as sharp as
needles."

"Oh," said Button-Bright. "But never mind the Blue Wolf; I must manage
to get my umbrella somehow or other."

They now walked back to the palace, still objects of much curiosity to
the natives, who sneered at them and mocked them but dared not
interfere with their progress. At the palace they found that dinner was
about to be served in the big dining hall of the servants and
dependents and household officers of the royal Boolooroo.
Ghip-Ghisizzle was the Majordomo and Master of Ceremonies, so he took
his seat at the end of the long table and placed Cap'n Bill on one side
of him and Button-Bright on the other, to the great annoyance of the
other Blueskins present, who favored the strangers with nothing
pleasanter than envious scowls.

The Boolooroo and his Queen and daughters--the Six Snubnosed
Princesses--dined in formal state in the Banquet Hall, where they were
waited upon by favorite soldiers of the Royal Bodyguard. Here in the
servants' hall there was one vacant seat next to Button-Bright which
was reserved for Trot; but the little girl had not yet appeared, and
the sailorman and the boy were beginning to be uneasy about her.

THE TRIBULATION OF TROT

CHAPTER 9

The apartments occupied by the Six Snubnosed Princesses were so
magnificent that when Trot first entered them, led by her haughty
captors, she thought they must be the most beautiful rooms in the
world. There was a long and broad reception room, with forty-seven
windows in it, and opening out of it were six lovely bedchambers, each
furnished in the greatest luxury. Adjoining each sleeping room was a
marble bath, and each Princess had a separate boudoir and a dressing
room. The furnishings were of the utmost splendor, blue-gold and blue
gems being profusely used in the decorations, while the divans and
chairs were of richly carved bluewood upholstered in blue satins and
silks. The draperies were superbly embroidered, and the rugs upon the
marble floors were woven with beautiful scenes in every conceivable
shade of blue.

When they first reached the reception room, Princess Azure cast herself
upon a divan while her five sisters sat or reclined in easy chairs with
their heads thrown back and their blue chins scornfully elevated. Trot,
who was much annoyed at the treatment she had received, did not
hesitate to seat herself also in a big easy chair.

"Slave!" cried Princess Cerulia, "Fetch me a mirror."

"Slave!" cried