“I’ll wait,” it said hopefully, as the four travelers swung themselves down.
“I wonder if we are in the North Central part,” murmured Peg Amy, looking around anxiously. Now it happened the Country had crossed the Deadly Desert slantwise and although none of the party knew it they were scarcely a mile from Sun Top Mountain.
“I see a garden!” cried Wag, twitching his nose hungrily. “Come on, Prince, let”s find some supper.” With head down and dragging his feet, Pompa followed Wag. Kabumpo began jerking snappishly at some tree tops and Peg Amy sat down to think.
“I wish,” thought the Wooden Doll, looking up at the bright star, “I wish I might have asked the box one little question.” Peg Amy looked so solemn that Kabumpo stopped eating and regarded her anxiously.
“What’s the matter?” asked the Elegant Elephant gruffly, for he quite counted on Peg’s cheerfulness.
“I was thinking about it again,” admitted Peg apologetically. “About being alive before. I’m sure I was alive before I was a doll, Kabumpo. I think I was a person, like Pompa,” she continued softly.
“You’re much better as you are,” said the Elegant Elephant uneasily, for it had just occurred to him that the Magic Mirror would tell Peg who she was as well as the Question Box. But should he let her look in it? That was the question. Poor, tired old Kabumpo 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.