el. He selected a costume of pea-green and
pink satin and velvet, with embroidered shags on all the edges and
iridescent pearls for ornaments. Then he bathed in an alabaster pool
and brushed his shaggy hair and whiskers the wrong way to make them
still more shaggy. This accomplished, and arrayed in his splendid
shaggy garments, he went to Ozma's banquet hall and found the
Scarecrow, the Wizard and Dorothy already assembled there. The
Scarecrow had made a quick trip and returned to the Emerald City with
his left ear freshly painted.

A moment later, while they all stood in waiting, a servant threw open a
door, the orchestra struck up a tune and Ozma of Oz entered.

Much has been told and written concerning the beauty of person and
character of this sweet girl Ruler of the Land of Oz--the richest, the
happiest and most delightful fairyland of which we have any knowledge.
Yet with all her queenly qualities Ozma was a real girl and enjoyed the
things in life that other real girls enjoy. When she sat on her
splendid emerald throne in the great Throne Room of her palace and made
laws and settled disputes and tried to keep all her subjects happy and
contented, she was as dignified and demure as any queen might be; but
when she had thrown aside her jeweled robe of state and her sceptre,
and had retired to her private apartments, the girl--joyous,
light-hearted and free--replaced the sedate Ruler.

In the banquet hall to-night were gathered only old and trusted
friends, so here Ozma was herself--a mere girl. She greeted Dorothy
with a kiss, the Shaggy Man with a smile, the little old Wizard with a
friendly handshake and then she pressed the Scarecrow's stuffed arm and
cried merrily:

"What a lovely left ear! Why, it's a hundred times better than the old
one."

"I'm glad you like it," replied the Scarecrow, well pleased. "Jinjur
did a neat job, didn't she? And my hearing is now perfect. Isn't it
wonderful what a little paint will do, if it's properly applied?"

"It really is wonderful," she agreed, as they all took their seats;
"but the Sawhorse must have made his legs twinkle to have carried you
so far in one day. I didn't expect you back before to-morrow, at the
earliest."

"Well," said the Scarecrow, "I met a charming girl on the road and
wanted to see more of her, so I hurried back."

Ozma laughed.

"I know," she returned; "it's the Patchwork Girl. She is certainly
bewildering, if not strictly beautiful."

"Have