Озма з країни Оз
6. The Heads of Langwidere
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"Now,"saidTiktoktothecaptiveWheeler,"youmustshowusthewaytotheLeftWing."
"Verywell,"agreedtheprisoner,"itisaroundhereattheright."
"Howcantheleftwingbeattheright?"demandedDorothy,whofearedtheWheelerwasfoolingthem.
"Becausethereusedtobethreewings,andtwoweretorndown,sotheoneontherightistheonlyoneleft.ItisatrickofthePrincessLangwideretopreventvisitorsfromannoyingher."
Thenthecaptiveledthemaroundtothewing,afterwhichthemachineman,havingnofurtherusefortheWheeler,permittedhimtodepartandrejoinhisfellows.Heimmediatelyrolledawayatagreatpaceandwassoonlosttosight.
Tiktoknowcountedthedoorsinthewingandknockedloudlyuponthethirdone.
Itwasopenedbyalittlemaidinacaptrimmedwithgayribbons,whobowedrespectfullyandasked:
"Whatdoyouwish,goodpeople?"
"AreyouthePrincessLangwidere?"askedDorothy.
"No,miss;Iamherservant,"repliedthemaid.
"MayIseethePrincess,please?"
"Iwilltellheryouarehere,miss,andaskhertograntyouanaudience,"saidthemaid."Stepin,please,andtakeaseatinthedrawing-room."
SoDorothywalkedin,followedcloselybythemachine.Butastheyellowhentriedtoenterafterthem,thelittlemaidcried"Shoo!"andflappedheraproninBillina’sface.
"Shoo,yourself!"retortedthehen,drawingbackinangerandrufflingupherfeathers."Haven’tyouanybettermannersthanthat?"
"Oh,doyoutalk?"enquiredthemaid,evidentlysurprised.