The Country of the Quadlings

           BeforetheywenttoseeGlinda,however,theyweretakentoaroomoftheCastle,whereDorothywashedherfaceandcombedherhair, andtheLionshookthedustoutofhismane, andtheScarecrowpattedhimselfintohisbestshape,andtheWoodmanpolishedhistinandoiledhisjoints. 

           WhentheywereallquitepresentabletheyfollowedthesoldiergirlintoabigroomwheretheWitchGlindasatuponathroneofrubies. 

           Shewasbothbeautifulandyoungtotheireyes. Herhairwasarichredincolorandfellinflowingringletsoverhershoulders.Herdresswaspurewhitebuthereyeswereblue,andtheylookedkindlyuponthelittlegirl. 

           "WhatcanIdoforyou,mychild?"sheasked. 

           DorothytoldtheWitchallherstory: howthecyclonehadbroughthertotheLandofOz,howshehadfoundhercompanions,andofthewonderfuladventurestheyhadmetwith. 

           "Mygreatestwishnow,"sheadded,"istogetbacktoKansas,forAuntEmwillsurelythinksomethingdreadfulhashappenedtome,andthatwillmakeherputonmourning; andunlessthecropsarebetterthisyearthantheywerelast,IamsureUncleHenrycannotaffordit." 

           Glindaleanedforwardandkissedthesweet,upturnedfaceofthelovinglittlegirl. 

           "Blessyourdearheart,"shesaid,"IamsureIcantellyouofawaytogetbacktoKansas." Thensheadded,"But,ifIdo,youmustgivemetheGoldenCap."