Подорож до Країни Оз
7. The Shaggy Man's Transformation
"Thenperhapsyou’lldomeafavor,"continuedthewhitedonkey,muchexcited.
"Whatisit?"sheasked.
"PerhapsyoucangetmeaninvitationtoPrincessOzma’sbirthdaycelebration,whichwillbethegrandestroyalfunctioneverheldinFairyland.I’dlovetogo."
"Hee-haw!Youdeservepunishment,ratherthanreward,forgivingmethisdreadfulhead,"saidtheshaggyman,sorrowfully.
"Iwishyouwouldn’tsay’hee-haw’somuch,"Polychromebeggedhim;"itmakescoldchillsrundownmyback."
"ButIcan’thelpit,mydear;mydonkeyheadwantstobraycontinually,"hereplied."Doesn’tyourfoxheadwanttoyelpeveryminute?"heaskedButton-Bright.
"Don’tknow,"saidtheboy,stillstaringattheshaggyman’sears.Theseseemedtointeresthimgreatly,andthesightalsomadehimforgethisownfoxhead,whichwasacomfort.
"Whatdoyouthink,Polly?ShallIpromisethedonkeykinganinvitationtoOzma’sparty?"askedDorothyoftheRainbow’sDaughter,whowasflittingabouttheroomlikeasunbeambecauseshecouldneverkeepstill.
"Doasyouplease,dear,"answeredPolychrome."HemighthelptoamusetheguestsofthePrincess."
"Then,ifyouwillgiveussomesupperandaplacetosleepto-night,andletusgetstartedonourjourneyearlyto-morrowmorning,"saidDorothytotheKing,"I’llaskOzmatoinviteyou—ifIhappentogettoOz."
"Good!Hee-haw!Excellent!"criedKik-a-bray,muchpleased."Youshallallhavefinesuppersandgoodbeds.Whatfoodwouldyouprefer,abranmashorripeoatsintheshell?"
"Neitherone,"repliedDorothy,promptly.
