"Oh, do you?"
"And here's Button-Bright, I declare!" cried Santa Claus, holding up
the boy to kiss him. "What a long way from home you are; dear me!"
"Do you know Button-Bright, too?" questioned Dorothy, eagerly.
"Indeed I do. I've visited his home several Christmas Eves."
"And do you know his father?" asked the girl.
"Certainly, my dear. Who else do you suppose brings him his Christmas
neckties and stockings?" with a sly wink at the Wizard.
"Then where does he live? We're just crazy to know, 'cause
Button-Bright's lost," she said.
Santa laughed and laid his finger aside of his nose as if thinking
what to reply. He leaned over and whispered something in the Wizard's
ear, at which the Wizard smiled and nodded as if he understood.
Now Santa Claus spied Polychrome, and trotted over to where she stood.
"Seems to me the Rainbow's Daughter is farther from home than any of you,"
he observed, looking at the pretty maiden admiringly. "I'll have
to tell your father where you are, Polly, and send him to get you."
"Please do, dear Santa Claus," implored the little maid, beseechingly.
"But just now we must all have a jolly good time at Ozma's party,"
said the old gentleman, turning to put his presents on the table with
the others already there. "It isn't often I find time to leave my
castle, as you know; but Ozma invited me and I just couldn't help
coming to celebrate the happy occasion.
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