Озма из страны Оз
14. Dorothy Tries to be Brave
Yes,itwasabeautifulplace;butenchantmentslurkedineverynookandcorner,andshehadnotyetgrownaccustomedtothewizardriesofthesefairycountries,sodifferentfromthequietandsensiblecommon-placesofherownnativeland.
SlowlyshepassedthroughseveralroomsuntilshecameuponTiktok,standingmotionless.Itreallyseemed,then,thatshehadfoundafriendinthismysteriouspalace,soshehastenedtowindupthemachineman’sactionandspeechandthoughts.
"Thankyou,Dor-oth-y,"werehisfirstwords."Ihavenowonemoreguesstomake."
"Oh,beverycareful,Tiktok;won’tyou?"criedthegirl.
"Yes.ButtheNomeKinghasusinhispower,andhehassetatrapforus.Ifearwearealllost."heanswered.
"Ifearso,too,"saidDorothy,sadly.
"IfSmith&Tin-kerhadgiv-enmeaguess-ingclock-workat-tach-ment,"continuedTiktok,"Imighthavede-fiedtheNomeKing.Butmythoughtsareplainandsim-ple,andarenotofmuchuseinthiscase."
"Dothebestyoucan,"saidDorothy,encouragingly,"andifyoufailIwillwatchandseewhatshapeyouarechangedinto."
SoTiktoktouchedayellowglassvasethathaddaisiespaintedononeside,andhespokeatthesametimetheword"Ev."
Inaflashthemachinemanhaddisappeared,andalthoughthegirllookedquicklyineverydirection,shecouldnottellwhichofthemanyornamentstheroomcontainedhadamomentbeforebeenherfaithfulfriendandservant.
Soallshecoulddowastoacceptthehopelesstasksether,andmakeherguessesandabidebytheresult.
