Send him to the deepest dungeon beneath the Castle Moat,” replied the Queen, waving her hand tragically. “Yes, we shall really have to do something of that sort, if you don’t treat us with proper respect,” remarked the King warningly. “What rubbish!” laughed Boy. “Why, you haven’t got a castle moat, or a dungeon either,” and he walked away while the King sat down on the throne with a great air of offended dignity, and the rest of the Royal family resumed their domestic duties. Out in the town Boy found all the shops closed; for, you see, none of the Kings and Queens would think of working, and so everything was at a standstill.