Подорож до Країни Оз
22. Important Arrivals
"
ThatthreesuchhighandmightyroyalpersonagesshouldarriveatoncewasenoughtomakeDorothyandhercompanionsgrowsolemnandassumetheirbestcompanymanners;butwhentheexquisitebeautyofQueenZiximettheireyestheythoughttheyhadneverbeheldanythingsocharming.DorothydecidedthatZiximustbeaboutsixteenyearsold,buttheWizardwhisperedtoherthatthiswonderfulqueenhadlivedthousandsofyears,butknewthesecretofremainingalwaysfreshandbeautiful.
KingBudofNolandandhisdaintyfair-hairedsister,thePrincessFluff,werefriendsofZixi,astheirkingdomswereadjoining,sotheyhadtraveledtogetherfromtheirfar-offdomainstodohonortoOzmaofOzontheoccasionofherbirthday.Theybroughtmanysplendidgifts;sothetablewasnowfairlyloadeddownwithpresents.
DorothyandPollylovedthePrincessFluffthemomenttheysawher,andlittleKingBudwassofrankandboyishthatButton-Brightacceptedhimasachumatonceanddidnotwanthimtogoaway.Butitwasafternoonnow,andtheroyalguestsmustpreparetheirtoiletsforthegrandbanquetatwhichtheyweretoassemblethateveningtomeetthereigningPrincessofthisFairyland;soQueenZixiwasshowntoherroombyatroopofmaidensledbyJelliaJamb,andBudandFluffpresentlywithdrewtotheirownapartments.
"My!whatabigpartyOzmaisgoingtohave,"exclaimedDorothy."Iguessthepalacewillbechockfull,Button-Bright;don’tyouthinkso?"
"Don’tknow,"saidtheboy.
"Butwemustgotoourrooms,prettysoon,todressforthebanquet,"continuedthegirl
