Page:Kabumpo in Oz.djvu/294
Chapter Twenty
shifted from one foot to the other as he tried to make up his mind. Two huge drops of perspiration ran down his trunk. What good would it do? he reasoned finally. Suppose it told something awful! It couldn't change her and it might make her unhappy. No, he would not let Peg look in the mirror.
"How would you like to have this pearl bracelet?" he asked in an embarrassed voice.
"Why, Kabumpo, I'd just adore it!" cried Peg, springing up in a hurry. "And I'm not going to worry about being alive any more, for everyone is so lovely to me I ought to be the happiest person in Oz."
"You are," puffed Kabumpo, clumsily slipping the bracelet on Peg's wooden arm, "and if we ever get back to Pumperdink you shall have as many silk dresses as you want and—" The rest of the sentence was smothered in a hug.
Peg Amy was growing fonder and fonder of pompous old Kabumpo and by the time he had recovered his breath Wag and the Prince came ambling back together. They had found an orchard and a kitchen garden and as they were no longer hungry, both were more cheerful.
"Let's play scop hotch," suggested Wag amiably. "I'm tired of hunting Princesses." There was a smooth
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