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several brass bars were placed across it, being set fast in the marble and

so close together that the little girl's fingers might barely go between

them. Back of the bars appeared the face of a white rabbit--a very sober

and sedate face--with an eye-glass held in his left eye and attached to a

cord in his button-hole.

Well! what is it?" asked the rabbit, sharply.

I'm Dorothy," said the girl, "and I'm lost, and--"

State your business, please," interrupted the rabbit.

My business," she replied, "is to find out where I am, and to--"

No one is allowed in Bunnybury without an order or a letter of

introduction from either Ozma of Oz or Glinda the Good," announced the

rabbit; "so that settles the matter," and he started to close the window.

Wait a minute!" cried Dorothy. "I've got a letter from Ozma."

From the Ruler of Oz?" asked the rabbit, doubtingly.

Of course. Ozma's my best friend, you know; and I'm a Princess

myself," she announced, earnestly.

Hum--ha! Let me see your letter," returned the rabbit, as if he still

doubted her.

So she hunted in her pocket and found the letter Ozma had given her.

Then she handed it through the bars to the rabbit, who took it in his

paws and opened it. He read it aloud in a pompous voice, as if to let

Dorothy and Billina see that he was educated and could read writing.

The letter was as follows:

It will please me to have my subjects greet Princess Dorothy, the bearer

of this royal missive, with the same courtesy and consideration they

would extend to me."

Ha--hum! It is signed 'Ozma of Oz,'" continued the rabbit, "and is

sealed with the Great Seal of the Emerald City. Well, well, well! How

strange! How remarkable!"

What are you going to do about it?" inquired Dorothy, impatiently.

The Emerald City of Oz