The Yellow Knight of Oz

"I am minded," said Sir Hokus of Pokes, drawing aside the green curtains and looking out over the sparkling towers and spires of the Emerald City of Oz—"I am minded to go on a quest!" "Quest?" shouted Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, hand-springing over the sofa, capering up to the Knight, and collapsing in front of him with a giggle. "What manner of quest, Sir Knight? Request or conquest? "Methinks we'll go upon a quest East, North, or South, Sir Hoke, or West? To slay a dragon? Or what ho! What hey! What say? When do we go?" "We!" Dropping the curtain, Sir Hokus looked sternly at the Patchwork Girl, then striding over to a small sofa sat solemnly down beside Dorothy, a little girl from Kansas and a Princess of Oz. The Knight and several more of Dorothy's friends were spending the evening in her cozy apartment in Ozma's palace. "Wait till Monday," smiled Dorothy, looking up from a book she was reading. "Wait till Monday and I'll go with you." "Next week a questing we will go; I'll break the news to those below," chortled Scraps with a gay bounce. "Well, don't break all the furniture while you're about it," warned Dorothy, as the Patchwork Girl vaulted easily over the sofa and fell through the door. "Oh, I do hope my blue dress will be finished in time," exclaimed Trot, clasping her hands eagerly. "Can I take Hank?" inquired Bettsy Bobbin, who was extremely fond of the little mule she had brought from America. At this, Sir Hokus looked thoughtfully at his boots. "In my day," mused the Knight mournfully, "maidens remained quietly at home, doing household tasks, embroidering, watching from towers, and so on——" "How stuffy!" sniffed Bettsy Bobbin, sliding carefully into his lap, which his armor made rather hard and uncomfortable. "How old-fashioned. Now don't be quaint! What fun is it watching from a tower? And this embroidery and so on that you talk about ruins the eyes, and you know it!" "Well, well," rumbled Sir Hokus, looking uneasily into Bettsy's bright eyes, "I see no signs of ruin here, but let us speak of this to-morrow," and setting Bettsy gently on the floor, he bowed to all three girls and went clanking down the gold-flagged hallway muttering unhappily to himself. "Odds fish and funnels! Why did I ever mention this quest? Before morning every man, maiden,…