Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
4. The Vegetable Kingdom
AllofourPrincesandRulershavegrownuponthisonebushfromtimeimmemorial."
Theystoodbeforeitinsilentadmiration.OnthecentralstalkstoodpoisedthefigureofagirlsoexquisitelyformedandcoloredandsolovelyintheexpressionofherdelicatefeaturesthatDorothythoughtshehadneverseensosweetandadorableacreatureinallherlife.Themaiden’sgownwassoftassatinandfellaboutherinamplefolds,whiledaintylace-liketraceriestrimmedthebodiceandsleeves.Herfleshwasfineandsmoothaspolishedivory,andherpoiseexpressedbothdignityandgrace.
"Whoisthis?"askedtheWizard,curiously.
ThePrincehadbeenstaringhardatthegirlonthebush.Nowheanswered,withatouchofuneasinessinhiscoldtones:
"SheistheRulerdestinedtobemysuccessor,forsheisaRoyalPrincess.WhenshebecomesfullyripeImustabandonthesovereigntyoftheMangaboostoher."
"Isn’tsheripenow?"askedDorothy.
Hehesitated.
"Notquite,"saidhe,finally."Itwillbeseveraldaysbeforesheneedstobepicked,oratleastthatismyjudgment.Iaminnohurrytoresignmyofficeandbeplanted,youmaybesure."
"Probablynot,"declaredtheWizard,nodding.
"Thisisoneofthemostunpleasantthingsaboutourvegetablelives,"continuedthePrince,withasigh,"thatwhileweareinourfullprimewemustgivewaytoanother,andbecoveredupinthegroundtosproutandgrowandgivebirthtootherpeople."
"I’msurethePrincessisreadytobepicked,"assertedDorothy,gazinghardatthebeautifulgirlonthebush."She’sasperfectasshecanbe.
