www.freeclassicebooks.com

Dorothy laughed merrily at this speech, and then she became very sober

again, for she could see how all this trouble was worrying her aunt and

uncle, and knew that unless she found a way to help them their future

lives would be quite miserable and unhappy. She knew that she COULD

help them. She had thought of a way already. Yet she did not tell them

at once what it was, because she must ask Ozma's consent before she

would be able to carry out her plans.

So she only said:

If you will promise not to worry a bit about me, I'll go to the Land of Oz

this very afternoon. And I'll make a promise, too; that you shall both see

me again before the day comes when you must leave this farm."

The day isn't far away, now," her uncle sadly replied. "I did not tell you

of our trouble until I was obliged to, dear Dorothy, so the evil time is near

at hand. But if you are quite sure your fairy friends will give you a home,

it will be best for you to go to them, as your aunt says."

That was why Dorothy went to her little room in the attic that afternoon,

taking with her a small dog named Toto. The dog had curly black hair

and big brown eyes and loved Dorothy very dearly.

The child had kissed her uncle and aunt affectionately before she went

upstairs, and now she looked around her little room rather wistfully,

gazing at the simple trinkets and worn calico and gingham dresses, as if

they were old friends. She was tempted at first to make a bundle of

them, yet she knew very well that they would be of no use to her in her

future life.

She sat down upon a broken-backed chair--the only one the room

contained--and holding Toto in her arms waited patiently until the clock

struck four.

Then she made the secret signal that had been agreed upon between her

and Ozma.

Uncle Henry and Aunt Em waited downstairs. They were uneasy and a

good deal excited, for this is a practical humdrum world, and it seemed

to them quite impossible that their little niece could vanish from her

home and travel instantly to fairyland.

The Emerald City of Oz