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〃I am very sorry；〃 declared Ugu。 〃I've been thinking
over my misdeeds for a long time； for doves have little
else to do but think； and I'm surprised that I was such
a wicked man and had so little regard for the rights of
others。 I am now convinced that even had I succeeded in
making myself ruler of all Oz I should not have been
happy； for many days of quiet thought have shown me
that only those things one acquires honestly are able
to render one content。〃
〃I guess that's so；〃 said Trot。
〃Anyhow；〃 said Betsy； 〃the bad man seems truly sorry；
and if he has now become a good and honest man we ought
to forgive him。〃
〃I fear I cannot become a good man again；〃 said Ugu；
〃for the transformation I am under will always keep me
in the form of a dove。 But； with the kind forgiveness
of my former enemies； I hope to become a very good
dove； and highly respected。〃
〃Wait here till I run for my Magic Belt；〃 said
Dorothy； 〃and I'll transform you back to your reg'lar
shape in a jiffy。〃
〃No don't do that！〃 pleaded the dove； fluttering its
wings in an excited way。 〃I only want your forgiveness；
I don't want to be a man again。 As Ugu the Shoemaker I
was skinny and old and unlovely； as a dove I am quite
pretty to look at。 As a man I was ambitious and cruel；
while as a dove I can be content with my lot and happy
in my simple life。 I have learned to love the free and
independent life of a bird and I'd rather not change
back。〃
〃Just as you like； Ugu；〃 said Dorothy； resuming her
seat。 〃Perhaps you are right； for you're cert'nly a
better dove than you were a man； and if you should ever
backslide； an' feel wicked again； you couldn't do much
harm as a gray dove。〃
〃Then you forgive me for all the trouble I caused
you？〃 he asked earnestly。
〃Of course； anyone who's sorry just has to be
forgiven。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said the gray dove； and flew away again。
End