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emeralds。 They walked over a pavement of the same green marble；
and where the blocks were joined together were rows of emeralds；
set closely； and glittering in the brightness of the sun。 The
window panes were of green glass； even the sky above the City had
a green tint； and the rays of the sun were green。
There were many peoplemen； women； and childrenwalking about；
and these were all dressed in green clothes and had greenish skins。
They looked at Dorothy and her strangely assorted company with
wondering eyes； and the children all ran away and hid behind
their mothers when they saw the Lion； but no one spoke to them。
Many shops stood in the street； and Dorothy saw that everything
in them was green。 Green candy and green pop corn were offered
for sale； as well as green shoes； green hats； and green clothes
of all sorts。 At one place a man was selling green lemonade；
and when the children bought it Dorothy could see that they paid
for it with green pennies。
There seemed to be no horses nor animals of any kind； the men
carried things around in little green carts； which they pushed
before them。 Everyone seemed happy and contented and prosperous。
The Guardian of the Gates led them through the streets until
they came to a big building； exactly in the middle of the City；
which was the Palace of Oz； the Great Wizard。 There was a soldier
before the door； dressed in a green uniform and wearing a long
green beard。
〃Here are strangers；〃 said the Guardian of the Gates to him；
〃and they demand to see the Great Oz。〃
〃Step inside；〃 answered the soldier； 〃and I will carry your
message to him。〃
So they passed through the Palace Gates and were led into a
big room with a green carpet and lovely green furniture set with
emeralds。 The soldier made them all wipe their feet upon a green
mat before entering this room； and when they were seated he said
politely：
〃Please make yourselves comfortable while I go to the door of
the Throne Room and tell Oz you are here。〃
They had to wait a long time before the soldier returned。
When； at last； he came back； Dorothy asked：
〃Have you seen Oz？〃
〃Oh； no；〃 returned the soldier； 〃I have never seen him。
But I spoke to him as he sat behind his screen and gave him your
message。 He said he will grant you an audience； if you so desire；
but each one of you must enter his presence alone； and he will
admit but one each day。 Therefore； as you must remain in the
Palace for several days； I will have you shown to rooms where you
may rest in comfort after your journey。〃
〃Thank you；〃 replied the girl； 〃that is very kind of Oz。〃
The soldier now blew upon a green whistle； and at once a young girl；
dressed in a pretty green silk gown； entered the room。 She had lovely
green hair and green eyes； and she bowed low before Dorothy as she said；
〃Follow me and I will show you your room。〃
So Dorothy said good…bye to all her friends except Toto； and
taking the dog in her arms followed the green girl through seven
passages and up three flights of stairs until they came to a room
at the front of the Palace。 It was the sweetest little room in
the world； with a soft comfortable bed that had sheets of green
silk and a green velvet counterpane。 There was a tiny fountain in
the middle of the room； that shot a spray of green perfume into
the air； to fall back into a beautifully carved green marble basin。
Beautiful green flowers stood in the windows； and there was a shelf
with a row of little green books。 When Dorothy had time to open
these books she found them full of queer green pictures that made
her laugh； they were so funny。
In a wardrobe were many green dresses； made of silk and satin
and velvet； and all of them fitted Dorothy exactly。
〃Make yourself perfectly at home；〃 said the green girl；
〃and if you wish for anything ring the bell。 Oz will send
for you tomorrow morning。〃
She left Dorothy alone and went back to the others。 These she
also led to rooms； and each one of them found himself lodged in a
very pleasant part of the Palace。 Of course this politeness was
wasted on the Scarecrow； for when he found himself alone in his
room he stood stupidly in one spot； just within the doorway； to
wait till morning。 It would not rest him to lie down； and he
could not close his eyes； so he remained all night staring at a
little spider which was weaving its web in a corner of the room；
just as if it were not one of the most wonderful rooms in the world。
The Tin Woodman lay down on his bed from force of habit； for he
remembered when he was made of flesh； but not being able to sleep；
he passed the night moving his joints up and down to make sure they
kept in good working order。 The Lion would have preferred a bed of
dried leaves in the forest； and did not like being shut up in a room；
but he had too much sense to let this worry him； so he sprang upon
the bed and rolled himself up like a cat and purred himself asleep
in a minute。
The next morning； after breakfast； the green maiden came to
fetch Dorothy； and she dressed her in one of the prettiest gowns；
made of green brocaded satin。 Dorothy put on a green silk apron
and tied a green ribbon around Toto's neck； and they started
for the Throne Room of the Great Oz。
First they came to a great hall in which were many ladies and
gentlemen of the court； all dressed in rich costumes。 These
people had nothing to do but talk to each other； but they always
came to wait outside the Throne Room every morning； although they
were never permitted to see Oz。 As Dorothy entered they looked at
her curiously； and one of them whispered：
〃Are you really going to look upon the face of Oz the Terrible？〃
〃Of course；〃 answered the girl； 〃if he will see me。〃
〃Oh； he will see you；〃 said the soldier who had taken her
message to the Wizard； 〃although he does not like to have people
ask to see him。 Indeed； at first he was angry and said I should
send you back where you came from。 Then he asked me what you
looked like； and when I mentioned your silver shoes he was very
much interested。 At last I told him about the mark upon your
forehead； and he decided he would admit you to his presence。〃
Just then a bell rang； and the green girl said to Dorothy；
〃That is the signal。 You must go into the Throne Room alone。〃
She opened a little door and Dorothy walked boldly through and
found herself in a wonderful place。 It was a big； round room with
a high arched roof； and the walls and ceiling and floor were covered
with large emeralds set closely together。 In the center of the roof
was a great light； as bright as the sun； which made the emeralds
sparkle in a wonderful manner。
But what interested Dorothy most was the big throne of green
marble that stood in the middle of the room。 It was shaped like a
chair and sparkled with gems； as did everything else。 In the
center of the chair was an enormous Head； without a body to
support it or any arms or legs whatever。 There was no hair upon
this head； but it had eyes and a nose and mouth； and was much
bigger than the head of the biggest giant。
As Dorothy gazed upon this in wonder and fear； the eyes turned
slowly and looked at her sharply and steadily。 Then the mouth
moved； and Dorothy heard a voice say：
〃I am Oz； the Great and Terrible。 Who are you； and why do you
seek me？〃
It was not such an awful voice as she had expected to come
from the big Head； so she took courage and answered：
〃I am Dorothy； the Small and Meek。 I have come to you for help。〃
The eyes looked at her thoughtfully for a full minute。
Then said the voice：
〃Where did you get the silver shoes？〃
〃I got them from the Wicked Witch of the East； when my house
fell on her and killed her；〃 she replied。
〃Where did you get the mark upon your forehead？〃 continued the voice。
〃That is where the Good Witch of the North kissed me when she
bade me good…bye and sent me to you；〃 said the girl。
Again the eyes looked at her sharply； and they saw she was
telling the truth。 Then Oz asked； 〃What do you wish me to do？〃
〃Send me back to Kansas； where my Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are；〃
she answered earnestly。 〃I don't like your country； although it is
so beautiful。 And I am sure Aunt Em will be dreadfully worried over
my being away so long。〃
The eyes winked three times； and then they turned up to the
ceiling and down to the floor and rolled around so queerly that
they seemed to see every part of the room。 And at last they
looked at Dorothy again。
〃Why should I do this for you？〃 asked Oz。
〃Because you are strong and I am weak； because you are a Great
Wizard and I am only a little girl。〃
〃But you were strong