The Shaggy Man's Welcome
The shaggy man stood in the great hall, his shaggy hat in his hands,wondering what would become of him. He had never been a guest in a finepalace before; perhaps he had never been a guest anywhere. In the big,cold, outside world people did not invite shaggy men to their homes, andthis shaggy man of ours had slept more in hay-lofts and stables than incomfortable rooms. When the others left the great hall he eyed thesplendidly dressed servants of the Princess Ozma as if he expected to beordered out; but one of them bowed before him as respectfully as if hehad been a prince, and said:
"Permit me, sir, to conduct you to your apartments."
The shaggy man drew a long breath and took courage.
"Very well," he answered; "I'm ready."
Through the big hall they went, up the grand staircase carpeted thickwith velvet, and so along a wide corridor to a carved doorway. Here theservant paused, and opening the door said with polite deference:
"Be good enough to enter, sir, and make yourself at home in the roomsour Royal Ozma has ordered prepared for you. Whatever you see is for youto use and enjoy, as if your own. The Princess dines at seven, and Ishall be here in time to lead you to the drawing-room, where you will beprivileged to meet the lovely Ruler of Oz. Is there any command, in themeantime, with which you desire to honor me?"
"No," said the shaggy man; "but I'm much obliged."
He entered the room and shut the door, and for a time stood inbewilderment, admiring the grandeur before him.
He had been given one of the handsomest apartments in the mostmagnificent palace in the world, and you can not wonder that his goodfortune astonished and awed him until he grew used to his surroundings.
The furniture was upholstered in cloth of gold, with the royal crownembroidered upon it in scarlet. The rug upon the marble floor was sothick and soft that he could not hear the sound of his own footsteps,and upon the walls were splendid tapestries woven with scenes from theLand of Oz. Books and ornaments were scattered about in profusion, andthe shaggy man thought he had never seen so many pretty things in oneplace before. In one corner played a tinkling fountain of perfumedwater, and in another was a table bearing a golden tray loaded withfreshly gathered fruit, including several of the red-cheeked apples thatthe shaggy man loved.
At the farther end of this charming room was an open doorway, and hecrossed over to find himself in a bedroom containing more comforts thanthe shaggy man had ever before imagined. The bedstead was of gold andset with many brilliant diamonds, and the coverlet had designs ofpearls and rubies sewed upon it. At one side of the bedroom was a daintydressing-room, with closets containing a large assortment of freshclothing; and beyond this was the bath--a large room having a marblepool big enough to swim in, with white marble steps leading down to thewater. Around the edge of the pool were set rows of fine emeralds aslarge as door-knobs, while the water of the bath was clear as crystal.
THE SHAGGY MAN ADMIRES HIS NEW CLOTHES]
For a time the shaggy man gazed upon all this luxury with silentamazement. Then he decided, being wise in his way, to take advantage ofhis good fortune. He removed his shaggy boots and his shaggy clothing,and bathed in the pool with rare enjoyment. After he had dried himselfwith the soft towels he went into the dressing-room and took fresh linenfrom the drawers and put it on, finding that everything fitted himexactly. He examined the contents of the closets and selected an elegantsuit of clothing. Strangely enough, everything about it was shaggy,although so new and beautiful, and he sighed with contentment to realizethat he could now be finely dressed and still be the Shaggy Man. Hiscoat was of rose-colored velvet, trimmed with shags and bobtails, withbuttons of blood-red rubies and golden shags around the edges. His vestwas a shaggy satin of a delicate cream color, and his knee-breeches ofrose velvet trimmed like the coat. Shaggy creamy stockings of silk, andshaggy slippers of rose leather with ruby buckles, completed hiscostume, and when he was thus attired the shaggy man looked at himselfin a long mirror with great admiration. On a table he found amother-of-pearl chest decorated with delicate silver vines and flowersof clustered rubies, and on the cover was a silver plate engraved withthese words:
THE SHAGGY MAN: HIS BOX OF ORNAMENTS
The chest was not locked, so he opened it and was almost dazzled by thebrilliance of the rich jewels it contained. After admiring the prettythings, he took out a fine golden watch with a big chain, severalhandsome finger-rings, and an ornament of rubies to pin upon the breastof his shaggy shirt-bosom. Having carefully brushed his hair andwhiskers all the wrong way, to make them look as shaggy as possible, theshaggy man breathed a deep sigh of joy and decided he was ready to meetthe Royal Princess as soon as she sent for him. While he waited hereturned to the beautiful sitting room and ate several of thered-cheeked apples to pass away the time.
Meanwhile Dorothy had dressed herself in a pretty gown of soft greyembroidered with silver, and put a blue-and-gold suit of satin uponlittle Button-Bright, who looked as sweet as a cherub in it. Followedby the boy and Toto--the dog with a new green ribbon around hisneck--she hastened down to the splendid drawing-room of the palace,where, seated upon an exquisite throne of carved malachite and nestledamongst its green satin cushions was the lovely Princess Ozma, waitingeagerly to welcome her friend.
The Road to Oz Page 20
