Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
15. Old Friends are Reunited
"AndthatisthesafestkindofaWizardtohave,"repliedOzma,promptly.
"Ozcandosomegoodtricks,humbugornohumbug,"announcedZeb,whowasnowfeelingmoreatease.
"Heshallamuseuswithhistrickstomorrow,"saidthePrincess."IhavesentmessengerstosummonallofDorothy’soldfriendstomeetherandgiveherwelcome,andtheyoughttoarriveverysoon,now."
Indeed,thedinnerwasnosoonerfinishedthaninrushedtheScarecrow,tohugDorothyinhispaddedarmsandtellherhowgladhewastoseeheragain.TheWizardwasalsomostheartilywelcomedbythestrawman,whowasanimportantpersonageintheLandofOz.
"Howareyourbrains?"enquiredthelittlehumbug,ashegraspedthesoft,stuffedhandsofhisoldfriend.
"Workingfinely,"answeredtheScarecrow."I’mverycertain,Oz,thatyougavemethebestbrainsintheworld,forIcanthinkwiththemdayandnight,whenallotherbrainsarefastasleep."
"HowlongdidyouruletheEmeraldCity,afterIlefthere?"wasthenextquestion.
"Quiteawhile,untilIwasconqueredbyagirlnamedGeneralJinjur.ButOzmasoonconqueredher,withthehelpofGlindatheGood,andafterthatIwenttolivewithNickChopper,theTinWoodman."
Justthenaloudcacklingwasheardoutside;and,whenaservantthrewopenthedoorwithalowbow,ayellowhenstruttedin.Dorothysprangforwardandcaughtthefluffyfowlinherarms,utteringatthesametimeagladcry.
"Oh,Billina!"shesaid;"howfatandsleekyou’vegrown."
"Whyshouldn’tI?"askedthehen,inasharp,clearvoice.
