"
"I know, dear. My first duty is to my subjects,
and I think it would be a delight to us all to
have Betsy with us. There's a pretty suite of
rooms just opposite your own where she can live,
and I'll build a golden stall for Hank in the
stable where the Sawhorse lives. Then we'll
introduce the mule to the Cowardly Lion and the
Hungry Tiger, and I'm sure they will soon become
firm friends. But I cannot very well admit Betsy
and Hank into Oz unless I also admit Shaggy's
brother."
"And, unless you admit Shaggy's brother, you
will keep out poor Shaggy, whom we are all very
fond of," said the Wizard.
"Well, why not ad-mit him?" demanded Tik-Tok.
"The Land of Oz is not a refuge for all mortals
in distress," explained Ozma. "I do not wish to be
unkind to Shaggy Man, but his brother has no claim
on me."
"The Land of Oz isn't crowded," suggested
Dorothy.
"Then you advise me to admit Shaggy's brother?"
inquired Ozma.
"Well, we can't afford to lose our Shaggy Man,
can we?"
"No, indeed!" returned Ozma. "What do you say,
Wizard?"
"I'm getting my magic ready to transport them
all."
"And you, Tik-Tok?"
"Shag-gy's broth-er is a good fel-low, and we
can't spare Shag-gy."
"So, then; the question is settled," decided
Ozma. "Perform your magic, Wizard!"
He did so, placing a silver plate upon a small
standard and pouring upon the plate a small
quantity of pink powder which was contained in a
crystal vial. Then he muttered a rather difficult
incantation which the sorceress Glinda the Good
had taught him, and it all ended in a puff of
perfumed smoke from the silver plate.
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