Изумрудный город страны Оз
20. How Dorothy Lunched With a King
"Luncheonisserved!"criedBlinkem,throwingopenthedoor,andincameadozenrabbitsinlivery,allbearingtrayswhichtheyplaceduponthetable,wheretheyarrangedthedishesinanorderlymanner.
"Nowclearout--allofyou!"exclaimedtheKing."Bristle,youmaywaitoutside,incaseIwantyou."
WhentheyhadgoneandtheKingwasalonewithDorothyhecamedownfromhisthrone,tossedhiscrownintoacornerandkickedhiserminerobeunderthetable.
"Sitdown,"hesaid,"andtrytobehappy.It’suselessformetotry,becauseI’malwayswretchedandmiserable.ButI’mhungry,andIhopeyouare."
"Iam,"saidDorothy."I’veonlyeatenawheelbarrowandapianoto-day--oh,yes!andasliceofbreadandbutterthatusedtobeadoor-mat."
"Thatsoundslikeasquaremeal,"remarkedtheKing,seatinghimselfoppositeher;"butperhapsitwasn’tasquarepiano.Eh?"
Dorothylaughed.
"Youdon’tseemsoveryunhappynow,"shesaid.
"ButIam,"protestedtheKing,freshtearsgatheringinhiseyes."Evenmyjokesaremiserable.I’mwretched,woeful,afflicted,distressedanddismalasanindividualcanbe.Areyounotsorryforme?"
"No,"answeredDorothy,honestly,"Ican’tsayIam.Seemstomethatforarabbityou’rerightinclover.ThisistheprettiestlittlecityIeversaw."
"Oh,thecityisgoodenough,"headmitted."Glinda,theGoodSorceress,madeitforusbecauseshewasfondofrabbits.Idon’tmindtheCitysomuch,althoughIwouldn’tlivehereifIhadmychoice.ItisbeingKingthathasabsolutelyruinedmyhappiness."
"Whywouldn’tyouliveherebychoice?"sheasked.
