Чарівництво країни Оз
6. Ozma's Birthday Presents
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"I’llbegladtodoanythingforyouandforOzma,"heanswered."What’sonyourmind,Dorothy?"
"I’mgoingtomakeagreatcake,withfrostingandcandles,andallthat,youknow."
"Verygood,"saidtheWizard.
"InthecenterofthiscakeI’mgoingtoleaveahollowplace,withjustaroofofthefrostingoverit,"continuedthegirl.
"Verygood,"repeatedtheWizard,noddinghisbaldhead.
"Inthathollowplace,"saidDorothy,"Iwanttohidealotofmonkeysaboutthreeincheshigh,andafterthecakeisplacedonthebanquettable,Iwantthemonkeystobreakthroughthefrostinganddancearoundonthetable-cloth.Then,Iwanteachmonkeytocutoutapieceofcakeandhandittoaguest."
"Mercyme!"criedthelittleWizard,ashechuckledwithlaughter."IsthatALLyouwant,Dorothy?"
"Almost,"saidshe."Canyouthinkofanythingmorethelittlemonkeyscando,Wizard?"
"Notjustnow,"hereplied."Butwherewillyougetsuchtinymonkeys?"
"That’swhereyou’retohelpme,"saidDorothy."InsomeofthosewildforestsintheGillikinCountryarelotsofmonkeys."
"Bigones,"saidtheWizard.
"Well,youandIwillgothere,andwe’llgetsomeofthebigmonkeys,andyouwillmakethemsmall—justthreeincheshigh—bymeansofyourmagic,andwe’llputthelittlemonkeysallinabasketandbringthemhomewithus.Thenyou’lltrainthemtodance—uphereinyourroom,wherenoonecanseethem—andonOzma’sbirthdaywe’llput’emintothecakeandthey’llknowbythattimejustwhattodo."
TheWizardlookedatDorothywithadmiringapproval,andchuckledagain.
