ror!" The Scarecrow could scarcely believe his
ears. "For a fallen man, I am rising like yeast!" he murmured to
himself. Half a dozen courtiers had run outdoors to spread the
wonderful news, and soon silver gongs and bells began ringing all
over the kingdom, and cries of "The Emperor! The Emperor!" added to
the general excitement. Holding fast to the sides of the throne and
still grasping the little fan and parasol, the Scarecrow sat blinking
with embarrassment.

"If they would just stop emperoring, I could ask them who I am,"
thought the poor Scarecrow. As if in answer to his thoughts, the
tottery old nobleman raised his long arm, and at once the hall became
absolutely silent.

"Now!" sighed the Scarecrow, leaning forward. "Now I shall hear
something of interest."

CHAPTER 4

DOROTHY'S LONELY BREAKFAST

Dorothy, who occupied one of the coziest apartments in Ozma's palace,
wakened the morning after the party with a feeling of great
uneasiness. At breakfast, the Scarecrow was missing. Although he, the
Tin Woodman and Scraps did not require food, they always livened up
the table with their conversation. Ordinarily Dorothy would have
thought nothing of the Scarecrow's absence, but she could not forget
his distressed expression when Professor Wogglebug had so rudely
remarked on his family tree. The Professor himself had left before
breakfast, and everybody but Dorothy had forgotten all about the
Royal Book of Oz.

Already many of Ozma's guests who did not live in the palace were
preparing to depart, but Dorothy could not get over her feeling of
uneasiness. The Scarecrow was her very best friend, and it was not
like him to go without saying goodbye. So she hunted through the
gardens and in every room of the palace and questioned all the
servants. Unfortunately, Jellia Jamb, who was the only one who had
seen the Scarecrow go, was with her mistress. Ozma always breakfasted
alone and spent the morning over state matters. Knowing how busy she
was, Dorothy did not like to disturb her. Betsy Bobbin and Trot, real
little girls like Dorothy, also lived in the Fairy palace, and Ozma
was a great chum for them. But the Kingdom of Oz had to be governed
in between times, and they all knew that unless Ozma had the mornings
to herself, she could not play with them in the afternoons. So
Dorothy searched by herself.

"Perhaps I didn't look hard enough," thought the little girl, and
searched the palace all over again.

"Don't