Путешествие в Страну Оз

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           ThatthreesuchhighandmightyroyalpersonagesshouldarriveatoncewasenoughtomakeDorothyandhercompanionsgrowsolemnandassumetheirbestcompanymanners;butwhentheexquisitebeautyofQueenZiximettheireyestheythoughttheyhadneverbeheldanythingsocharming.DorothydecidedthatZiximustbeaboutsixteenyearsold,buttheWizardwhisperedtoherthatthiswonderfulqueenhadlivedthousandsofyears,butknewthesecretofremainingalwaysfreshandbeautiful.

           KingBudofNolandandhisdaintyfair-hairedsister,thePrincessFluff,werefriendsofZixi,astheirkingdomswereadjoining,sotheyhadtraveledtogetherfromtheirfar-offdomainstodohonortoOzmaofOzontheoccasionofherbirthday.Theybroughtmanysplendidgifts;sothetablewasnowfairlyloadeddownwithpresents.

           DorothyandPollylovedthePrincessFluffthemomenttheysawher,andlittleKingBudwassofrankandboyishthatButton-Brightacceptedhimasachumatonceanddidnotwanthimtogoaway.Butitwasafternoonnow,andtheroyalguestsmustpreparetheirtoiletsforthegrandbanquetatwhichtheyweretoassemblethateveningtomeetthereigningPrincessofthisFairyland;soQueenZixiwasshowntoherroombyatroopofmaidensledbyJelliaJamb,andBudandFluffpresentlywithdrewtotheirownapartments.

           "My!whatabigpartyOzmaisgoingtohave,"exclaimedDorothy."Iguessthepalacewillbechockfull,Button-Bright;don’tyouthinkso?"

           "Don’tknow,"saidtheboy.

           "Butwemustgotoourrooms,prettysoon,todressforthebanquet,"continuedthegirl