Смарагдове місто країни Оз
16. How Dorothy Visited Utensia
"WhatI’dliketoknow,"saidacan-opener,inashrillvoice,"iswhythelittlegirlcametoourforestanyhowandwhysheintrudeduponCaptainDipp--whooughttobecalledDippy--andwhosheis,andwhereshecamefrom,andwheresheisgoing,andwhyandwhereforeandthereforeandwhen."
"I’msorrytosee,SirJabber,"remarkedtheKingtothecan-opener,"thatyouhavesuchapryingdisposition.Asamatteroffact,allthethingsyoumentionarenoneofourbusiness."
HavingsaidthistheKingrelightedhispipe,whichhadgoneout.
"Tellme,please,whatISourbusiness?"inquiredapotato-masher,winkingatDorothysomewhatimpertinently."I’mfondoflittlegirls,myself,anditseemstomeshehasasmuchrighttowanderintheforestaswehave."
"Whoaccusesthelittlegirl,anyway?"inquiredarolling-pin."Whathasshedone?"
"Idon’tknow,"saidtheKing."Whathasshedone,CaptainDipp?"
"That’sthetrouble,yourMajesty.Shehasn’tdoneanything,"repliedtheCaptain.
"Whatdoyouwantmetodo?"askedDorothy.
Thisquestionseemedtopuzzlethemall.Finally,achafingdish,exclaimedirritably:
"IfnoonecanthrowanylightonthissubjectyoumustexcusemeifIgoout."
Atthis,abigkitchenforkprickedupitsearsandsaidinatinyvoice:
"Let’shearfromJudgeSifter."
"That’sproper,"returnedtheKing.
SoJudgeSifterturnedaroundslowlyseveraltimesandthensaid:
"Wehavenothingagainstthegirlexceptthestove-hearthuponwhichshesits.ThereforeIorderherinstantlydischarged."
"Discharged!"criedDorothy
