Смарагдове місто країни Оз

           Dorothyatoncerealizedthatshemustactwithcautioninordernottofrightentheseshypeople,whowereevidentlyunusedtothepresenceofstrangers.Therewasadelightfulfragrantodoroffreshbreadinthetown,andthismadethelittlegirlmorehungrythanever.ShetoldTotoandBillinatostaybackwhilesheslowlyadvancedtowardthegroupthatstoodsilentlyawaitingher.

           "Youmust’scusemeforcomingunexpected,"shesaid,softly,"butIreallydidn’tknowIwascominghereuntilIarrived.Iwaslostinthewoods,youknow,andI’mashungryasanything."

           "Hungry!"theymurmured,inahorrifiedchorus.

           "Yes;Ihaven’thadanythingtoeatsincelastnight’ssupper,"sheexclaimed."ArethereanyeatablesinBunbury?"

           Theylookedatoneanotherundecidedly,andthenoneportlybunman,whoseemedapersonofconsequence,steppedforwardandsaid:

           "Littlegirl,tobefrankwithyou,wearealleatables.EverythinginBunburyiseatabletoravenoushumancreatureslikeyou.Butitistoescapebeingeatenanddestroyedthatwehavesecludedourselvesinthisout-of-the-wayplace,andthereisneitherrightnorjusticeinyourcomingheretofeeduponus."

           Dorothylookedathimlongingly.

           "You’rebread,aren’tyou?"sheasked.

           "Yes;breadandbutter.Thebutterisinsideme,soitwon’tmeltandrun.Idotherunningmyself."

           Atthisjokealltheothersburstintoachorusoflaughter,andDorothythoughttheycouldn’tbemuchafraidiftheycouldlaughlikethat.

           "Couldn’tIeatsomethingbesidespeople?"sheasked.