Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз

           "Thebigdragonsareveryproud,anddon’tthinkchildrenamounttomuch;butmothersaysthatsomedaywewillallbeverypowerfulandimportant."

           "Whereisyourmother?"askedtheWizard,anxiouslylookingaround.

           "Shehasgoneuptothetopoftheearthtohuntforourdinner.Ifshehasgoodluckshewillbringusanelephant,orabraceofrhinoceri,orperhapsafewdozenpeopletostayourhunger."

           "Oh;areyouhungry?"enquiredDorothy,drawingback.

           "Very,"saidthedragonette,snappingitsjaws.

           "And—and—doyoueatpeople?"

           "Tobesure,whenwecangetthem.Butthey’vebeenveryscarceforafewyearsandweusuallyhavetobecontentwithelephantsorbuffaloes,"answeredthecreature,inaregretfultone.

           "Howoldareyou?"enquiredZeb,whostaredattheyelloweyesasiffascinated.

           "Quiteyoung,Igrievetosay;andallofmybrothersandsistersthatyouseeherearepracticallymyownage.IfIrememberrightly,weweresixty-sixyearsoldthedaybeforeyesterday."

           "Butthatisn’tyoung!"criedDorothy,inamazement.

           "No?"drawledthedragonette;"itseemstomeverybabyish."

           "Howoldisyourmother?"askedthegirl.

           "Mother’sabouttwothousandyearsold;butshecarelesslylosttrackofherageafewcenturiesagoandskippedseveralhundreds.She’salittlefussy,youknow,andafraidofgrowingold,beingawidowandstillinherprime."

           "Ishouldthinkshewouldbe,"agreedDorothy.