Подорож до Країни Оз
22. Important Arrivals
I’vevisitedhishomeseveralChristmasEves."
"Anddoyouknowhisfather?"askedthegirl.
"Certainly,mydear.WhoelsedoyousupposebringshimhisChristmasnecktiesandstockings?"withaslywinkattheWizard.
"Thenwheredoeshelive?We’rejustcrazytoknow,’causeButton-Bright’slost,"shesaid.
Santalaughedandlaidhisfingerasideofhisnoseasifthinkingwhattoreply.HeleanedoverandwhisperedsomethingintheWizard’sear,atwhichtheWizardsmiledandnoddedasifheunderstood.
NowSantaClausspiedPolychrome,andtrottedovertowhereshestood.
"SeemstometheRainbow’sDaughterisfartherfromhomethananyofyou,"heobserved,lookingattheprettymaidenadmiringly."I’llhavetotellyourfatherwhereyouare,Polly,andsendhimtogetyou."
"Pleasedo,dearSantaClaus,"imploredthelittlemaid,beseechingly.
"ButjustnowwemustallhaveajollygoodtimeatOzma’sparty,"saidtheoldgentleman,turningtoputhispresentsonthetablewiththeothersalreadythere."Itisn’toftenIfindtimetoleavemycastle,asyouknow;butOzmainvitedmeandIjustcouldn’thelpcomingtocelebratethehappyoccasion."
"I’msoglad!"exclaimedDorothy.
"ThesearemyRyls,"pointingtothelittlespritessquattingaroundhim."Theirbusinessistopaintthecolorsoftheflowerswhentheybudandbloom;butIbroughtthemerryfellowsalongtoseeOz,andthey’velefttheirpaint-potsbehindthem.AlsoIbroughtthesecrookedKnooks,whomIlove.
