I should not have been happy, for many days of
quiet thought have shown me that only those things one acquires honestly
are able to render one content."

"I guess that's so," said Trot.

"Anyhow," said Betsy, "the bad man seems truly sorry, and if he has now
become a good and honest man we ought to forgive him."

"I fear I cannot become a good _man_ again," said Ugu, "for the
transformation I am under will always keep me in the form of a dove.
But, with the kind forgiveness of my former enemies, I hope to become a
very good dove, and highly respected."

"Wait here till I run for my Magic Belt," said Dorothy, "and I'll
transform you back to your reg'lar shape in a jiffy."

"No--don't do that!" pleaded the dove, fluttering its wings in an
excited way. "I only want your forgiveness; I don't want to be a man
again. As Ugu the Shoemaker I was skinny and old and unlovely; as a dove
I am quite pretty to look at. As a man I was ambitious and cruel, while
as a dove I can be content with my lot and happy in my simple life. I
have learned to love the free and independent life of a bird and I'd
rather not change back."

"Just as you like, Ugu," said Dorothy, resuming her seat. "Perhaps you
are right, for you're cert'nly a better dove than you were a man, and if
you should ever backslide, an' feel wicked again, you couldn't do much
harm as a gray dove."

"Then you forgive me for all the trouble I caused you?" he asked
earnestly.

"Of course; anyone who's sorry just _has_ to be forgiven."

"Thank you," said the gray dove, and flew away again.

[Illustration]

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LOST PRINCESS OF OZ***

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