Озма из страны Оз

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           "Now,"saidTiktoktothecaptiveWheeler,"youmustshowusthewaytotheLeftWing."

           "Verywell,"agreedtheprisoner,"itisaroundhereattheright."

           "Howcantheleftwingbeattheright?"demandedDorothy,whofearedtheWheelerwasfoolingthem.

           "Becausethereusedtobethreewings,andtwoweretorndown,sotheoneontherightistheonlyoneleft.ItisatrickofthePrincessLangwideretopreventvisitorsfromannoyingher."

           Thenthecaptiveledthemaroundtothewing,afterwhichthemachineman,havingnofurtherusefortheWheeler,permittedhimtodepartandrejoinhisfellows.Heimmediatelyrolledawayatagreatpaceandwassoonlosttosight.

           Tiktoknowcountedthedoorsinthewingandknockedloudlyuponthethirdone.

           Itwasopenedbyalittlemaidinacaptrimmedwithgayribbons,whobowedrespectfullyandasked:

           "Whatdoyouwish,goodpeople?"

           "AreyouthePrincessLangwidere?"askedDorothy.

           "No,miss;Iamherservant,"repliedthemaid.

           "MayIseethePrincess,please?"

           "Iwilltellheryouarehere,miss,andaskhertograntyouanaudience,"saidthemaid."Stepin,please,andtakeaseatinthedrawing-room."

           SoDorothywalkedin,followedcloselybythemachine.Butastheyellowhentriedtoenterafterthem,thelittlemaidcried"Shoo!"andflappedheraproninBillina’sface.

           "Shoo,yourself!"retortedthehen,drawingbackinangerandrufflingupherfeathers."Haven’tyouanybettermannersthanthat?"

           "Oh,doyoutalk?"enquiredthemaid,evidentlysurprised.