Озма из страны Оз

           Foraninstanttheybothremainedmotionless,andthentheyellowhenshookherwingstosettlethefeathersandwalkedtowardthedoorwithastrutofprouddefianceandacluckofvictory,whilethespeckledroosterlimpedawaytothegroupofotherchickens,trailinghiscrumpledplumageinthedustashewent.

           "Why,Billina!"criedDorothy,inashockedvoice;"haveyoubeenfighting?"

           "IreallythinkIhave,"retortedBillina."DoyouthinkI’dletthatspeckledvillainofaroosterlorditoverME,andclaimtorunthischickenhouse,aslongasI’mabletopeckandscratch?NotifmynameisBill!"

           "Itisn’tBill,it’sBillina;andyou’retalkingslang,whichisveryundig’n’fied,"saidDorothy,reprovingly."Comehere,Billina,andI’llletyouout;forOzmaofOzishere,andhassetusfree."

           Sotheyellowhencametothedoor,whichDorothyunlatchedforhertopassthrough,andtheotherchickenssilentlywatchedthemfromtheircornerwithoutofferingtoapproachnearer.

           Thegirlliftedherfriendinherarmsandexclaimed:

           "Oh,Billina!howdreadfulyoulook.You’velostalotoffeathers,andoneofyoureyesisnearlypeckedout,andyourcombisbleeding!"

           "That’snothing,"saidBillina."Justlookatthespeckledrooster!Didn’tIdohimupbrown?"

           Dorothyshookherhead.

           "Idon’t’proveofthis,atall,"shesaid,carryingBillinaawaytowardthepalace."Itisn’tagoodthingforyouto’sociatewiththosecommonchickens.Theywouldsoonspoilyourgoodmanners,andyouwouldn’tberespec’ableanymore."

           "Ididn’tasktoassociatewiththem,"repliedBillina.