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Eurekawasmuchsurprisedtofindherselfindisgrace;butshewas,inspiteofthefactthatshehadnoteatenthepiglet.
ForthefolksofOzknewthekittenhadtriedtocommitthecrime,andthatonlyanaccidenthadpreventedherfromdoingso;thereforeeventheHungryTigerpreferrednottoassociatewithher.
EurekawasforbiddentowanderaroundthepalaceandwasmadetostayinconfinementinDorothy’sroom;soshebegantobeghermistresstosendhertosomeotherplacewhereshecouldenjoyherselfbetter.
Dorothywasherselfanxioustogethome,soshepromisedEurekatheywouldnotstayintheLandofOzmuchlonger.
ThenexteveningafterthetrialthelittlegirlbeggedOzmatoallowhertolookintheenchantedpicture,andthePrincessreadilyconsented.
Shetookthechildtoherroomandsaid:“Makeyourwish,dear,andthepicturewillshowthesceneyoudesiretobehold.”
ThenDorothyfound,withtheaidoftheenchantedpicture,thatUncleHenryhadreturnedtothefarminKansas,andshealsosawthatbothheandAuntEmweredressedinmourning,becausetheythoughttheirlittleniecehadbeenkilledbytheearthquake.
“Really,”saidthegirl,anxiously,“Imustgetbackassoonasposs’bletomyownfolks.”
Zebalsowantedtoseehishome,andalthoughhedidnotfindanyonemourningforhim,thesightofHugson’sRanchinthepicturemadehimlongtogetbackthere.
“Thisisafinecountry,andIlikeallthepeoplethatliveinit,”hetoldDorothy.
“Butthefactis,JimandIdon’tseemtofitintoafairyland,andtheoldhorsehasbeenbeggingmetogohomeagaineversincehelosttherace.
So,ifyoucanfindawaytofixit,we’llbemuchobligedtoyou.”
“Ozmacandoit,easily,”repliedDorothy.“TomorrowmorningI’llgotoKansasandyoucangotoCaliforny.”
Thatlasteveningwassodelightfulthattheboywillneverforgetitaslongashelives.
Theywerealltogether(exceptEureka)intheprettyroomsofthePrincess,andtheWizarddidsomenewtricks,andtheScarecrowtoldstories,andtheTinWoodmansangalovesonginasonorous,metallicvoice,andeverybodylaughedandhadagoodtime.
ThenDorothywoundupTik-tokandhedancedajigtoamusethecompany,afterwhichtheYellowHenrelatedsomeofheradventureswiththeNomeKingintheLandofEv.
ThePrincessserveddeliciousrefreshmentstothosewhowereinthehabitofeating,andwhenDorothy’sbedtimearrivedthecompanyseparatedafterexchangingmanyfriendlysentiments.
Nextmorningtheyallassembledforthefinalparting,andmanyoftheofficialsandcourtierscametolookupontheimpressiveceremonies.
DorothyheldEurekainherarmsandbadeherfriendsafondgood-bye.
“Youmustcomeagain,sometime,”saidthelittleWizard;andshepromisedshewouldifshefounditpossibletodoso.
“ButUncleHenryandAuntEmneedmetohelpthem,”sheadded,“soIcan’teverbeverylongawayfromthefarminKansas.”
OzmaworetheMagicBelt;and,whenshehadkissedDorothyfarewellandhadmadeherwish,thelittlegirlandherkittendisappearedinatwinkling.
“Whereisshe?”askedZeb,ratherbewilderedbythesuddennessofit.
“GreetingheruncleandauntinKansas,bythistime,”returnedOzma,withasmile.
ThenZebbroughtoutJim,allharnessedtothebuggy,andtookhisseat.
“I’mmuchobligedforallyourkindness,”saidtheboy,“andverygratefultoyouforsavingmylifeandsendingmehomeagainafterallthegoodtimesI’vehad.
Ithinkthisistheloveliestcountryintheworld;butnotbeingfairiesJimandIfeelweoughttobewherewebelong—andthat’sattheranch.Good-bye,everybody!”
Hegaveastartandrubbedhiseyes.Jimwastrottingalongthewell-knownroad,shakinghisearsandwhiskinghistailwithacontentedmotion.
JustaheadofthemwerethegatesofHugson’sRanch,andUncleHugsonnowcameoutandstoodwithupliftedarmsandwide-openmouth,staringinamazement.
“Goodnessgracious!It’sZeb—andJim,too!”heexclaimed.“Whereintheworldhaveyoubeen,mylad?”
“Why,intheworld,Uncle,”answeredZeb,withalaugh.
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