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Wemaybesurethatatthismomentourfriendswereallanxioustoseetheendoftheadventurethathadcausedthemsomanytrialsandtroubles.
PerhapstheTinWoodman’sheartdidnotbeatanyfaster,becauseitwasmadeofredvelvetandstuffedwithsawdust,andtheTinSoldier’sheartwasmadeoftinandreposedinhistinbosomwithoutahintofemotion.
However,thereislittledoubtthattheybothknewthatacriticalmomentintheirliveshadarrived,andthatNimmieAmee’sdecisionwasdestinedtoinfluencethefutureofoneortheother.
Astheyassumedtheirnaturalsizesandtherhubarbleavesthathadbeforetoweredabovetheirheadsnowbarelycoveredtheirfeet,theylookedaroundthegardenandfoundthatnopersonwasvisiblesavethemselves.
Nosoundofactivitycamefromthehouse,either,buttheywalkedtothefrontdoor,whichhadalittleporchbuiltbeforeit,andtherethetwotinmenstoodsidebysidewhilebothknockeduponthedoorwiththeirtinknuckles.
Asnooneseemedeagertoanswerthesummonstheyknockedagain;andthenagain.Finallytheyheardastirfromwithinandsomeonecoughed.
“Who’sthere?”calledagirl’svoice.
“It’sI!”criedthetintwins,together.
“Howdidyougetthere?”askedthevoice.Theyhesitatedhowtoreply,soWootansweredforthem:
“Bymeansofmagic.”
“Oh,”saidtheunseengirl.“Areyoufriends,orfoes?”
“Friends!”theyallexclaimed.Thentheyheardfootstepsapproachthedoor,whichslowlyopenedandrevealedaveryprettyMunchkingirlstandinginthedoorway.
“NimmieAmee!”criedthetintwins.
“That’smyname,”repliedthegirl,lookingatthemincoldsurprise.“Butwhocanyoube?”
“Don’tyouknowme,Nimmie?”saidtheTinWoodman.“I’myouroldsweetheart,NickChopper!”“Don’tyouknowme,mydear?”saidtheTinSoldier.“I’myouroldsweetheart,CaptainFyter!”
NimmieAmeesmiledatthemboth.Thenshelookedbeyondthemattherestofthepartyandsmiledagain.
However,sheseemedmoreamusedthanpleased.
“Comein,”shesaid,leadingthewayinside.
“Evensweetheartsareforgottenafteratime,butyouandyourfriendsarewelcome.”
Theroomtheynowenteredwascosyandcomfortable,beingneatlyfurnishedandwellsweptanddusted.
ButtheyfoundsomeonetherebesidesNimmieAmee.
AmandressedintheattractiveMunchkincostumewaslazilyreclininginaneasychair,andhesatupandturnedhiseyesonthevisitorswithacoldandindifferentstarethatwasalmostinsolent.
Hedidnotevenrisefromhisseattogreetthestrangers,butafterglaringatthemhelookedawaywithascowl,asiftheywereoftoolittleimportancetointeresthim.
Thetinmenreturnedthisman’sstarewithinterest,buttheydidnotlookawayfromhimbecauseneitherofthemseemedabletotakehiseyesoffthisMunchkin,whowasremarkableinhavingonetinarmquiteliketheirowntinarms.
“Seemstome,”saidCaptainFyter,inavoicethatsoundedharshandindignant,“thatyou,sir,areavileimpostor!”
“Gently—gently!”cautionedtheScarecrow;“don’tberudetostrangers,Captain.”
“Rude?”shoutedtheTinSoldier,nowverymuchprovoked;“why,he’sascoundrel—athief!Thevillainiswearingmyownhead!”
“Yes,”addedtheTinWoodman,“andhe’swearingmyrightarm!Icanrecognizeitbythetwowartsonthelittlefinger.”
“Goodgracious!”exclaimedWoot.“ThenthismustbethemanwhomoldKu-KlippatchedtogetherandnamedChopfyt.”
Themannowturnedtowardthem,stillscowling.
“Yes,thatismyname,”hesaidinavoicelikeagrowl,“anditisabsurdforyoutincreatures,orforanyoneelse,toclaimmyhead,orarm,oranypartofme,fortheyaremypersonalproperty.”
“You?You’reaNobody!”shoutedCaptainFyter.
“You’rejustamix-up,”declaredtheEmperor.
“Now,now,gentlemen,”interruptedNimmieAmee,“ImustaskyoutobemorerespectfultopoorChopfyt.For,beingmyguests,itisnotpoliteforyoutoinsultmyhusband.”
“Yourhusband!”thetintwinsexclaimedindismay.
“Yes,”saidshe.“ImarriedChopfytalongtimeago,becausemyothertwosweetheartshaddesertedme.”
ThisreproofembarrassedbothNickChopperandCaptainFyter.Theylookeddown,shamefaced,foramoment,andthentheTinWoodmanexplainedinanearnestvoice:
“Irusted.”
“SodidI,”saidtheTinSoldier.
“Icouldnotknowthat,ofcourse,”assertedNimmieAmee.
“AllIknewwasthatneitherofyoucametomarryme,asyouhadpromisedtodo.
ButmenarenotscarceintheLandofOz.
AfterIcameheretolive,ImetMr.Chopfyt,andhewasthemoreinterestingbecauseheremindedmestronglyofbothofyou,asyouwerebeforeyoubecametin.
Heevenhadatinarm,andthatremindedmeofyouthemore.”
“Nowonder!”remarkedtheScarecrow.
“But,listen,NimmieAmee!”saidtheastonishedWoot;“hereallyisbothofthem,forheismadeoftheircast-offparts.”
“Oh,you’requitewrong,”declaredPolychrome,laughing,forshewasgreatlyenjoyingtheconfusionoftheothers.
“Thetinmenarestillthemselves,astheywilltellyou,andsoChopfytmustbesomeoneelse.”
Theylookedatherbewildered,forthefactsinthecaseweretoopuzzlingtobegraspedatonce.
“ItisallthefaultofoldKu-Klip,”mutteredtheTinWoodman.“Hehadnorighttouseourcastoffpartstomakeanothermanwith.”
“Itseemshedidit,however,”saidNimmieAmeecalmly,“andImarriedhimbecauseheresembledyouboth.
Iwon’tsayheisahusbandtobeproudof,becausehehasamixednatureandisn’talwaysanagreeablecompanion.
TherearetimeswhenIhavetochidehimgently,bothwithmytongueandwithmybroomstick.
Butheismyhusband,andImustmakethebestofhim.”
“Ifyoudon’tlikehim,”suggestedtheTinWoodman,“CaptainFyterandIcanchophimupwithouraxeandsword,andeachtakesuchpartsofthefellowasbelongtohim.
Thenwearewillingforyoutoselectoneofusasyourhusband.”
“Thatisagoodidea,”approvedCaptainFyter,drawinghissword.
“No,”saidNimmieAmee;“IthinkI’llkeepthehusbandInowhave.
Heisnowtrainedtodrawthewaterandcarryinthewoodandhoethecabbagesandweedtheflower-bedsanddustthefurnitureandperformmanytasksofalikecharacter.
Anewhusbandwouldhavetobescolded—andgentlychided—untilhelearnsmyways.
SoIthinkitwillbebettertokeepmyChopfyt,andIseenoreasonwhyyoushouldobjecttohim.
Youtwogentlementhrewhimawaywhenyoubecametin,becauseyouhadnofurtheruseforhim,soyoucannotjustlyclaimhimnow.
Iadviseyoutogobacktoyourownhomesandforgetme,asIhaveforgottenyou.”
“Goodadvice!”laughedPolychrome,dancing.
“Areyouhappy?”askedtheTinSoldier.
“OfcourseIam,”saidNimmieAmee;“I’mthemistressofallIsurvey—thequeenofmylittledomain.”
“Wouldn’tyouliketobetheEmpressoftheWinkies?”askedtheTinWoodman.
“Mercy,no,”sheanswered.“Thatwouldbealotofbother.Idon’tcareforsociety,orpomp,orposing.AllIaskistobeleftaloneandnottobeannoyedbyvisitors.”
TheScarecrownudgedWoottheWanderer.
“Thatsoundstomelikeahint,”hesaid.
“Looksasifwe’dhadourjourneyfornothing,”remarkedWoot,whowasalittleashamedanddisappointedbecausehehadproposedthejourney.
“Iamglad,however,”saidtheTinWoodman,“thatIhavefoundNimmieAmee,anddiscoveredthatsheisalreadymarriedandhappy.Itwillrelievemeofanyfurtheranxietyconcerningher.”
“Formypart,”saidtheTinSoldier,“Iamnotsorrytobefree.TheonlythingthatreallyannoysmeisfindingmyheaduponChopfyt’sbody.”
“Asforthat,I’mprettysureitismybody,orapartofit,anyway,”remarkedtheEmperoroftheWinkies.
“Butnevermind,friendSoldier;letusbewillingtodonateourcast-offmemberstoinsurethehappinessofNimmieAmee,andbethankfulitisnotourfatetohoecabbagesanddrawwater—andbechided—intheplaceofthiscreatureChopfyt.”
“Yes,”agreedtheSoldier,“wehavemuchtobethankfulfor.”
Polychrome,whohadwanderedoutside,nowpokedherprettyheadthroughanopenwindowandexclaimedinapleasedvoice:
“It’sgettingcloudy.Perhapsitisgoingtorain!”
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