It was funny to see
the boy reach up to feel of his sharp nose and wide mouth, and wail
afresh with grief. He wagged his ears in a comical manner and tears
were in his little black eyes. But Dorothy couldn't laugh at her
friend just yet, because she felt so sorry.
Just then three little fox-princesses, daughters of the King, entered
the room, and when they saw Button-Bright one exclaimed: "How lovely
he is!" and the next one cried in delight: "How sweet he is!" and
the third princess clapped her hands with pleasure and said, "How
beautiful he is!"
Button-Bright stopped crying and asked timidly:
"Am I?"
"In all the world there is not another face so pretty," declared the
biggest fox-princess.
"You must live with us always, and be our brother," said the next.
"We shall all love you dearly," the third said.
This praise did much to comfort the boy, and he looked around and
tried to smile. It was a pitiful attempt, because the fox face was
new and stiff, and Dorothy thought his expression more stupid than
before the transformation.
"I think we ought to be going now," said the shaggy man, uneasily,
for he didn't know what the King might take into his head to do next.
"Don't leave us yet, I beg of you," pleaded King Renard. "I intend to
have several days of feasting and merry-making in honor of your visit.
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