Подорож до Країни Оз
24. The Birthday Celebration
Helovedtobarkatthebubblesastheysailedaway,buthedidn’tcaretorideinone.
SantaClausdecidedtogonext.HethankedOzmaforherhospitalityandwishedhermanyhappyreturnsoftheday.ThentheWizardblewabubblearoundhischubbylittlebodyandsmallerbubblesaroundeachofhisRylsandKnooks.
Asthekindandgenerousfriendofchildrenmountedintotheairthepeopleallcheeredatthetopoftheirvoices,fortheylovedSantaClausdearly;andthelittlemanheardthemthroughthewallsofhisbubbleandwavedhishandsinreturnashesmileddownuponthem.Thebandplayedbravelywhileeveryonewatchedthebubbleuntilitwascompletelyoutofsight.
"How’boutyou,Polly?"Dorothyaskedherfriend."Areyou’fraidofbubbles,too?"
"No,"answeredPolychrome,smiling;"butSantaClauspromisedtospeaktomyfatherashepassedthroughthesky.SoperhapsIshallgethomeaneasierway."
Indeed,thelittlemaidhadscarcelymadethisspeechwhenasuddenradiancefilledtheair,andwhilethepeoplelookedoninwondertheendofagorgeousrainbowslowlysettleddownupontheplatform.
Withagladcry,theRainbow’sDaughtersprangfromherseatanddancedalongthecurveofthebow,mountinggraduallyupward,whilethefoldsofhergauzygownwhirledandfloatedaroundherlikeacloudandblendedwiththecolorsoftherainbowitself.
"Good-byeOzma!Good-byeDorothy!"criedavoicetheyknewbelongedtoPolychrome;butnowthelittlemaiden’sformhadmeltedwhollyintotherainbow,andtheireyescouldnolongerseeher.