Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
18. The Trial of Eureka, the Kitten
Butnotatracecouldtheyfindofthetinycreaturetheysought.
Dorothywasnearlyweeping,bythistime,whileOzmawasangryandindignant.WhentheyreturnedtotheothersthePrincesssaid:
"Thereislittledoubtthatmyprettypiglethasbeeneatenbythathorridkitten,andifthatistruetheoffendermustbepunished."
"Idon’tb’lieveEurekawoulddosuchadreadfulthing!"criedDorothy,muchdistressed."Goandgetmykitten,please,Jellia,andwe’llhearwhatshehastosayaboutit."
Thegreenmaidenhastenedaway,butpresentlyreturnedandsaid:
"Thekittenwillnotcome.ShethreatenedtoscratchmyeyesoutifItouchedher."
"Whereisshe?"askedDorothy.
"Underthebedinyourownroom,"wasthereply.
SoDorothyrantoherroomandfoundthekittenunderthebed.
"Comehere,Eureka!"shesaid.
"Iwon’t,"answeredthekitten,inasurlyvoice.
"Oh,Eureka!Whyareyousobad?"
Thekittendidnotreply.
"Ifyoudon’tcometome,rightaway,"continuedDorothy,gettingprovoked,"I’lltakemyMagicBeltandwishyouintheCountryoftheGurgles."
"Whydoyouwantme?"askedEureka,disturbedbythisthreat.
"YoumustgotoPrincessOzma.Shewantstotalktoyou."
"Allright,"returnedthekitten,creepingout."I’mnotafraidofOzma—oranyoneelse."
Dorothycarriedherinherarmsbacktowheretheotherssatingrievedandthoughtfulsilence.
"Tellme,Eureka,"saidthePrincess,gently:"didyoueatmyprettypiglet?"
"Iwon’tanswersuchafoolishquestion,"assertedEureka,withasnarl.
"Oh,yesyouwill,dear,"Dorothydeclared.