16. Purple, Green and Gold

           Theyellowhen,steppinghighandwithanairofvastimportance,walkedslowlyovertherichvelvetcarpetsofthesplendidpalace,examiningeverythingshemetwithhersharplittleeyes.

           Billinahadarighttofeelimportant;forshealonesharedtheNomeKing’ssecretandknewhowtotelltheobjectsthatweretransformationsfromthosethathadneverbeenalive.Shewasverysurethatherguesseswouldbecorrect,butbeforeshebegantomakethemshewascurioustobeholdallthemagnificenceofthisundergroundpalace,whichwasperhapsoneofthemostsplendidandbeautifulplacesinanyfairyland.

           Asshewentthroughtheroomsshecountedthepurpleornaments;andalthoughsomeweresmallandhiddeninqueerplaces,Billinaspiedthemall,andfoundtheentiretenscatteredaboutthevariousrooms.Thegreenornamentsshedidnotbothertocount,forshethoughtshecouldfindthemallwhenthetimecame.

           Finally,havingmadeasurveyoftheentirepalaceandenjoyeditssplendor,theyellowhenreturnedtooneoftheroomswhereshehadnoticedalargepurplefootstool.Sheplacedaclawuponthisandsaid"Ev,"andatoncethefootstoolvanishedandalovelylady,tallandslenderandmostbeautifullyrobed,stoodbeforeher.

           Thelady’seyeswereroundwithastonishmentforamoment,forshecouldnotrememberhertransformation,norimaginewhathadrestoredhertolife.

           "Goodmorning,ma’am,"saidBillina,inhersharpvoice."You’relookingquitewell,consideringyourage."

           "Whospeaks?"demandedtheQueenofEv,drawingherselfupproudly.