A servant rang a bell. Other servants begancarrying in large silver bowls, platters, and trays.
"It is time for dinner now," said Nan. "We must go,Wolfie. We have to find Papa." She helped her littlebrother put his wig back on.
"But I want to stay with Jack and Annie," whinedWolfie. "I want to play with them in the garden.""Not now," said Nan. She grabbed Wolfie's hand. "Itwas nice to talk to you," she said to Jack and Annie.
"And I hope we can see you perform again someday,Jack."48Jack forced a smile. "Uh ... yeah, thanks. Hey, let usknow what your dad--I mean, your papa-- says aboutthe brilliant artists living in the palace," he said.
"Maybe you can meet us later by those double doors?""Yes, after dinner, we will meet you," said Nan.
"And then we will play in the garden!" said Wolfie.
"No, you and I will have other things to do, Wolfie,remember?" said Nan. "Come along now." She pulledher little brother away.
"But I want to play with Jack the Clown!" Wolfiewailed.
Jack and Annie watched Wolfie and Nan disappearinto the crowd.
"I am nota clown," Jack said darkly.
"Don't worry about him," said Annie. "He reallyadmires you.""Lucky me," said Jack.
The bell sounded again. People started movingtoward the dinner tables.
49"Where should we sit?" said Annie.
"Anywhere," said Jack, "as long as we're out of theway." He still wanted to hide from the imperialchildren. "What about that table at the end of theroom? Near the door?""Sure."Jack led the way to the table at the far end of theroom. "Let's grab seats while we can," he said toAnnie.
As grown-ups hovered near the table talking andlaughing, Jack and Annie sat down in two chairs.
Steaming platters of food lined the middle of thetable: beef stew, mashed potatoes, sausages,dumplings, cabbage, spiced apples, and gingerbread.
Jack's mouth watered. He hadn't realized howhungry he was. "Okay, here's our plan," he said toAnnie. "We'll eat first. Then Nan will tell us where allthe artists live, and we'll get to work.""Excuse me, young man and young lady," someonesaid in a snippy tone.
50Jack and Annie turned around in their chairs. Anelderly couple stood glaring at them.
"The empress herself designed the seating plan," theman said. "And I can assure you these are not yourseats.""Furthermore," said the woman, "no one sits untilHer Imperial Majesty is seated."Jack and Annie jumped up from their chairs.
"Oops!" said Annie.
"Sorry!" said Jack.
"Our mistake," said Annie. "Excuse us."Jack and Annie walked away from the table. "Thatwas bad manners," Annie said to Jack.
"Who, us or them?" said Jack.
"Us," Annie said. "I wonder where ourseats are.""I have a feeling we're not a part of the empress'sseating plan," said Jack. His face felt hot again. Hiswig itched like crazy.
Suddenly a hush fell over the room. The harp andviolin music stopped. Everyone stopped talking.
51Her Imperial Majesty had entered through the maindoors. The imperial children followed her. HerMajesty led them to the table in the middle of theroom. Everyone else stood silently, waiting for theimperial family to sit down.
"We have to get out of here now"Jack whispered toAnnie. "Soon we'll be the only ones left standing.""Like musical chairs," said Annie.
"Right," said Jack. "Forget dinner. Let's go look forwhere the artists are staying. We can't wait for Nanto ask her dad."As all the guests sat down, Jack and Annie hurriedtoward the door.
"Jack the Clown!" came a high voice.
Jack looked over his shoulder. Wolfie was wavingfrom one of the tables.
Annie waved back.
"Don't wave! Keep going," said Jack. He grabbedAnnie's hand and pulled her out of the party room.
They hurried into yet another elegant52room with red velvet furniture and gold-trimmedwalls.
"Keep going," said Jack. He led the way intoanother fancy room.
"Jack and Annie, wait!" came a cry.
"I hear Wolfie!" said Annie.
"Darn!" Jack quickly closed the door behind them.
"Keep moving!" he said.
"We can't," said Annie. "That's mean. We shouldwait for him.""But he'll slow down our mission!" said Jack. "Whenare we going to get started?""Calm down," said Annie. "We'll just tell him wecan't hang out with him now because we havesomething important that we have to do."Jack heaved a sigh. "Okay.""Jack! Annie!"Jack opened the door.
Wolfie ran right into him. "There you are!" the littleboy said, smiling. "I was looking for you!""No kidding," said Jack.
53"Yes!" Wolfie said. "Are you leaving?""Not yet, we have to do something important," saidJack. "And you can't come with us."Wolfie's smile vanished.
"Sorry," said Jack.
"But I want you to come to the garden with me,"said Wolfie.
"Not now," said Jack. "Wolfie, listen to me. Listencarefully. Annie and I have to do something really,really important. And we have to do it all byourselves."Wolfie's bottom lip started to quiver. Oh, no,thought Jack. He's going to cry.
A tear ran down the little boy's cheek.
"Aww, Wolfie, don't cry," Annie said gently.
"Wolfie! Wolfie!" someone called. Nan burst intothe room. "Wolfie, what are you doing? Papa is veryupset!""I want to play with Jack and Annie," said Wolfie.
Another big tear ran down his cheek.
"Please, Wolfie," Nan begged. "You know you54have a big responsibility tonight. You have to--""No!" wailed Wolfie, stamping his foot. "No, no, no! Inever get to play!""Wolfie, stop!" said Nan. "Please do not be thisway. Not now, of all times! You will kill Papa!"55"Wolfie! Wolfie!" came a deep voice.
"He's in here, Papa!" Nan called. "Come, Wolfie."She took Wolfie's hand, but he pulled away from her.
"No! I want to play!" shouted Wolfie. And hecharged out of the room.
"Wolfie?" A portly man in a wig burst throughanother door. "Where is he? Where is my son?""Oh, Papa!" said Nan. "Wolfie ran away!"56"Ran away?" The man threw his hands in the air.
"We must find him!" he cried.
"Papa, calm down!" said Nan.
"We will fail utterly without him!" cried her papa.
And he rushed out of the room.
"Papa! Papa!" yelled Nan. And she hurried after herfather. |