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6. The Heads of Langwidere
"Butthereissomemysteryconnectedwithher,nevertheless.Sheisaveryvaincreature,andlivesmostlyinaroomsurroundedbymirrors,sothatshecanadmireherselfwhicheverwayshelooks."
Nooneansweredthisspeech,becausetheyhadjustpassedoutoftheforestandtheirattentionwasfixeduponthescenebeforethem--abeautifulvaleinwhichweremanyfruittreesandgreenfields,withprettyfarm-housesscatteredhereandthereandbroad,smoothroadsthatledineverydirection.
Inthecenterofthislovelyvale,aboutamilefromwhereourfriendswerestanding,rosethetallspiresoftheroyalpalace,whichglitteredbrightlyagainsttheirbackgroundofbluesky.Thepalacewassurroundedbycharminggrounds,fullofflowersandshrubbery.Severaltinklingfountainscouldbeseen,andtherewerepleasantwalksborderedbyrowsofwhitemarblestatuary.
AllthesedetailsDorothywas,ofcourse,unabletonoticeoradmireuntiltheyhadadvancedalongtheroadtoapositionquiteneartothepalace,andshewasstilllookingattheprettysightswhenherlittlepartyenteredthegroundsandapproachedthebigfrontdooroftheking’sownapartments.Totheirdisappointmenttheyfoundthedoortightlyclosed.Asignwastackedtothepanelwhichreadasfollows:
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OWNERABSENT.
PleaseKnockattheThird
DoorintheLeftWing.
