e selected a costume of pea-green and pink
satin and velvet, with embroidered shags on all the edges and iridescent
pearls for ornaments. Then he bathed in an alabaster pool and brushed
his shaggy hair and whiskers the wrong way to make them still more
shaggy. This accomplished, and arrayed in his splendid shaggy garments,
he went to Ozma's banquet hall and found the Scarecrow, the Wizard and
Dorothy already assembled there. The Scarecrow had made a quick trip and
returned to the Emerald City with his left ear freshly painted.

A moment later, while they all stood in waiting, a servant threw open a
door, the orchestra struck up a tune and Ozma of Oz entered.

Much has been told and written concerning the beauty of person and
character of this sweet girl Ruler of the Land of Oz--the richest, the
happiest and most delightful fairyland of which we have any knowledge.
Yet with all her queenly qualities Ozma was a real girl and enjoyed the
things in life that other real girls enjoy. When she sat on her splendid
emerald throne in the great Throne Room of her palace and made laws and
settled disputes and tried to keep all her subjects happy and contented,
she was as dignified and demure as any queen might be; but when she had
thrown aside her jeweled robe of state and her sceptre, and had retired
to her private apartments, the girl--joyous, light-hearted and
free--replaced the sedate Ruler.

In the banquet hall to-night were gathered only old and trusted friends,
so here Ozma was herself--a mere girl. She greeted Dorothy with a kiss,
the Shaggy Man with a smile, the little old Wizard with a friendly
handshake and then she pressed the Scarecrow's stuffed arm and cried
merrily:

"What a lovely left ear! Why, it's a hundred times better than the old
one."

"I'm glad you like it," replied the Scarecrow, well pleased. "Jinjur did
a neat job, didn't she? And my hearing is now perfect. Isn't it
wonderful what a little paint will do, if it's properly applied?"

"It really _is_ wonderful," she agreed, as they all took their seats;
"but the Sawhorse must have made his legs twinkle to have carried you so
far in one day. I didn't expect you back before to-morrow, at the
earliest."

"Well," said the Scarecrow, "I met a charming girl on the road and
wanted to see more of her, so I hurried back."

Ozma laughed.

"I know," she returned; "it's the Patchwork Girl. She is certainly
bewildering, if not strictly beautiful."

"Have you