Озма из страны Оз
9. The Royal Family of Ev
"Iwouldn’tmissthefunforanything.Willyougo,too,Billina?"
"Tobesure,"saidBillinainacarelesstone.Shewassmoothingdownthefeathersofherbackandnotpayingmuchattention.
"Heatisjustinherline,"remarkedtheScarecrow."Ifsheisnicelyroasted,shewillbebetterthanever."
"Then"saidOzma,"wewillarrangetostartfortheKingdomoftheNomesatdaybreaktomorrow.And,inthemeantime,wewillrestandprepareourselvesforthejourney."
AlthoughPrincessLangwideredidnotagainappeartoherguests,thepalaceservantswaiteduponthestrangersfromOzanddideverythingintheirpowertomakethepartycomfortable.Thereweremanyvacantroomsattheirdisposal,andthebraveArmyoftwenty-sevenwaseasilyprovidedforandliberallyfeasted.
TheCowardlyLionandtheHungryTigerwereunharnessedfromthechariotandallowedtoroamatwillthroughoutthepalace,wheretheynearlyfrightenedtheservantsintofits,althoughtheydidnoharmatall.AtonetimeDorothyfoundthelittlemaidNandacrouchinginterrorinacorner,withtheHungryTigerstandingbeforeher.
"Youcertainlylookdelicious,"thebeastwassaying."Willyoukindlygivemepermissiontoeatyou?"
"No,no,no!"criedthemaidinreply.
"Then,"saidtheTiger,yawningfrightfully,"pleasetogetmeaboutthirtypoundsoftenderloinsteak,cookedrare,withapeckofboiledpotatoesontheside,andfivegallonsofice-creamfordessert."
"I--I’lldothebestIcan!"saidNanda,andsheranawayasfastasshecouldgo.
"Areyousoveryhungry?"askedDorothy,inwonder.
