There was a bell beside the gate, and Dorothy pushed thebutton and heard a silvery tinkle sound within. Then the big gateswung slowly open, and they all passed through and foundthemselves in a high arched room, the walls of which glistenedwith countless emeralds.
Before them stood a little man about the same size as theMunchkins. He was clothed all in green, from his head to hisfeet, and even his skin was of a greenish tint. At his side was alarge green box.
When he saw Dorothy and her companions the man asked,"What do you wish in the Emerald City?""We came here to see the Great Oz," said Dorothy.The man was so surprised at this answer that he sat down tothink it over.
"It has been many years since anyone asked me to see Oz,"he said, shaking his head in perplexity. "He is powerful andterrible, and if you come on an idle or foolish errand to botherthe wise reflections of the Great Wizard, he might be angry anddestroy you all in an instant."
"But it is not a foolish errand, nor an idle one," replied theScarecrow; "it is important. And we have been told that Oz is agood Wizard."
"So he is," said the green man, "and he rules the Emerald Citywisely and well. But to those who are not honest, or who approachhim from curiosity, he is most terrible, and few have ever daredask to see his face. I am the Guardian of the Gates, and sinceyou demand to see the Great Oz I must take you to his Palace.But first you must put on the spectacles.""Why?" asked Dorothy.
"Because if you did not wear spectacles the brightness andglory of the Emerald City would blind you. Even those who live inthe City must wear spectacles night and day. They are all lockedon, for Oz so ordered it when the City was first built, and I havethe only key that will unlock them."He opened the big box, and Dorothy saw that it was filled withspectacles of every size and shape. All of them had green glassesin them. The Guardian of the Gates found a pair that would justfit Dorothy and put them over her eyes. There were two goldenbands fastened to them that passed around the back of her head,where they were locked together by a little key that was at theend of a chain the Guardian of the Gates wore around his neck.When they were on, Dorothy could not take them off had she wished,but of course she did not wish to be blinded by the glare of theEmerald City, so she said nothing.
Then the green man fitted spectacles for the Scarecrow and theTin Woodman and the Lion, and even on little Toto; and all werelocked fast with the key.
Then the Guardian of the Gates put on his own glasses and toldthem he was ready to show them to the Palace. Taking a big goldenkey from a peg on the wall, he opened another gate, and they all
