English
Manyservantsdressedinhandsomeuniformsstoodreadytowelcomethenewarrivals,andwhentheWizardgotoutofthebuggyaprettygirlinagreengowncriedoutinsurprise:
“Why,it’sOz,theWonderfulWizard,comebackagain!”
Thelittlemanlookedathercloselyandthentookboththemaiden’shandsinhisandshookthemcordially.
“Onmyword,”heexclaimed,“it’slittleJelliaJamb—aspertandprettyasever!”
“Whynot,Mr.Wizard?”askedJellia,bowinglow.“ButI’mafraidyoucannotruletheEmeraldCity,asyouusedto,becausewenowhaveabeautifulPrincesswhomeveryonelovesdearly.”
“Andthepeoplewillnotwillinglypartwithher,”addedatallsoldierinaCaptain-General’suniform.
TheWizardturnedtolookathim.
“Didyounotweargreenwhiskersatonetime?”heasked.
“Yes,”saidthesoldier;“butIshavedthemofflongago,andsincethenIhaverisenfromaprivatetobetheChiefGeneraloftheRoyalArmies.”
“That’snice,”saidthelittleman.“ButIassureyou,mygoodpeople,thatIdonotwishtoruletheEmeraldCity,”headded,earnestly.
“Inthatcaseyouareverywelcome!”criedalltheservants,anditpleasedtheWizardtonotetherespectwithwhichtheroyalretainersbowedbeforehim.
HisfamehadnotbeenforgottenintheLandofOz,byanymeans.
“WhereisDorothy?”enquiredZeb,anxiously,asheleftthebuggyandstoodbesidehisfriendthelittleWizard.
“SheiswiththePrincessOzma,intheprivateroomsofthepalace,”repliedJelliaJamb.“Butshehasorderedmetomakeyouwelcomeandtoshowyoutoyourapartments.”
Theboylookedaroundhimwithwonderingeyes.
Suchmagnificenceandwealthaswasdisplayedinthispalacewasmorethanhehadeverdreamedof,andhecouldscarcelybelievethatallthegorgeousglitterwasrealandnottinsel.
“What’stobecomeofme?”askedthehorse,uneasily.Hehadseenconsiderableoflifeinthecitiesinhisyoungerdays,andknewthatthisregalpalacewasnoplaceforhim.
ItperplexedevenJelliaJamb,foratime,toknowwhattodowiththeanimal.
Thegreenmaidenwasmuchastonishedatthesightofsounusualacreature,forhorseswereinthisLand;butthosewholivedintheEmeraldCitywereapttobeastonishedbystrangesights,soafterinspectingthecab-horseandnotingthemildlookinhisbigeyesthegirldecidednottobeafraidofhim.
“Therearenostableshere,”saidtheWizard,“unlesssomehavebeenbuiltsinceIwentaway.”
“Wehaveneverneededthembefore,”answeredJellia;“fortheSawhorselivesinaroomofthepalace,beingmuchsmallerandmorenaturalinappearancethanthisgreatbeastyouhavebroughtwithyou.”
“DoyoumeanthatI’mafreak?”askedJim,angrily.
“Oh,no,”shehastenedtosay,“theremaybemanymorelikeyouintheplaceyoucamefrom,butinOzanyhorsebutaSawhorseisunusual.”
ThismollifiedJimalittle,andaftersomethoughtthegreenmaidendecidedtogivethecab-horsearoominthepalace,suchabigbuildinghavingmanyroomsthatwereseldominuse.
SoZebunharnessedJim,andseveraloftheservantsthenledthehorsearoundtotherear,wheretheyselectedanicelargeapartmentthathecouldhavealltohimself.
ThenJelliasaidtotheWizard:
“Yourownroom—whichwasbackofthegreatThroneRoom—hasbeenvacanteversinceyouleftus.Wouldyoulikeitagain?”
“Yes,indeed!”returnedthelittleman.“Itwillseemlikebeingathomeagain,forIlivedinthatroomformany,manyyears.”
Heknewthewaytoit,andaservantfollowedhim,carryinghissatchel.
Zebwasalsoescortedtoaroom—sograndandbeautifulthathealmostfearedtositinthechairsorlieuponthebed,lesthemightdimtheirsplendor.
Intheclosetshediscoveredmanyfancycostumesofrichvelvetsandbrocades,andoneoftheattendantstoldhimtodresshimselfinanyoftheclothesthatpleasedhimandtobepreparedtodinewiththePrincessandDorothyinanhour’stime.
Openingfromthechamberwasafinebathroomhavingamarbletubwithperfumedwater;sotheboy,stilldazedbythenoveltyofhissurroundings,indulgedinagoodbathandthenselectedamaroonvelvetcostumewithsilverbuttonstoreplacehisownsoiledandmuchwornclothing.
Thereweresilkstockingsandsoftleatherslipperswithdiamondbucklestoaccompanyhisnewcostume,andwhenhewasfullydressedZeblookedmuchmoredignifiedandimposingthaneverbeforeinhislife.
HewasallreadywhenanattendantcametoescorthimtothepresenceofthePrincess;hefollowedbashfullyandwasusheredintoaroommoredaintyandattractivethanitwassplendid.
HerehefoundDorothyseatedbesideayounggirlsomarvelouslybeautifulthattheboystoppedsuddenlywithagaspofadmiration.
ButDorothysprangupandrantoseizeherfriend’shanddrawinghimimpulsivelytowardthelovelyPrincess,whosmiledmostgraciouslyuponherguest.
ThentheWizardentered,andhispresencerelievedtheboy’sembarrassment.
Thelittlemanwasclothedinblackvelvet,withmanysparklingemeraldornamentsdecoratinghisbreast;buthisbaldheadandwrinkledfeaturesmadehimappearmoreamusingthanimpressive.
OzmahadbeenquitecurioustomeetthefamousmanwhohadbuilttheEmeraldCityandunitedtheMunchkins,Gillikins,QuadlingsandWinkiesintoonepeople;sowhentheywereallfourseatedatthedinnertablethePrincesssaid:
“Pleasetellme,Mr.Wizard,whetheryoucalledyourselfOzafterthisgreatcountry,orwhetheryoubelievemycountryiscalledOzafteryou.
ItisamatterthatIhavelongwishedtoenquireabout,becauseyouareofastrangeraceandmyownnameisOzma.
No,one,Iamsure,isbetterabletoexplainthismysterythanyou.”
“Thatistrue,”answeredthelittleWizard;“thereforeitwillgivemepleasuretoexplainmyconnectionwithyourcountry.
Inthefirstplace,ImusttellyouthatIwasborninOmaha,andmyfather,whowasapolitician,namedmeOscarZoroasterPhadrigIsaacNormanHenkleEmmannuelAmbroiseDiggs,Diggsbeingthelastnamebecausehecouldthinkofnomoretogobeforeit.
Takenaltogether,itwasadreadfullylongnametoweighdownapoorinnocentchild,andoneofthehardestlessonsIeverlearnedwastoremembermyownname.
WhenIgrewupIjustcalledmyselfO.Z.,becausetheotherinitialswereP-I-N-H-E-A-D;andthatspelled‘pinhead,’whichwasareflectiononmyintelligence.”
“Surelynoonecouldblameyouforcuttingyournameshort,”saidOzma,sympathetically.“Butdidn’tyoucutitalmosttooshort?”
“Perhapsso,”repliedtheWizard.“WhenayoungmanIranawayfromhomeandjoinedacircus.IusedtocallmyselfaWizard,anddotricksofventriloquism.”
“Whatdoesthatmean?”askedthePrincess.
“ThrowingmyvoiceintoanyobjectIpleased,tomakeitappearthattheobjectwasspeakinginsteadofme.
AlsoIbegantomakeballoonascensions.
OnmyballoonandonalltheotherarticlesIusedinthecircusIpaintedthetwoinitials:‘O.Z.’,toshowthatthosethingsbelongedtome.
“Onedaymyballoonranawaywithmeandbroughtmeacrossthedesertstothisbeautifulcountry.
Whenthepeoplesawmecomefromtheskytheynaturallythoughtmesomesuperiorcreature,andboweddownbeforeme.
ItoldthemIwasaWizard,andshowedthemsomeeasytricksthatamazedthem;andwhentheysawtheinitialspaintedontheballoontheycalledmeOz.”
“NowIbegintounderstand,”saidthePrincess,smiling.
“Atthattime,”continuedtheWizard,busilyeatinghissoupwhiletalking,“therewerefourseparatecountriesinthisLand,eachoneofthefourbeingruledbyaWitch.
ButthepeoplethoughtmypowerwasgreaterthanthatoftheWitches;andperhapstheWitchesthoughtsotoo,fortheyneverdaredopposeme.
IorderedtheEmeraldCitytobebuiltjustwherethefourcountriescorneredtogether,andwhenitwascompletedIannouncedmyselftheRuleroftheLandofOz,whichincludedallthefourcountriesoftheMunchkins,theGillikins,theWinkiesandtheQuadlings.
OverthisLandIruledinpeaceformanyyears,untilIgrewoldandlongedtoseemynativecityonceagain.
SowhenDorothywasfirstblowntothisplacebyacycloneIarrangedtogoawaywithherinaballoon;buttheballoonescapedtoosoonandcarriedmebackalone.
AftermanyadventuresIreachedOmaha,onlytofindthatallmyoldfriendsweredeadorhadmovedaway.
So,havingnothingelsetodo,Ijoinedacircusagain,andmademyballoonascensionsuntiltheearthquakecaughtme.”
“Thatisquiteahistory,”saidOzma;“butthereisalittlemorehistoryabouttheLandofOzthatyoudonotseemtounderstand—perhapsforthereasonthatnooneevertoldityou.
ManyyearsbeforeyoucameherethisLandwasunitedunderoneRuler,asitisnow,andtheRuler’snamewasalways‘Oz,’whichmeansinourlanguage‘GreatandGood’;or,iftheRulerhappenedtobeawoman,hernamewasalways‘Ozma.’
ButonceuponatimefourWitchesleaguedtogethertodeposethekingandrulethefourpartsofthekingdomthemselves;sowhentheRuler,mygrandfather,washuntingoneday,oneWickedWitchnamedMombistolehimandcarriedhimaway,keepinghimacloseprisoner.
ThentheWitchesdividedupthekingdom,andruledthefourpartsofituntilyoucamehere.
Thatwaswhythepeopleweresogladtoseeyou,andwhytheythoughtfromyourinitialsthatyouweretheirrightfulruler.”
“But,atthattime,”saidtheWizard,thoughtfully,“thereweretwoGoodWitchesandtwoWickedWitchesrulingintheland.”
“Yes,”repliedOzma,“becauseagoodWitchhadconqueredMombiintheNorthandGlindatheGoodhadconqueredtheevilWitchintheSouth.
ButMombiwasstillmygrandfather’sjailor,andafterwardmyfather’sjailor.
WhenIwasbornshetransformedmeintoaboy,hopingthatnoonewouldeverrecognizemeandknowthatIwastherightfulPrincessoftheLandofOz.
ButIescapedfromherandamnowtheRulerofmypeople.”
“Iamverygladofthat,”saidtheWizard,“andhopeyouwillconsidermeoneofyourmostfaithfulanddevotedsubjects.”
“WeoweagreatdealtotheWonderfulWizard,”continuedthePrincess,“foritwasyouwhobuiltthissplendidEmeraldCity.”
“Yourpeoplebuiltit,”heanswered.“Ionlybossedthejob,aswesayinOmaha.”
“Butyouruleditwiselyandwellformanyyears,”saidshe,“andmadethepeopleproudofyourmagicalart.
So,asyouarenowtoooldtowanderabroadandworkinacircus,Iofferyouahomehereaslongasyoulive.
YoushallbetheOfficialWizardofmykingdom,andbetreatedwitheveryrespectandconsideration.”
“Iacceptyourkindofferwithgratitude,graciousPrincess,”thelittlemansaid,inasoftvoice,andtheycouldallseethatteardropswerestandinginhiskeenoldeyes.
Itmeantagooddealtohimtosecureahomelikethis.
“He’sonlyahumbugWizard,though,”saidDorothy,smilingathim.
“AndthatisthesafestkindofaWizardtohave,”repliedOzma,promptly.
“Ozcandosomegoodtricks,humbugornohumbug,”announcedZeb,whowasnowfeelingmoreatease.
“Heshallamuseuswithhistrickstomorrow,”saidthePrincess.
“IhavesentmessengerstosummonallofDorothy’soldfriendstomeetherandgiveherwelcome,andtheyoughttoarriveverysoon,now.”
Indeed,thedinnerwasnosoonerfinishedthaninrushedtheScarecrow,tohugDorothyinhispaddedarmsandtellherhowgladhewastoseeheragain.
TheWizardwasalsomostheartilywelcomedbythestrawman,whowasanimportantpersonageintheLandofOz.
“Howareyourbrains?”enquiredthelittlehumbug,ashegraspedthesoft,stuffedhandsofhisoldfriend.
“Workingfinely,”answeredtheScarecrow.“I’mverycertain,Oz,thatyougavemethebestbrainsintheworld,forIcanthinkwiththemdayandnight,whenallotherbrainsarefastasleep.”
“HowlongdidyouruletheEmeraldCity,afterIlefthere?”wasthenextquestion.
“Quiteawhile,untilIwasconqueredbyagirlnamedGeneralJinjur.ButOzmasoonconqueredher,withthehelpofGlindatheGood,andafterthatIwenttolivewithNickChopper,theTinWoodman.”
Justthenaloudcacklingwasheardoutside;and,whenaservantthrewopenthedoorwithalowbow,ayellowhenstruttedin.
Dorothysprangforwardandcaughtthefluffyfowlinherarms,utteringatthesametimeagladcry.
“Oh,Billina!”shesaid;“howfatandsleekyou’vegrown.”
“Whyshouldn’tI?”askedthehen,inasharp,clearvoice.“Iliveonthefatoftheland—don’tI,Ozma?”
“Youhaveeverythingyouwishfor,”saidthePrincess.
AroundBillina’sneckwasastringofbeautifulpearls,andonherlegswerebraceletsofemeralds.
ShenestledherselfcomfortablyinDorothy’slapuntilthekittengaveasnarlofjealousangerandleapedupwithasharpclawfiercelybaredtostrikeBillinaablow.
Butthelittlegirlgavetheangrykittensuchaseverecuffthatitjumpeddownagainwithoutdaringtoscratch.
“Howhorridofyou,Eureka!”criedDorothy.“Isthatthewaytotreatmyfriends?”
“Youhavestrangefriends,seemstome,”repliedthekitten,inasurlytone.
“Seemstomethesameway,”saidBillina,scornfully,“ifthatbeastlycatisoneofthem.”
“Lookhere!”saidDorothy,sternly.
“Iwon’thaveanyquarrellingintheLandofOz,Icantellyou!
Everybodylivesinpeacehere,andloveseverybodyelse;andunlessyoutwo,BillinaandEureka,makeupandbefriends,I’lltakemyMagicBeltandwishyoubothhomeagain,IMMEJITLY.So,there!”
Theywerebothmuchfrightenedatthethreat,andpromisedmeeklytobegood.Butitwasnevernoticedthattheybecameverywarmfriends,forallofthat.
AndnowtheTinWoodmanarrived,hisbodymostbeautifullynickel-plated,sothatitshonesplendidlyinthebrilliantlightoftheroom.
TheTinWoodmanlovedDorothymosttenderly,andwelcomedwithjoythereturnofthelittleoldWizard.
“Sir,”saidhetothelatter,“Inevercanthankyouenoughfortheexcellentheartyouoncegaveme.
Ithasmadememanyfriends,Iassureyou,anditbeatsaskindlyandlovinglytodayasiteverydid.”
“I’mgladtohearthat,”saidtheWizard.“Iwasafraiditwouldgetmoldyinthattinbodyofyours.”
“Notatall,”returnedNickChopper.“Itkeepsfinely,beingpreservedinmyair-tightchest.”
Zebwasalittleshywhenfirstintroducedtothesestrangepeople;buttheyweresofriendlyandsincerethathesoongrewtoadmirethemverymuch,evenfindingsomegoodqualitiesintheyellowhen.
Buthebecamenervousagainwhenthenextvisitorwasannounced.
“This,”saidPrincessOzma,“ismyfriendMr.H.M.Woggle-Bug,T.E.,whoassistedmeonetimewhenIwasingreatdistress,andisnowtheDeanoftheRoyalCollegeofAthleticScience.”
“Ah,”saidtheWizard;“I’mpleasedtomeetsodistinguishedapersonage.”
“H.M.,”saidtheWoggle-Bug,pompously,“meansHighlyMagnified;andT.E.meansThoroughlyEducated.
Iam,inreality,averybigbug,anddoubtlessthemostintelligentbeinginallthisbroaddomain.”
“Howwellyoudisguiseit,”saidtheWizard.“ButIdon’tdoubtyourwordintheleast.”
“Nobodydoubtsit,sir,”repliedtheWoggle-Bug,anddrawingabookfromitspocketthestrangeinsectturneditsbackonthecompanyandsatdowninacornertoread.
Nobodymindedthisrudeness,whichmighthaveseemedmoreimpoliteinonelessthoroughlyeducated;sotheystraightwayforgothimandjoinedinamerryconversationthatkeptthemwellamuseduntilbed-timearrived.
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