Подорож до Країни Оз
14. Tik-Tok and Billina
"Oh,Billina!"criedDorothy,inagladvoice,andtheyellowhenflewtoherarms,tobehuggedandpettedbyturns.
Theotherswerecuriouslycrowdingaroundthegroup,andthegirlsaidtothem:
"It’sTik-tokandBillina;andoh!I’msogladtoseethemagain."
"Wel-cometoOz,"saidthecoppermaninamonotonousvoice.
Dorothysatrightdownintheroad,theyellowheninherarms,andbegantostrokeBillina’sback.Saidthehen:
"Dorothy,dear,I’vegotsomewonderfulnewstotellyou."
"Tellitquick,Billina!"saidthegirl.
JustthenToto,whohadbeengrowlingtohimselfinacrossway,gaveasharpbarkandflewattheyellowhen,whoruffledherfeathersandletoutsuchanangryscreechthatDorothywasstartled.
"Stop,Toto!Stopthatthisminute!"shecommanded."Can’tyouseethatBillinaismyfriend?"InspiteofthiswarninghadshenotgrabbedTotoquicklybytheneckthelittledogwouldhavedonetheyellowhenamischief,andevennowhestruggledmadlytoescapeDorothy’sgrasp.Sheslappedhisearsonceortwiceandtoldhimtobehave,andtheyellowhenflewtoTik-tok’sshoulderagain,whereshewassafe.
"Whatabrute!"croakedBillina,glaringdownatthelittledog.
"Totoisn’tabrute,"repliedDorothy,"butathomeUncleHenryhastowhiphimsometimesforchasingthechickens.Nowlookhere,Toto,"sheadded,holdingupherfingerandspeakingsternlytohim,"you’vegottounderstandthatBillinaisoneofmydearestfriends,andmusn’tbehurt—noworever."
Totowaggedhistailasifheunderstood.
"Themiserablethingcan’ttalk,"saidBillina,withasneer.