Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз

           "AndthatisthesafestkindofaWizardtohave,"repliedOzma,promptly.

           "Ozcandosomegoodtricks,humbugornohumbug,"announcedZeb,whowasnowfeelingmoreatease.

           "Heshallamuseuswithhistrickstomorrow,"saidthePrincess."IhavesentmessengerstosummonallofDorothy’soldfriendstomeetherandgiveherwelcome,andtheyoughttoarriveverysoon,now."

           Indeed,thedinnerwasnosoonerfinishedthaninrushedtheScarecrow,tohugDorothyinhispaddedarmsandtellherhowgladhewastoseeheragain.TheWizardwasalsomostheartilywelcomedbythestrawman,whowasanimportantpersonageintheLandofOz.

           "Howareyourbrains?"enquiredthelittlehumbug,ashegraspedthesoft,stuffedhandsofhisoldfriend.

           "Workingfinely,"answeredtheScarecrow."I’mverycertain,Oz,thatyougavemethebestbrainsintheworld,forIcanthinkwiththemdayandnight,whenallotherbrainsarefastasleep."

           "HowlongdidyouruletheEmeraldCity,afterIlefthere?"wasthenextquestion.

           "Quiteawhile,untilIwasconqueredbyagirlnamedGeneralJinjur.ButOzmasoonconqueredher,withthehelpofGlindatheGood,andafterthatIwenttolivewithNickChopper,theTinWoodman."

           Justthenaloudcacklingwasheardoutside;and,whenaservantthrewopenthedoorwithalowbow,ayellowhenstruttedin.Dorothysprangforwardandcaughtthefluffyfowlinherarms,utteringatthesametimeagladcry.

           "Oh,Billina!"shesaid;"howfatandsleekyou’vegrown."

           "Whyshouldn’tI?"askedthehen,inasharp,clearvoice.