As for the company of foxes assembled to dine with the strangers, they
were most beautifully costumed, and their rich dresses made Dorothy's
simple gown and Button-Bright's sailor suit and the shaggy man's
shaggy clothes look commonplace. But they treated their guests with
great respect and the King's dinner was a very good dinner indeed.
Foxes, as you know, are fond of chicken and other fowl; so they served
chicken soup and roasted turkey and stewed duck and fried grouse and
broiled quail and goose pie, and as the cooking was excellent the
King's guests enjoyed the meal and ate heartily of the various dishes.
The party went to the theater, where they saw a play acted by foxes
dressed in costumes of brilliantly colored feathers. The play was
about a fox-girl who was stolen by some wicked wolves and carried to
their cave; and just as they were about to kill her and eat her a
company of fox-soldiers marched up, saved the girl, and put all the
wicked wolves to death.
"How do you like it?" the King asked Dorothy.
"Pretty well," she answered. "It reminds me of one of Mr.
Aesop's fables."
"Don't mention Aesop to me, I beg of you!" exclaimed King Dox.
"I hate that man's name. He wrote a good deal about foxes, but always
made them out cruel and wicked, whereas we are gentle and kind, as you
may see."
"But his fables showed you to be wise and clever, and more shrewd than
other animals," said the shaggy man, thoughtfully.
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