"Then you have told me a falsehood!" cried Glinda, angrily. "Only when the
truth is spoken will my magic pearl remain a pure white in color."
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."
269
"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.
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