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Whatever shall we do?”

“There is nothing to be done,” said the little woman calmly.

“But who was she?” asked Dorothy.

“She was the Wicked Witch of the East, as I said,” answered the little woman. “We were her slaves, but now we are free, and are grateful to you for the favor.”

“Who are the Munchkins?” inquired Dorothy.

“They are the people who live in this land of the East where the Wicked Witch ruled.”

“Are you a Munchkin?” asked Dorothy.

“No, but I am their friend, although I live in the land of the North.

When they saw the Witch of the East was dead the Munchkins sent a swift messenger to me, and I came at once. I am the Witch of the North.”

“Oh, gracious!” cried Dorothy. “Are you a real witch?”

“Yes, indeed,” answered the little woman. “But I am a good witch, and the people love me.”

“But I thought all witches were wicked,” said the girl.

“Oh, no, that is a great mistake. There were only four witches in all the Land of Oz, and two of them, those who live in the North and the South, are good witches.

I know this is true, for I am one of them myself, and cannot be mistaken. Those witches in the East and the West are wicked; but now that you have killed one of them, there is only one Wicked Witch in all the Land of Oz–the one in the West.”

“But,” said Dorothy, after a moment’s thought, “Aunt Em has told me that there were no witches.”

“Who is Aunt Em?” inquired the little old woman.

“She is my aunt who lives in Kansas, where I came from.”

The Witch of the North seemed to think for a time. Then she said, “I do not know where Kansas is. Is it a civilized country?”

“Oh, yes,” replied Dorothy.

“Ah. In the civilized countries there are no witches left, nor wizards, nor sorceresses, nor magicians. But, you see, the Land of Oz has never been civilized, for we are cut off from all the rest of the world.

Therefore we still have witches and wizards amongst us.”

“Who are the wizards?” asked Dorothy.

“Oz himself is the Great Wizard,” answered the Witch, sinking her voice to a whisper. “He is more powerful than all the rest of us together. He lives in the City of Emeralds.”

The little old woman looked at the corner of the house again. The feet of the dead Witch had disappeared entirely, and nothing was left but the silver shoes.