Подорож до Країни Оз
15. The Emperor's Tin Castle
TheLandofOzissurelythemostfavoredlandinalltheworld,anditspeoplethehappiest.Ishouldliketoliveherealways."
TheTinWoodmanlistenedwithrespectfulattention.Alreadyhelovedtheshaggyman,althoughhedidnotyetknowoftheLoveMagnet.Sohesaid:
"IfyoucanprovetothePrincessOzmathatyouarehonestandtrueandworthyofourfriendship,youmayindeedlivehereallyourdays,andbeashappyasweare."
"I’lltrytoprovethat,"saidtheshaggyman,earnestly.
"Andnow,"continuedtheEmperor,"youmustallgotoyourroomsandpreparefordinner,whichwillpresentlybeservedinthegrandtindining-hall.Iamsorry,ShaggyMan,thatIcannotofferyouachangeofclothing;butIdressonlyintin,myself,andIsupposethatwouldnotsuityou."
"Icarelittleaboutdress,"saidtheshaggyman,indifferently.
"SoIshouldimagine,"repliedtheEmperor,withtruepoliteness.
Theywereshowntotheirroomsandpermittedtomakesuchtoiletsastheycould,andsoontheyassembledagaininthegrandtindining-hall,evenTotobeingpresent.FortheEmperorwasfondofDorothy’slittledog,andthegirlexplainedtoherfriendsthatinOzallanimalsweretreatedwithasmuchconsiderationasthepeople—"iftheybehavethemselves,"sheadded.
Totobehavedhimself,andsatinatinhigh-chairbesideDorothyandatehisdinnerfromatinplatter.
Indeed,theyallatefromtindishes,butthesewereofprettyshapesandbrightlypolished;Dorothythoughttheywerejustasgoodassilver.