Озма из страны Оз
2. The Yellow Hen
"No,indeed;InevercaretohatcheggsunlessI’veanicesnugnest,insomequietplace,withabaker’sdozenofeggsunderme.That’sthirteen,youknow,andit’saluckynumberforhens.Soyoumayaswelleatthisegg."
"Oh,Icouldn’tPOSS’BLYeatit,unlessitwascooked,"exclaimedDorothy."ButI’mmuchobligedforyourkindness,justthesame."
"Don’tmentionit,mydear,"answeredthehen,calmly,andbeganpreeningherfeathers.
ForamomentDorothystoodlookingoutoverthewidesea.Shewasstillthinkingoftheegg,though;sopresentlysheasked:
"Whydoyoulayeggs,whenyoudon’texpecttohatchthem?"
"It’sahabitIhave,"repliedtheyellowhen."Ithasalwaysbeenmypridetolayafresheggeverymorning,exceptwhenI’mmoulting.Ineverfeellikehavingmymorningcackletilltheeggisproperlylaid,andwithoutthechancetocackleIwouldnotbehappy."
"It’sstrange,"saidthegirl,reflectively;"butasI’mnotahenIcan’tbe’spectedtounderstandthat."
"Certainlynot,mydear."
ThenDorothyfellsilentagain.Theyellowhenwassomecompany,andabitofcomfort,too;butitwasdreadfullylonelyoutonthebigocean,nevertheless.
Afteratimethehenflewupandpercheduponthetopmostslatofthecoop,whichwasalittleaboveDorothy’sheadwhenshewassittinguponthebottom,asshehadbeendoingforsomemomentspast.
"Why,wearenotfarfromland!"exclaimedthehen.
"Where?Whereisit?"criedDorothy,jumpingupingreatexcitement.
"Overtherealittleway,"answeredthehen,noddingherheadinacertaindirection.
