Jikki

JIKKI HAS A WISH GRANTED Next morning Aunt Rivette summoned Jikki to her room and said, "Take these shoes and clean and polish them; and carry down this tray of breakfast dishes; and send this hat to the milliner to have the feathers curled; and return this cloak to the Princess Fluff with my compliments, and say I'm much obliged for the loan of it."

Queen Zixi of Ix Baum, L. Frank 1971

"Your Majesty's valet, if you please," answered Jikki.

Queen Zixi of Ix Baum, L. Frank 1971

"You see," remarked Jikki, shaking his head sadly at the six, "I'm only a servant myself."

Queen Zixi of Ix Baum, L. Frank 1971

And while the high counselors sat and waited for the king to recover or die, as he might choose, Jikki waited upon them and brought them their meals.

Queen Zixi of Ix Baum, L. Frank 1971

While thus engaged, Jikki returned, and the valet was so startled at seeing the lord high general that he never noticed the cloak at all.

Queen Zixi of Ix Baum, L. Frank 1971

He was as old as any of the five high counselors; but they were all fat, whereas Jikki was wonderfully lean and thin, and the counselors were solemn and dignified, whereas Jikki was terribly nervous and very talkative.

Queen Zixi of Ix Baum, L. Frank 1971

The Princess Fluff was playing tennis with her maids in a courtyard of the royal palace when Jikki came to say that a girl wished to speak with her Highness.

Queen Zixi of Ix Baum, L. Frank 1971

Jikki rubbed his left ear, as was his custom when perplexed, and then he thought it all over.

Queen Zixi of Ix Baum, L. Frank 1971

Hearing that the king was dead, Jikki made a rush for the door of the bell tower, but trip ped over the foot of Tollydob and fell upon the marble floor so violently that his bones rattled, and he picked himself up half dazed by the fall.

Queen Zixi of Ix Baum, L. Frank 1971

Jikki was so startled that he scarcely had strength remaining to stagger into his private room and sink into a chair.

Queen Zixi of Ix Baum, L. Frank 1971