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Good! Very good indeed! You certainly have a brilliant mind. Do you know

why two and two make four?"

No," said Button-Bright.

Clever! clever indeed! Of course you don't know. Nobody knows why; we only

know it's so, and can't tell why it's so. Button-Bright, those curls and blue

eyes do not go well with so much wisdom. They make you look too youthful,

and hide your real cleverness. Therefore, I will do you a great favor. I will

confer upon you the head of a fox, so that you may hereafter look as bright as

you really are."

As he spoke the King waved his paw toward the boy, and at once the pretty

curls and fresh round face and big blue eyes were gone, while in their place a

fox's head appeared upon Button-Bright's shoulders--a hairy head with a

sharp nose, pointed ears, and keen little eyes.

Oh, don't do that!" cried Dorothy, shrinking back from her transformed

companion with a shocked and dismayed face.

Too late, my dear; it's done. But you also shall have a fox's head if you can

prove you're as clever as Button-Bright."

I don't want it; it's dreadful!" she exclaimed; and, hearing this verdict,

Button-Bright began to boo-hoo just as if he were still a little boy.

How can you call that lovely head dreadful?" asked the King. "It's a much

prettier face than he had before, to my notion, and my wife says I'm a good

judge of beauty. Don't cry, little fox-boy. Laugh and be proud, because you

are so highly favored. How do you like the new head, Button-Bright?"

D-d-don't n-n-n-know!" sobbed the child.

Please, PLEASE change him back again, your Majesty!" begged Dorothy.

King Renard IV shook his head.

I can't do that," he said; "I haven't the power, even if I wanted to. No, Button-

Bright must wear his fox head, and he'll be sure to love it dearly as soon as he

gets used to it."

Both the shaggy man and Dorothy looked grave and anxious, for they were

sorrowful that such a misfortune had overtaken their little companion. Toto

barked at the fox-boy once or twice, not realizing it was his former friend who

The Road to Oz