In the banquet hall to-night were gathered
only old and trusted friends, so here Ozma was
herself--a mere girl. She greeted Dorothy with
a kiss, the Shaggy Man with a smile, the little
old Wizard with a friendly handshake and then
she pressed the Scarecrow's stuffed arm and
cried merrily:
"What a lovely left ear! Why, it's a hundred
times better than the old one."
"I'm glad you like it," replied the Scarecrow,
well pleased. "Jinjur did a neat job, didn't she?
And my hearing is now perfect. Isn't it wonderful
what a little paint will do, if it's properly
applied?"
"It really is wonderful," she agreed, as they
all took their seats; "but the Sawhorse must
have made his legs twinkle to have carried you so
far in one day. I didn't expect you back before
to-morrow, at the earliest."
"Well," said the Scarecrow, "I met a charming
girl on the road and wanted to see more of her, so
I hurried back."
Ozma laughed.
"I know," she returned; "it's the Patchwork
Girl. She is certainly bewildering, if not strictly
beautiful."
"Have you seen her, then?" the straw man eagerly
asked.
"Only in my Magic Picture, which shows me all
scenes of interest in the Land of Oz."
"I fear the picture didn't do her justice," said
the Scarecrow.
Pages:
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178