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No; they shall first see me in my Throne Room," replied Ozma, decidedly;

and when she spoke in that tone Dorothy knew it was not wise to oppose

her, for Ozma was accustomed to having her own way.

So together they went to the Throne Room, an immense domed chamber

in the center of the palace. Here stood the royal throne, made of solid

gold and encrusted with enough precious stones to stock a dozen jewelry

stores in our country.

Ozma, who was wearing the Magic Belt, seated herself in the throne, and

Dorothy sat at her feet. In the room were assembled many ladies and

gentlemen of the court, clothed in rich apparel and wearing fine jewelry.

Two immense animals squatted, one on each side of the throne--the

Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger. In a balcony high up in the dome

an orchestra played sweet music, and beneath the dome two electric

fountains sent sprays of colored perfumed water shooting up nearly as

high as the arched ceiling.

Are you ready, Dorothy?" asked the Ruler.

I am," replied Dorothy; "but I don't know whether Aunt Em and Uncle

Henry are ready."

That won't matter," declared Ozma. "The old life can have very little to

interest them, and the sooner they begin the new life here the happier

they will be. Here they come, my dear!"

As she spoke, there before the throne appeared Uncle Henry and Aunt

Em, who for a moment stood motionless, glaring with white and startled

faces at the scene that confronted them. If the ladies and gentlemen

present had not been so polite I am sure they would have laughed at the

two strangers.

Aunt Em had her calico dress skirt "tucked up," and she wore a faded,

blue-checked apron. Her hair was rather straggly and she had on a pair

of Uncle Henry's old slippers. In one hand she held a dish-towel and in

the other a cracked earthenware plate, which she had been engaged in

wiping when so suddenly transported to the Land of Oz.

Uncle Henry, when the summons came, had been out in the barn "doin'

chores." He wore a ragged and much soiled straw hat, a checked shirt

without any collar and blue overalls tucked into the tops of his old

cowhide boots.

The Emerald City of Oz