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wait till morning。 It would not rest him to lie down； and he
could not close his eyes； so he remained all night staring at a
little spider which was weaving its web in a corner of the room；
just as if it were not one of the most wonderful rooms in the world。
The Tin Woodman lay down on his bed from force of habit； for he
remembered when he was made of flesh； but not being able to sleep；
he passed the night moving his joints up and down to make sure they
kept in good working order。 The Lion would have preferred a bed of
dried leaves in the forest； and did not like being shut up in a room；
but he had too much sense to let this worry him； so he sprang upon
the bed and rolled himself up like a cat and purred himself asleep
in a minute。
The next morning； after breakfast； the green maiden came to
fetch Dorothy； and she dressed her in one of the prettiest gowns；
made of green brocaded satin。 Dorothy put on a green silk apron
and tied a green ribbon around Toto's neck； and they started
for the Throne Room of the Great Oz。
First they came to a great hall in which were many ladies and
gentlemen of the court； all dressed in rich costumes。 These
people had nothing to do but talk to each other； but they always
came to wait outside the Throne Room every morning； although they
were never permitted to see Oz。 As Dorothy entered they looked at
her curiously； and one of them whispered：
〃Are you really going to look upon the face of Oz the Terrible？〃
〃Of course；〃 answered the girl； 〃if he will see me。〃
〃Oh； he will see you；〃 said the soldier who had taken her
message to the Wizard； 〃although he does not like to have people
ask to see him。 Indeed； at first he was angry and said I should
send you back where you came from。 Then he asked me what you
looked like； and when I mentioned your silver shoes he was very
much interested。 At last I told him about the mark upon your
forehead； and he decided he would admit you to his presence。〃
Just then a bell rang； and the green girl said to Dorothy；
〃That is the signal。 You must go into the Throne Room alone。〃
She opened a little door and Dorothy walked boldly through and
found herself in a wonderful place。 It was a big； round room with
a high arched roof； and the walls and ceiling and floor were covered
with large emeralds set closely together。 In the center of the roof
was a great light； as bright as the sun； which made the emeralds
sparkle in a wonderful manner。
But what interested Dorothy most was the big throne of green
marble that stood in the middle of the room。 It was shaped like a
chair and sparkled with gems； as did everything else。 In the
center of the chair was an enormous Head； without a body to
support it or any arms or legs whatever。 There was no hair upon
this head； but it had eyes and a nose and mouth； and was much
bigger than the head of the biggest giant。
As Dorothy gazed upon this in wonder and fear； the eyes turned
slowly and looked at her sharply and steadily。 Then the mouth
moved； and Dorothy heard a voice say：
〃I am Oz； the Great and Terrible。 Who are you； and why do you
seek me？〃
It was not such an awful voice as she had expected to come
from the big Head； so she took courage and answered：
〃I am Dorothy； the Small and Meek。 I have come to you for help。〃
The eyes looked at her thoughtfully for a full minute。
Then said the voice：
〃Where did you get the silver shoes？〃
〃I got them from the Wicked Witch of the East； when my house
fell on her and killed her；〃 she replied。
〃Where did you get the mark upon your forehead？〃 continued the voice。
〃That is where the Good Witch of the North kissed me when she
bade me good…bye and sent me to you；〃 said the girl。
Again the eyes looked at her sharply； and they saw she was
telling the truth。 Then Oz asked； 〃What do you wish me to do？〃
〃Send me back to Kansas； where my Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are；〃
she answered earnestly。 〃I don't like your country； although it is
so beautiful。 And I am sure Aunt Em will be dreadfully worried over
my being away so long。〃
The eyes winked three times； and then they turned up to the
ceiling and down to the floor and rolled around so queerly that
they seemed to see every part of the room。 And at last they
looked at Dorothy again。
〃Why should I do this for you？〃 asked Oz。
〃Because you are strong and I am weak； because you are a Great
Wizard and I am only a little girl。〃
〃But you were strong enough to kill the Wicked Witch of the East；〃
said Oz。
〃That just happened；〃 returned Dorothy simply； 〃I could not help it。〃
〃Well；〃 said the Head； 〃I will give you my answer。 You have no
right to expect me to send you back to Kansas unless you do something
for me in return。 In this country everyone must pay for everything
he gets。 If you wish me to use my magic power to send you home again
you must do something for me first。 Help me and I will help you。〃
〃What must I do？〃 asked the girl。
〃Kill the Wicked Witch of the West；〃 answered Oz。
〃But I cannot！〃 exclaimed Dorothy； greatly surprised。
〃You killed the Witch of the East and you wear the silver shoes；
which bear a powerful charm。 There is now but one Wicked Witch left
in all this land； and when you can tell me she is dead I will send
you back to Kansasbut not before。〃
The little girl began to weep； she was so much disappointed；
and the eyes winked again and looked upon her anxiously； as if the
Great Oz felt that she could help him if she would。
〃I never killed anything； willingly；〃 she sobbed。 〃Even if I
wanted to； how could I kill the Wicked Witch？ If you； who are Great
and Terrible； cannot kill her yourself； how do you expect me to do it？〃
〃I do not know；〃 said the Head； 〃but that is my answer； and
until the Wicked Witch dies you will not see your uncle and aunt
again。 Remember that the Witch is Wickedtremendously Wicked
…and ought to be killed。 Now go； and do not ask to see me again
until you have done your task。〃
Sorrowfully Dorothy left the Throne Room and went back where
the Lion and the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman were waiting to
hear what Oz had said to her。 〃There is no hope for me；〃 she
said sadly； 〃for Oz will not send me home until I have killed
the Wicked Witch of the West； and that I can never do。〃
Her friends were sorry； but could do nothing to help her； so
Dorothy went to her own room and lay down on the bed and cried
herself to sleep。
The next morning the soldier with the green whiskers came to
the Scarecrow and said：
〃Come with me； for Oz has sent for you。〃
So the Scarecrow followed him and was admitted into the great
Throne Room； where he saw； sitting in the emerald throne； a most
lovely Lady。 She was dressed in green silk gauze and wore upon
her flowing green locks a crown of jewels。 Growing from her
shoulders were wings； gorgeous in color and so light that they
fluttered if the slightest breath of air reached them。
When the Scarecrow had bowed； as prettily as his straw stuffing would
let him； before this beautiful creature； she looked upon him sweetly；
and said：