The parrot was now on Cap'n Bill's shoulder, for Trot thought a
Queen ought not to carry a bird around, but the parrot did not mind
the change and was as much excited as anyone in the crowd. "Oh, what
bliss to kiss a miss!" he shouted as Trot held out her hand to be
kissed by her subjects, and then he would scream,
"We're in the sky and flyin' high;
We're goin' to live instead of die,
It's time to laugh instead of cry;
Oh, my! Ki-yi! Ain't this a pie?"
Cap'n Bill let the bird jabber as he pleased, for the occasion was a
joyful one, and it was no wonder the parrot was excited. And while
the throng shouted greetings to the Queen, suddenly the great
Rainbow appeared in the sky and dropped its end right on the Court
of the Statues. Polychrome stooped to kiss Trot and Button-Bright,
gave Cap'n Bill a charming smile and Rosalie the Witch a friendly
nod of farewell. Then she sprang lightly upon the arch of the
Rainbow and was greeted by the bevy of dancing, laughing maidens who
were her sisters. "I shall keep watch over you, Button-Bright," she
called to the boy. "Don't despair, whatever happens, for behind the
clouds is always the Rainbow!"
"Thank you, Polly," he answered, and Trot also thanked the lovely
Polychrome, and so did Cap'n Bill. The parrot made quite a long
speech, flying high above the arch where Polychrome stood and then
back to Cap'n Bill's shoulder.
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