She wore a short
skirt of red and yellow and her hair, instead of being banged, was a
tangle of short curls upon which rested a circular crown of
silver--much dented and twisted because the Queen had thrown her head
at so many things so many times. Her form was lean and bony and both
her faces were deeply wrinkled.
"What have we here?" asked the Queen sharply, as our friends were made
to stand before her.
"Soup!" cried the guard of Scoodlers, speaking together.
"We're not!" said Dorothy, indignantly; "we're nothing of the sort."
"Ah, but you will be soon," retorted the Queen, a grim smile making
her look more dreadful than before.
"Pardon me, most beautiful vision," said the shaggy man, bowing before
the queen politely. "I must request your Serene Highness to let us go
our way without being made into soup. For I own the Love Magnet, and
whoever meets me must love me and all my friends."
"True," replied the Queen. "We love you very much; so much that we
intend to eat your broth with real pleasure. But tell me, do you
think I am so beautiful?"
"You won't be at all beautiful if you eat me," he said, shaking his
head sadly. "Handsome is as handsome does, you know."
The Queen turned to Button-Bright.
"Do YOU think I'm beautiful?" she asked.
"No," said the boy; "you're ugly."
"I think you're a fright," said Dorothy.
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