she is the nearest approach to a ruler we have at present."
"I do not re-mem-ber her," said Tiktok. "What does she look like?"
"That I cannot say," replied the Wheeler, "although I have seen her
twenty times. For the Princess Langwidere is a different person every
time I see her, and the only way her subjects can recognize her at all
is by means of a beautiful ruby key which she always wears on a chain
attached to her left wrist. When we see the key we know we are beholding
the Princess."
"That is strange," said Dorothy, in astonishment. "Do you mean to say
that so many different princesses are one and the same person?"
"Not exactly," answered the Wheeler. "There is, of course, but one
princess; but she appears to us in many forms, which are all more or
less beautiful."
"She must be a witch," exclaimed the girl.
"I do not think so," declared the Wheeler. "But there is some mystery
connected with her, nevertheless. She is a very vain creature, and lives
mostly in a room surrounded by mirrors, so that she can admire herself
whichever way she looks."
No one answered this speech, because they had just passed out of the
forest and their attention was fixed upon the scene before them--a
beautiful vale in which were many fruit trees and green fields, with
pretty farm-houses scattered here and there and broad, smooth roads that
led in every direction.
In the center of this lovely vale, about a mile from where our friends
were standing, rose the tall spires of the royal palace, which glittered
brightly against their background of blue sky. The palace was surrounded
by charming grounds, full of flowers and shrubbery. Several tinkling
fountains could be seen, and there were pleasant walks bordered by rows
of white marble statuary.
All these details Dorothy was, of course, unable to notice or admire
until they had advanced along the road to a position quite near to the
palace, and she was still looking at the pretty sights when her little
party entered the grounds and approached the big front door of the
king's own apartments. To their disappointment they found the door
tightly closed. A sign was tacked to the panel which read as follows:
OWNER ABSENT.
Please Knock at the Third Door in the Left Wing.
"Now," said Tiktok to the captive Wheeler, "you must show us the way to
the Left Wing."
[Illustration: A SIGN WAS TACKED TO THE PANEL]
"Very well," agreed the prisoner, "it is around here at th
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