Oz 03: Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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. I_can on-ly do what I_am wound up to_do ."

" are_you wound up to_keep my secret ? " asked the Wheeler, anxiously .

"Yes; if_you be-have your-self .But tell me: who rules the Land of Ev now ? " asked the machine .

" there_is no ruler," was_the answer, "because every member of_the royal family is imprisoned by_the Nome King .But the Princess Langwidere, who_is aniece of_our late King Evoldo, lives in apart of_the royal palace and takes as_much money out_of_the royal treasury as she_can spend .The Princess Langwidere is_not exactly aruler, you_see, because she doesn't rule; but she_is the nearest approach to aruler we_have at present ."

" I_do_not re-mem-ber her," said Tiktok ."What does she look like ? "

"That I cannot_say," replied the Wheeler, "although I_have_seen her twenty times . for_the Princess Langwidere is adifferent person every time I_see her, and_the only way her subjects can recognize her at all is by_means of abeautiful ruby key which she always wears on achain attached to her left wrist .When we see the key we_know we_are beholding the Princess ."

" that_is strange," said Dorothy, in astonishment ." do_you_mean to_say that so_many different princesses are one and_the same person ? "

"Not exactly," answered the Wheeler ." there_is, of_course, but one princess; but she appears to_us in many forms, which are all more or less beautiful ."

" she_must be awitch," exclaimed the girl .

" I_do_not_think so," declared the Wheeler ."But there_is some mystery connected with her, nevertheless . she_is avery vain creature, and lives mostly in aroom surrounded by mirrors, so_that she_can admire herself whichever way she looks ."

No one answered this speech, because they had just passed out_of_the forest and their attention was fixed upon_the scene before them--a beautiful vale in_which were many fruit trees and green fields, with pretty farm-houses scattered here and there and broad, smooth roads that led in every direction .

in_the center of_this lovely vale, about amile from where our friends were standing, rose the tall spires of_the royal palace, which glittered brightly against their background of blue sky .The palace was surrounded by charming grounds, full of flowers and shrubbery .Several tinkling fountains could_be seen, and there were pleasant walks bordered by rows of white marble statuary .

All these details Dorothy was, of_course, unable to notice or admire until they had advanced along the road to aposition quite near to_the palace, and she was still looking at_the pretty sights when her little party entered the grounds and approached the big front door of_the king's own apartments . to_their disappointment they found the door tightly closed .asign was tacked to_the panel which read as follows:

+----------------------------+ | | | OWNER ABSENT .| | | | Please Knock at_the Third | | Door in_the Left Wing .| | | +----------------------------+

"Now," said Tiktok to_the captive Wheeler, " you_must show us the way to_the Left Wing ."

" very_well," agreed the prisoner, " it_is around here at_the right ."

"How can the left wing be at_the right ? " demanded Dorothy, who feared the Wheeler was fooling them .

"Because there used to_be three wings, and two were torn down, so the one on_the right is_the only_one left . it_is atrick of_the Princess Langwidere to_prevent visitors from annoying her ."

Then the captive led them around to_the wing, after which the machine man, having no further use for_the Wheeler, permitted him to depart and rejoin his fellows .He immediately rolled away at agreat pace and was soon lost to sight .

Tiktok now counted the doors in_the wing and knocked loudly upon_the third one .

it_was opened by alittle maid in acap trimmed with gay ribbons, who bowed respectfully and asked:

"What do_you wish, good people ? "

" are_you the Princess Langwidere ? " asked Dorothy .

"No, miss; I_am her servant," replied the maid .

"May I_see the Princess, please ? "

" i_will tell her you_are here, miss, and ask her to grant you an audience," said the maid ."Step in, please, and take aseat in_the drawing-room ."

So Dorothy walked in, followed closely by_the machine .But as_the yellow hen tried to enter after them, the little maid cried "Shoo ! " and flapped her apron in Billina's face .

"Shoo, yourself ! " retorted the hen, drawing back in anger and ruffling up her feathers ."Haven't you any better manners than that ? "

"Oh, do_you talk ? " enquired the maid, evidently surprised .

"Can't you hear me ? " snapped Billina ."Drop that apron, and get out_of_the doorway, so_that I_may enter with my friends ! "

"The Princess won't like it," said the maid, hesitating .

"I don't care whether she likes it or not," replied Billina, and fluttering her wings with aloud noise she flew straight at_the maid's face .The little servant at once ducked her head, and_the hen reached Dorothy's side in safety .

" very_well," sighed the maid; " if_you_are all ruined because of_this obstinate hen, don't blame me for_it .It isn't safe to annoy the Princess Langwidere ."

"Tell her we_are waiting, if_you please," Dorothy requested, with dignity ."Billina is my friend, and must go wherever I go ."

Without more words the maid led them to arichly furnished drawing-room, lighted with subdued rainbow tints that came in through beautiful stained-glass windows .

"Remain here," she said ."What names shall I_give the Princess ? "

" I_am Dorothy Gale, of Kansas," replied the child; "and this gentleman is amachine named Tiktok, and_the yellow hen is my friend Billina ."

The little servant bowed and withdrew, going through several passages and mounting two marble stairways before she came to_the apartments occupied by her mistress .

Princess Langwidere's sitting-room was paneled with great mirrors, which reached from_the ceiling to_the floor; also the ceiling was composed of mirrors, and_the floor was of polished silver that reflected every object upon it .So when Langwidere sat in her easy chair and played soft melodies upon her mandolin, her form was mirrored hundreds of times, in walls and ceiling and floor, and whichever way the lady turned her head she could_see and admire her own features .This she loved to_do, and just as_the maid entered she was saying to herself:

"This head with_the auburn hair and hazel eyes is quite attractive . I_must wear it more often than I_have_done of late, although it may not be the best of_my collection ."

" you_have company, Your Highness," announced the maid, bowing low .

" who_is it ? " asked Langwidere, yawning .

"Dorothy Gale of Kansas, Mr Tiktok and Billina," answered the maid .

"What aqueer lot of names ! " murmured the Princess, beginning to_be alittle interested ." what_are they like ? Is Dorothy Gale of Kansas pretty ? "

"She might_be called so," the maid replied .

" and_is Mr Tiktok attractive ? " continued the Princess .

"That I cannot_say, Your Highness .But he seems very bright .Will Your Gracious Highness see them ? "

"Oh, I_may as_well, Nanda .But I_am tired admiring this head, and if_my visitor has any claim to beauty I_must take care that she does_not surpass me .So i_will go to my cabinet and change to No .17, which i_think is my best appearance .Don't you ? "

"Your No .17 is exceedingly beautiful," answered Nanda, with another bow .

Again the Princess yawned .Then she said:

"Help me to rise ."

So the maid assisted her to gain her feet, although Langwidere was_the stronger of_the two; and then the Princess slowly walked across the silver floor to her cabinet, leaning heavily at every step upon Nanda's arm .

Now I_must explain to_you that_the Princess Langwidere had thirty heads-- as_many as there_are days in_the month .But of_course she_could only wear one_of_them at_a_time, because she had but one neck .These heads were kept in what she called her "cabinet," which_was abeautiful dressing-room that lay just between Langwidere's sleeping-chamber and_the mirrored sitting-room .Each head was in aseparate cupboard lined with velvet .The cupboards ran all around the sides of_the dressing-room, and had elaborately carved doors with gold numbers on_the outside and jeweled-framed mirrors on_the inside of_them .

when_the Princess got out of her crystal bed in_the morning she went to her cabinet, opened one_of_the velvet-lined cupboards, and took the head it contained from its golden shelf .Then, by_the aid of_the mirror inside the open door, she put on_the head--as neat and straight as could_be--and afterward called her maids to robe her for_the day .She always wore asimple white costume, that suited all the heads .For, being able to_change her face whenever she liked, the Princess had no interest in wearing avariety of gowns, as have other ladies who_are compelled to wear the same face constantly .

of_course the thirty heads were in great variety, no two formed alike but all being of exceeding loveliness .There were heads with golden hair, brown hair, rich auburn hair and black hair; but none with gray hair .The heads had eyes of blue, of gray, of hazel, of brown and of black; but there were no red eyes among them, and all were bright and handsome .The noses were Grecian, Roman, retrousse and Oriental, representing all types of beauty; and_the mouths were of assorted sizes and shapes, displaying pearly teeth when_the heads smiled .As for dimples, they appeared in cheeks and chins, wherever they_might_be most charming, and one_or_two heads had freckles upon_the faces to contrast the better with_the brilliancy of_their complexions .

One key unlocked all the velvet cupboards containing these treasures--a curious key carved from asingle blood-red ruby--and this_was fastened to astrong but slender chain which the Princess wore around her left wrist .

When Nanda had supported Langwidere to aposition in front of cupboard No .17, the Princess unlocked the door with her ruby key and after handing head No .9, which she had_been wearing, to_the maid, she took No .17 from its shelf and fitted it to her neck .It had black hair and dark eyes and alovely pearl-and-white complexion, and when Langwidere wore it she knew she was remarkably beautiful in appearance .

there_was only_one trouble with No .17; the temper that went with it (and which_was hidden somewhere under the glossy black hair) was fiery, harsh and haughty in_the extreme, and it often led the Princess to_do unpleasant things which she regretted when she came to wear her other heads .

But she did_not remember this today, and went to meet her guests in_the drawing-room with

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