Подорож до Країни Оз
22. Important Arrivals
Mydears,theKnooksaremuchnicerthantheylook,fortheirdutyistowaterandcarefortheyoungtreesoftheforest,andtheydotheirworkfaithfullyandwell.It’shardwork,though,anditmakesmyKnookscrookedandgnarled,likethetreesthemselves;buttheirheartsarebigandkind,asaretheheartsofallwhodogoodinourbeautifulworld."
"I’vereadoftheRylsandKnooks,"saidDorothy,lookingupontheselittleworkerswithinterest.
SantaClausturnedtotalkwiththeScarecrowandtheTinWoodman,andhealsosaidakindwordtotheshaggyman,andafterwardwentawaytoridetheSaw-HorsearoundtheEmeraldCity."For,"saidhe,"ImustseeallthegrandsightswhileIamhereandhavethechance,andOzmahaspromisedtoletmeridetheSaw-HorsebecauseI’mgettingfatandshortofbreath."
"Whereareyourreindeer?"askedPolychrome.
"Ileftthemathome,foritistoowarmfortheminthissunnycountry,"heanswered."They’reusedtowinterweatherwhentheytravel."
Inaflashhewasgone,andtheRylsandKnookswithhim;buttheycouldallhearthegoldenhoofsoftheSaw-Horseringingonthemarblepavementoutside,asheprancedawaywithhisnoblerider.
Presentlythebandplayedagain,andtheHighChamberlainannounced:
"HerGraciousMajesty,theQueenofMerryland."
Theylookedearnestlytodiscoverwhomthisqueenmightbe,andsawadvancinguptheroomanexquisitewaxdolldressedindaintyfluffsandrufflesandspangledgown.ShewasalmostasbigasButton-Bright,andhercheeksandmouthandeyebrowwereprettilypaintedindelicatecolors.
