“But you ruled it wisely and well for many years,” said she, “and made the people proud of your magical art.  So, as you are now too old to wander abroad and work in a circus, I offer you a home here as long as you live.  You shall be the Official Wizard of my kingdom, and be treated with every respect and consideration.”

“I accept your kind offer with gratitude, gracious Princess,” the little man said, in a soft voice, and they could all see that tear-drops were standing in his keen old eyes.  It meant a good deal to him to secure a home like this.

“He’s only a humbug Wizard, though,” said Dorothy, smiling at him.

“And that is the safest kind of a Wizard to have,” replied Ozma, promptly.

“Oz can do some good tricks, humbug or no humbug,” announced Zeb, who was now feeling more at ease.

“He shall amuse us with his tricks tomorrow,” said the Princess.  “I have sent messengers to summon all of Dorothy’s old friends to meet her and give her welcome, and they ought to arrive very soon, now.”

Indeed, the dinner was no sooner finished than in rushed the Scarecrow, to hug Dorothy in his padded arms and tell her how glad he was to see her again.  The Wizard was also most heartily welcomed by the straw man, who was an important personage in the Land of Oz.

“How are your brains?” enquired the little humbug, as he grasped the soft, stuffed hands of his old friend.

“Working finely,” answered the Scarecrow.  “I’m very certain, Oz, that you gave me the best brains in the world, for I can think with them day and night, when all other brains are fast asleep.”

“How long did you rule the Emerald City, after I left here?” was the next question.

“Quite awhile, until I was conquered by a girl named General Jinjur.  But Ozma soon conquered her, with the help of Glinda the Good, and after that I went to live with Nick Chopper, the Tin Woodman.”

Just then a loud cackling was heard outside; and, when a servant threw open the door with a low bow, a yellow hen strutted in.  Dorothy sprang forward and caught the fluffy fowl in her arms, uttering at the same time a glad cry.

“Oh, Billina!” she said; “how fat and sleek you’ve grown.”

“Why shouldn’t I?” asked the hen, in a sharp, clear voice.  “I live on the fat of the land—­don’t I, Ozma?”

“You have everything you wish for,” said the Princess.

Around Billina’s neck was a string of beautiful pearls, and on her legs were bracelets of emeralds.  She nestled herself comfortably in Dorothy’s lap until the kitten gave a snarl of jealous anger and leaped up with a sharp claw fiercely bared to strike Billina a blow.  But the little girl gave the angry kitten such a severe cuff that it jumped down again without daring to scratch.

“How horrid of you, Eureka!” cried Dorothy.  “Is that the way to treat my friends?”

“You have queer friends, seems to me,” replied the kitten, in a surly tone.