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.Is there anycommand, in the meantime, with which you desire to honor me?""No," said the shaggy man; "but I'm much obliged."Page 133ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlHe entered the room and shut the door, and for a time stood inbewilderment, admiring the grandeur before him.He had been given one of the handsomest apartments in the mostmagnificent palace in the world, and you can not wonder that his goodfortune astonished and awed him until he grew used to his surroundings.The furniture was upholstered in cloth of gold, with the royal crownembroidered upon it in scarlet.The rug upon the marble floor was sothick and soft that he could not hear the sound of his own footsteps,and upon the walls were splendid tapestries woven with scenes from theLand of Oz.Books and ornaments were scattered about in profusion,and the shaggy man thought he had never seen so many pretty things inone place before.In one corner played a tinkling fountain ofperfumed water, and in another was a table bearing a golden trayloaded with freshly gathered fruit, including several of thered-cheeked apples that the shaggy man loved.At the farther end of this charming room was an open doorway, and hecrossed over to find himself in a bedroom containing more comfortsthan the shaggy man had ever before imagined.The bedstead was ofgold and set with many brilliant diamonds, and the coverlet haddesigns of pearls and rubies sewed upon it.At one side of thebedroom was a dainty dressing-room with closets containing a largeassortment of fresh clothing; and beyond this was the bath--a largeroom having a marble pool big enough to swim in, with white marblesteps leading down to the water.Around the edge of the pool wereset rows of fine emeralds as large as door-knobs, while the water ofthe bath was clear as crystal.Page 134ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlFor a time the shaggy man gazed upon all this luxury with silentamazement.Then he decided, being wise in his way, to take advantageof his good fortune.He removed his shaggy boots and his shaggyclothing, and bathed in the pool with rare enjoyment.After he haddried himself with the soft towels he went into the dressing-room andtook fresh linen from the drawers and put it on, finding thateverything fitted him exactly.He examined the contents of theclosets and selected an elegant suit of clothing.Strangely enough,everything about it was shaggy, although so new and beautiful, and hesighed with contentment to realize that he could now be finely dressedand still be the shaggy man.His coat was of rose-colored velvet,trimmed with shags and bobtails, with buttons of blood-red rubies andgolden shags around the edges.His vest was a shaggy satin of adelicate cream color, and his knee-breeches of rose velvet trimmedlike the coat.Shaggy creamy stockings of silk, and shaggy slippers ofrose leather with ruby buckles, completed his costume, and when he wasthus attired the shaggy man looked at himself in a long mirror withgreat admiration.On a table he found a mother-of-pearl chestdecorated with delicate silver vines and flowers of clustered rubies,and on the cover was a silver plate engraved with these words:THE SHAGGY MAN:HIS BOX OF ORNAMENTSThe chest was not locked, so he opened it and was almost dazzled bythe brilliance of the rich jewels it contained.After admiring thepretty things, he took out a fine golden watch with a big chain,Page 135ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlseveral handsome finger-rings, and an ornament of rubies to pin uponthe breast of his shaggy shirt-bosom.Having carefully brushed hishair and whiskers all the wrong way to make them look as shaggy aspossible, the shaggy man breathed a deep sigh of joy and decided hewas ready to meet the Royal Princess as soon as she sent for him.While he waited he returned to the beautiful sitting room and ateseveral of the red-cheeked apples to pass away the time.Meanwhile, Dorothy had dressed herself in a pretty gown of soft greyembroidered with silver, and put a blue-and-gold suit of satin uponlittle Button-Bright, who looked as sweet as a cherub in it.Followedby the boy and Toto--the dog with a new green ribbon around hisneck--she hastened down to the splendid drawing-room of the palace,where, seated upon an exquisite throne of carved malachite and nestledamongst its green satin cushions was the lovely Princess Ozma,waiting eagerly to welcome her friend.20.Princess Ozma Of OzThe royal historians of Oz, who are fine writers and know any numberof big words, have often tried to describe the rare beauty of Ozma andfailed because the words were not good enough.So of course I cannothope to tell you how great was the charm of this little Princess, orhow her loveliness put to shame all the sparkling jewels andmagnificent luxury that surrounded her in this her royal palace.Whatever else was beautiful or dainty or delightful of itself faded todullness when contrasted with Ozma's bewitching face, and it has oftenPage 136ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlbeen said by those who know that no other ruler in all the world canever hope to equal the gracious charm of her manner.Everything about Ozma attracted one, and she inspired love and thesweetest affection rather than awe or ordinary admiration.Dorothythrew her arms around her little friend and hugged and kissed herrapturously, and Toto barked joyfully and Button-Bright smiled a happysmile and consented to sit on the soft cushions close beside the Princess."Why didn't you send me word you were going to have a birthday party?"asked the little Kansas girl, when the first greetings were over."Didn't I?" asked Ozma, her pretty eyes dancing with merriment."Did you?" replied Dorothy, trying to think."Who do you imagine, dear, mixed up those roads, so as to start youwandering in the direction of Oz?" inquired the Princess."Oh! I never 'spected YOU of that," cried Dorothy."I've watched you in my Magic Picture all the way here," declaredOzma, "and twice I thought I should have to use the Magic Belt to saveyou and transport you to the Emerald City.Once was when the Scoodlerscaught you, and again when you reached the Deadly Desert.But the shaggyman was able to help you out both times, so I did not interfere.""Do you know who Button-Bright is?" asked Dorothy."No; I never saw him until you found him in the road, and then onlyPage 137ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlin my Magic Picture.""And did you send Polly to us?""No, dear; the Rainbow's Daughter slid from her father's pretty archjust in time to meet you.""Well," said Dorothy, "I've promised King Dox of Foxville and KingKik-a-bray of Dunkiton that I'd ask you to invite them to your party.""I have already done that," returned Ozma, "because I thought it wouldplease you to favor them.""Did you 'vite the Musicker?" asked Button-Bright."No; because he would be too noisy, and might interfere with the comfortof others.When music is not very good, and is indulged in all the time,it is better that the performer should be alone," said the Princess."I like the Musicker's music," declared the boy, gravely."But I don't," said Dorothy."Well, there will be plenty of music at my celebration," promisedOzma; "so I've an idea Button-Bright won't miss the Musicker at all."Just then Polychrome danced in, and Ozma rose to greet the Rainbow'sDaughter in her sweetest and most cordial manner [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]