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
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