29. How Glinda Worked a Magic Spell

           "Thatwasbetterthanfighting,"saidOzma,whenallourfriendswereassembledinthepalaceaftertheexcitingeventsofthemorning;andeachandeveryoneagreedwithher.

           "Noonewashurt,"saidtheWizard,delightedly.

           "Andnoonehurtus,"addedAuntEm.

           "But,bestofall,"saidDorothy,"thewickedpeoplehaveallforgottentheirwickedness,andwillnotwishtohurtanyoneafterthis."

           "True,Princess,"declaredtheShaggyMan."ItseemstomethattohavereformedallthoseevilcharactersismoreimportantthantohavesavedOz."

           "Nevertheless,"remarkedtheScarecrow,"IamgladOzissaved.Icannowgobacktomynewmansionandlivehappily."

           "AndIamgladandgratefulthatmypumpkinfarmissaved,"saidJack.

           "Formypart,"addedtheTinWoodman,"Icannotexpressmyjoythatmylovelytincastleisnottobedemolishedbywickedenemies."

           "Still,"saidTiktok,"o-theren-e-miesmaycometoOzsomeday."

           "Whydoyouallowyourclock-workbrainstointerruptourjoy?"askedOmbyAmby,frowningatthemachineman.

           "IsaywhatIamwounduptosay,"answeredTiktok.

           "Andyouareright,"declaredOzma."Imyselfhavebeenthinkingofthisveryidea,anditseemstomethereareentirelytoomanywaysforpeopletogettotheLandofOz.Weusedtothinkthedeadlydesertthatsurroundsuswasenoughprotection;butthatisnolongerthecase.TheWizardandDorothyhavebothcomeherethroughtheair,andIamtoldtheearthpeoplehaveinventedairshipsthatcanflyanywheretheywishthemtogo."

           "Why,sometimestheydo,andsometimestheydon’t,"assertedDorothy.