u've brought up another question. How do you
want to spend it?"

He folded his hands helplessly on the table and looked appealingly at
the Fix next to him. "How am I to settle all these questions,
Sticken? First they come running around like crazy chairs, and--"

"You might ring for a settle," suggested Sticken, looking curiously
at Sir Hokus. The King leaned back with a sigh of relief, then
touched a bell. There were at least twenty bells set on a high post
at his right hand, and all of the Fixes seemed to have similar bell
posts.

"He's talking perfect nonsense," said Dorothy angrily. The Cowardly
Lion began to roll his eyes ominously.

"Let me handle this, my dear. I'm used to Kings," whispered Sir
Hokus. "Most of 'em talk nonsense. But if he grows wroth, we'll have
all the furniture in the place around our ears. Now just--"

Bump! Sir Hokus and Dorothy sat down quite suddenly. The settle had
arrived and hit them smartly behind the knees. The Cowardly Lion
dodged just in time and lay down with a growl beside it.

"Now that you're settled," began the King in a resigned voice, "we
might try again. What is your motto?"

This took even Sir Hokus by surprise, but before he could answer, the
King snapped out:

"Come late and stay early! How's that?"

"Very good," said Sir Hokus with a wink at Dorothy.

"Next time, don't come at all," mumbled Sticken Plaster, his mouth
full of biscuit.

"And you wanted?" the King asked uneasily.

"Dinner for three," said the Knight promptly and with another bow.

"Now that's talking." The King looked admiringly at Sir Hokus. "This
Little With D had matters all tangled up. One time at a thing! That's
my motto!"

Leaning over, the King pressed another button. By this time, the
Fixes had lost interest in the visitors and went calmly on with their
dinners. Three tables came pattering up, and the settle drew itself
up of its own accord. Dorothy placed the Cowardly Lion's dinner on
the ground, and then she and Sir Hokus enjoyed the first good meal
they had had since they left Pokes. They were gradually becoming used
to their strange surroundings.

"You ask him about the Scarecrow," begged Dorothy. Everybody had
finished, and the tables were withdrawing in orderly groups. The King
was leaning sleepily back in his chair.

"Ahem," began the Knight, rising stiffly, "has your Majesty seen
aught of a noble Scarecrow? And could your Supreme Fixity tell us
aught--"

The King's eye