Part 40 (1/2)
Mombi now saw how useless it was to try to deceive the Sorceress; so she said, meanwhile scowling at her defeat:
”The Wizard brought to me the girl Ozma, who was then no more than a baby, and begged me to conceal the child.”
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”That is what I thought,” declared Glinda, calmly. ”What did he give you for thus serving him?”
”He taught me all the magical tricks he knew. Some were good tricks, and some were only frauds; but I have remained faithful to my promise.”
”What did you do with the girl?” asked Glinda; and at this question everyone bent forward and listened eagerly for the reply.
”I enchanted her,” answered Mombi.
”In what way?”
”I transformed her into--into--”
”Into what?” demanded Glinda, as the Witch hesitated.
”Into a boy!” said Mombi, in a low tone.”
A boy!” echoed every voice; and then, because they knew that this old woman had reared Tip from childhood, all eyes were turned to where the boy stood.
”Yes,” said the old Witch, nodding her head; ”that is the Princess Ozma--the child brought to me by the Wizard who stole her father's throne. That is the rightful ruler of the Emerald City!” and she pointed her long bony finger straight at the boy.
”I!” cried Tip, in amazement. ”Why, I'm no Princess Ozma--I'm not a girl!”
Glinda smiled, and going to Tip she took his small brown hand within her dainty white one.
270 Full page line-art drawing.
MOMBI POINTED HER LONG, BONY FINGER AT THE BOY
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”You are not a girl just now” said she, gently, ”because Mombi transformed you into a boy. But you were born a girl, and also a Princess; so you must resume your proper form, that you may become Queen of the Emerald City.”
”Oh, let Jinjur be the Queen!” exclaimed Tip, ready to cry. ”I want to stay a boy, and travel with the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, and the Woggle- Bug, and Jack--yes! and my friend the Saw-Horse--and the Gump! I don't want to be a girl!”
”Never mind, old chap,” said the Tin Woodman, soothingly; ”it don't hurt to be a girl, I'm told; and we will all remain your faithful friends just the same. And, to be honest with you, I've always considered girls nicer than boys.”
”They're just as nice, anyway,” added the Scarecrow, patting Tip affectionately upon the head.