Озма из страны Оз

           Thesunhashelpedtodrymyfeathers,asithasyourdress,andIfeelbettersinceIlaidmymorningegg.Butwhat’stobecomeofus,Ishouldliketoknow,afloatonthisbigpond?"

           "I’dliketoknowthat,too,"saidDorothy."But,tellme;howdoesithappenthatyouareabletotalk?Ithoughthenscouldonlycluckandcackle."

           "Why,asforthat,"answeredtheyellowhenthoughtfully,"I’vecluckedandcackledallmylife,andneverspokenawordbeforethismorning,thatIcanremember.Butwhenyouaskedaquestion,aminuteago,itseemedthemostnaturalthingintheworldtoansweryou.SoIspoke,andIseemtokeeponspeaking,justasyouandotherhumanbeingsdo.Strange,isn’tit?"

           "Very,"repliedDorothy."IfwewereintheLandofOz,Iwouldn’tthinkitsoqueer,becausemanyoftheanimalscantalkinthatfairycountry.ButouthereintheoceanmustbeagoodlongwayfromOz."

           "Howismygrammar?"askedtheyellowhen,anxiously."DoIspeakquiteproperly,inyourjudgment?"

           "Yes,"saidDorothy,"youdoverywell,forabeginner."

           "I’mgladtoknowthat,"continuedtheyellowhen,inaconfidentialtone;"because,ifoneisgoingtotalk,it’sbesttotalkcorrectly.Theredroosterhasoftensaidthatmycluckandmycacklewerequiteperfect;andnowit’sacomforttoknowIamtalkingproperly."

           "I’mbeginningtogethungry,"remarkedDorothy."It’sbreakfasttime;butthere’snobreakfast."

           "Youmayhavemyegg,"saidtheyellowhen."Idon’tcareforit,youknow."

           "Don’tyouwanttohatchit?"askedthelittlegirl,insurprise.