Подорож до Країни Оз
22. Important Arrivals
TheBraidedMannowenteredtheroom,havingbeenfortunateenoughtoreceiveaninvitationtothePrincessOzma’sparty.HewasfromacavehalfwaybetweentheInvisibleValleyandtheCountryoftheGargoyles,andhishairandwhiskersweresolongthathewasobligedtoplaitthemintomanybraidsthathungtohisfeet,andeverybraidwastiedwithabowofcoloredribbon.
"I’vebroughtPrincessOzmaaboxoffluttersforherbirthday,"saidtheBraidedMan,earnestly;"andIhopeshewilllikethem,fortheyarethefinestqualityIhaveevermade."
"I’msureshewillbegreatlypleased,"saidDorothy,whorememberedtheBraidedManwell;andtheWizardintroducedtheguesttotherestofthecompanyandmadehimsitdowninachairandkeepquiet,for,ifallowed,hewouldtalkcontinuallyabouthisflutters.
Thebandthenplayedawelcometoanothersetofguests,andintotheThrone-RoomsweptthehandsomeandstatelyQueenofEv.BesideherwasyoungKingEvardo,andfollowingthemcametheentireroyalfamilyoffivePrincessesandfourPrincesofEv.TheKingdomofEvlayjustacrosstheDeadlyDeserttotheNorthofOz,andonceOzmaandherpeoplehadrescuedtheQueenofEvandhertenchildrenfromtheNomeKing,whohadenslavedthem.Dorothyhadbeenpresentonthisadventure,soshegreetedtheroyalfamilycordially;andallthevisitorsweredelightedtomeetthelittleKansasgirlagain.
