"These are your rooms," said Dorothy, opening a door.

Aunt Em drew back at the sight of the splendid furniture and draperies.

"Ain't there any place to wipe my feet?" she asked.

"You will soon change your slippers for new shoes," replied Dorothy."Don't be afraid, Aunt Em. Here is where you are to live, so walkright in and make yourself at home."

Aunt Em advanced hesitatingly.

"It beats the Topeka Hotel!" she cried admiringly. "But this place istoo grand for us, child. Can't we have some back room in the attic,that's more in our class?"

"No," said Dorothy. "You've got to live here, 'cause Ozma says so.And all the rooms in this palace are just as fine as these, and someare better. It won't do any good to fuss, Aunt Em. You've got to beswell and high-toned in the Land of Oz, whether you want to or not;so you may as well make up your mind to it."

"It's hard luck," replied her aunt, looking around with an awedexpression; "but folks can get used to anything, if they try.Eh, Henry?"

"Why, as to that," said Uncle Henry, slowly, "I b'lieve in takin'what's pervided us, an' askin' no questions. I've traveled some, Em,in my time, and you hain't; an' that makes a difference atween us."

Then Dorothy showed them through the rooms. The first was a handsomesitting-room, with windows opening upon the rose gardens. Then cameseparate bedrooms for Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, with a fine bathroombetween them. Aunt Em had a pretty dressing room, besides, and Dorothyopened the closets and showed several exquisite costumes that had beenprovided for her aunt by the royal dressmakers, who had worked allnight to get them ready. Everything that Aunt Em could possibly needwas in the drawers and closets, and her dressing-table was coveredwith engraved gold toilet articles.

Uncle Henry had nine suits of clothes, cut in the popular Munchkinfashion, with knee-breeches, silk stockings, and low shoes withjeweled buckles. The hats to match these costumes had pointed topsand wide brims with small gold bells around the edges. His shirtswere of fine linen with frilled bosoms, and his vests were richlyembroidered with colored silks.

Uncle Henry decided that he would first take a bath and then dresshimself in a blue satin suit that had caught his fancy. He acceptedhis good fortune with calm composure and refused to have a servant toassist him. But Aunt Em was "all of a flutter," as she said, and ittook Dorothy and Jellia Jamb, the housekeeper, and two maids a longtime to dress her and do up her hair and get her "rigged like apopinjay," as she quaintly expressed it. She wanted to stop and admireeverything that caught her eye, and she sighed continually and declaredthat such finery was too good for an old country woman, and that shenever thought she would have to "put on airs" at her time of life.

Finally she was dressed, and when she went into the sitting-roomthere was Uncle Henry in his blue satin, walking gravely up and downthe room. He had trimmed his beard and mustache and looked verydignified and respectable.

"Tell me, Dorothy," he said; "do all the men here wear duds like these?"

"Yes," she replied; "all 'cept the Scarecrow and the Shaggy Man--andof course the Tin Woodman and Tiktok, who are made of metal. You'llfind all the men at Ozma's court dressed just as you are--only perhapsa little finer."

"Henry, you look like a play-actor," announced Aunt Em, looking at herhusband critically.

"An' you, Em, look more highfalutin' than a peacock," he replied.

"I guess you're right," she said regretfully; "but we're helplessvictims of high-toned royalty."

Dorothy was much amused.

"Come with me," she said, "and I'll show you 'round the palace."

She took them through the beautiful rooms and introduced them to allthe people they chanced to meet. Also she showed them her own prettyrooms, which were not far from their own.

"So it's all true," said Aunt Em, wide-eyed with amazement, "and whatDorothy told us of this fairy country was plain facts instead of dreams!But where are all the strange creatures you used to know here?"

"Yes, where's the Scarecrow?" inquired Uncle Henry.

"Why, he's just now away on a visit to the Tin Woodman, who is Emp'rorof the Winkie Country," answered the little girl. "You'll see himwhen he comes back, and you're sure to like him."

"And where's the Wonderful Wizard?" asked Aunt Em.

"You'll see him at Ozma's luncheon, for he lives here in this palace,"was the reply.

"And Jack Pumpkinhead?"

"Oh, he lives a little way out of town, in his own pumpkin field.We'll go there some time and see him, and we'll call on ProfessorWogglebug, too. The Shaggy Man will be at the luncheon, I guess, andTiktok. And now I'll take you out to see Billina, who has a house ofher own."

So they went into the back yard, and after walking along winding pathssome distance through the beautiful gardens they came to an attractivelittle house where the Yellow Hen sat on the front porch sunning herself.

"Good morning, my dear Mistress," called Billina, fluttering down tomeet them. "I was expecting you to call, for I heard you had comeback and brought your uncle and aunt with you."

"We're here for good and all, this time, Billina," cried Dorothy,joyfully. "Uncle Henry and Aunt Em belong to Oz now as much as I do!"

"Then they are very lucky people," declared Billina; "for therecouldn't be a nicer place to live. But come, my dear; I must show youall my Dorothys. Nine are living and have grown up to be veryrespectable hens; but one took cold at Ozma's birthday party and diedof the pip, and the other two turned out to be horrid roosters, so Ihad to change their names from Dorothy to Daniel. They all had theletter 'D' engraved upon their gold lockets, you remember, with yourpicture inside, and 'D' stands for Daniel as well as for Dorothy."

"Did you call both the roosters Daniel?" asked Uncle Henry.

"Yes, indeed. I've nine Dorothys and two Daniels; and the nineDorothys have eighty-six sons and daughters and over three hundredgrandchildren," said Billina, proudly.

"What names do you give 'em all, dear?" inquired the little girl.

"Oh, they are all Dorothys and Daniels, some being Juniors and someDouble-Juniors. Dorothy and Daniel are two good names, and I see noobject in hunting for others," declared the Yellow Hen. "But justthink, Dorothy, what a big chicken family we've grown to be, and ournumbers increase nearly every day! Ozma doesn't know what to do withall the eggs we lay, and we are never eaten or harmed in any way, aschickens are in your country. They give us everything to make uscontented and happy, and I, my dear, am the acknowledged Queen andGovernor of every chicken in Oz, because I'm the eldest and started thewhole colony."

"You ought to be very proud, ma'am," said Uncle Henry, who wasastonished to hear a hen talk so sensibly.

"Oh, I am," she replied. "I've the loveliest pearl necklace you eversaw. Come in the house and I'll show it to you. And I've nine legbracelets and a diamond pin for each wing. But I only wear them onstate occasions."

They followed the Yellow Hen into the house, which Aunt Em declaredwas neat as a pin. They could not sit down, because all Billina'schairs were roosting-poles made of silver; so they had to stand whilethe hen fussily showed them her treasures.

Then they had to go into the back rooms occupied by Billina's nineDorothys and two Daniels, who were all plump yellow chickens andgreeted the visitors very politely. It was easy to see that they werewell bred and that Billina had looked after their education.

In the yards were all the children and grandchildren of these elevenelders and they were of all sizes, from well-grown hens to tinychickens just out of the shell. About fifty fluffy yellow youngsterswere at school, being taught good manners and good grammar by a younghen who wore spectacles. They sang in chorus a patriotic song of theLand of Oz, in honor of their visitors, and Aunt Em was much impressedby these talking chickens.

Dorothy wanted to stay and play with the young chickens for awhile,but Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had not seen the palace grounds andgardens yet and were eager to get better acquainted with the marvelousand delightful land in which they were to live.

"I'll stay here, and you can go for a walk," said Dorothy. "You'll beperfec'ly safe anywhere, and may do whatever you want to. When youget tired, go back to the palace and find your rooms, and I'll come toyou before luncheon is ready."

So Uncle Henry and Aunt Em started out alone to explore the grounds,and Dorothy knew that they couldn't get lost, because all the palacegrounds were enclosed by a high wall of green marble set with emeralds.

It was a rare treat to these simple folk, who had lived in the countryall their lives and known little enjoyment of any sort, to wearbeautiful clothes and live in a palace and be treated with respect andconsideration by all around them. They were very happy indeed as theystrolled up the shady walks and looked upon the gorgeous flowers andshrubs, feeling that their new home was more beautiful than any tonguecould describe.

Suddenly, as they turned a corner and walked through a gap in a highhedge, they came face to face with an enormous Lion, which crouchedupon the green lawn and seemed surprised by their appearance.

They stopped short, Uncle Henry trembling with horror and Aunt Em tooterrified to scream. Next moment the poor woman clasped her husbandaround the neck and cried:

"Save me, Henry, save me!"

"Can't even save myself, Em," he returned, in a husky voice, "for theanimile looks as if it could eat both of us an' lick its chops formore! If I only had a gun--"

"Haven't you, Henry? Haven't you?" she asked anxiously.

"Nary gun, Em. So let's die as brave an' graceful as we can. I knewour luck couldn't last!"

"I won't die. I won't be eaten by a lion!" wailed Aunt Em, glaringupon the huge beast. Then a thought struck her, and she whispered,"Henry, I've heard as savage beastses can be conquered by the humaneye. I'll eye that lion out o' countenance an' save our lives."

"Try it, Em," he returned, also in a whisper. "Look at him as you doat me when I'm late to dinner."

Aunt Em turned upon the Lion a determined countenance and a wild dilatedeye. She glared at the immense beast steadily, and the Lion, who hadbeen quietly blinking at them, began to appear uneasy and disturbed.

"Is anything the matter, ma'am?" he asked, in a mild voice.

At this speech from the terrible beast Aunt Em and Uncle Henry bothwere startled, and then Uncle Henry remembered that this must be theLion they had seen in Ozma's Throne Room.

"Hold on, Em!" he exclaimed. "Quit the eagle eye conquest an'take courage. I guess this is the same Cowardly Lion Dorothyhas told us about."

"Oh, is it?" she cried, much relieved.

"When he spoke, I got the idea; and when he looked so 'shamed like, Iwas sure of it," Uncle Henry continued.

Aunt Em regarded the animal with new interest.

"Are you the Cowardly Lion?" she inquired. "Are you Dorothy's friend?"

"Yes'm," answered the Lion, meekly. "Dorothy and I are old chums andare very fond of each other. I'm the King of Beasts, you know, andthe Hungry Tiger and I serve Princess Ozma as her body guards."

"To be sure," said Aunt Em, nodding. "But the King of Beastsshouldn't be cowardly."

"I've heard that said before," remarked the Lion, yawning till heshowed two great rows of sharp white teeth; "but that does not keepme from being frightened whenever I go into battle."

"What do you do, run?" asked Uncle Henry.

"No; that would be foolish, for the enemy would run after me,"declared the Lion. "So I tremble with fear and pitch in as hard as Ican; and so far I have always won my fight."

"Ah, I begin to understand," said Uncle Henry.

"Were you scared when I looked at you just now?" inquired Aunt Em.

"Terribly scared, madam," answered the Lion, "for at first I thoughtyou were going to have a fit. Then I noticed you were trying toovercome me by the power of your eye, and your glance was so fierceand penetrating that I shook with fear."

This greatly pleased the lady, and she said quite cheerfully:

"Well, I won't hurt you, so don't be scared any more. I just wantedto see what the human eye was good for."

"The human eye is a fearful weapon," remarked the Lion, scratching hisnose softly with his paw to hide a smile. "Had I not known you wereDorothy's friends I might have torn you both into shreds in order toescape your terrible gaze."

Aunt Em shuddered at hearing this, and Uncle Henry said hastily:

"I'm glad you knew us. Good morning, Mr. Lion; we'll hope to see youagain--by and by--some time in the future."

"Good morning," replied the Lion, squatting down upon the lawn again."You are likely to see a good deal of me, if you live in the Land of Oz."