"
In a flash he was gone, and the Ryls and Knooks with him; but they
could all hear the golden hoofs of the Saw-Horse ringing on the marble
pavement outside, as he pranced away with his noble rider.
Presently the band played again, and the High Chamberlain announced:
"Her Gracious Majesty, the Queen of Merryland."
They looked earnestly to discover whom this queen might be, and saw
advancing up the room an exquisite wax doll dressed in dainty fluffs
and ruffles and spangled gown. She was almost as big as
Button-Bright, and her cheeks and mouth and eyebrow were prettily
painted in delicate colors. Her blue eyes stared a bit, being of
glass, yet the expression upon her Majesty's face was quite pleasant
and decidedly winning. With the Queen of Merryland were four wooden
soldiers, two stalking ahead of her with much dignity and two
following behind, like a royal bodyguard. The soldiers were painted in
bright colors and carried wooden guns, and after them came a fat
little man who attracted attention at once, although he seemed modest
and retiring. For he was made of candy, and carried a tin sugar-sifter
filled with powdered sugar, with which he dusted himself frequently so
that he wouldn't stick to things if he touched them. The High
Chamberlain had called him "The Candy Man of Merryland," and Dorothy
saw that one of his thumbs looked as if it had been bitten off by
some one who was fond of candy and couldn't resist the temptation.
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