Смарагдове місто країни Оз
19. How Bunnybury Welcomed the Strangers
Thenhelookedatthethreethroughhismonocleandsaid:
"Thesecompanions,Princess,cannotenterBunnyburywithyou."
"Whynot?"askedDorothy.
"Inthefirstplacetheywouldfrightenourpeople,whodislikedogsaboveallthingsonearth;and,secondly,theletteroftheRoyalOzmadoesnotmentionthem."
"Butthey’remyfriends,"persistedDorothy,"andgowhereverIgo."
"Notthistime,"saidtherabbit,decidedly."You,yourself,Princess,areawelcomevisitor,sinceyoucomesohighlyrecommended;butunlessyouconsenttoleavethedogandtheheninthisroomIcannotpermityoutoenterthetown."
"Nevermindus,Dorothy,"saidBillina."Goinsideandseewhattheplaceislike.Youcantellusaboutitafterward,andTotoandIwillrestcomfortablyhereuntilyoureturn."
Thisseemedthebestthingtodo,forDorothywascurioustoseehowtherabbitpeoplelivedandshewasawareofthefactthatherfriendsmightfrightenthetimidlittlecreatures.ShehadnotforgottenhowTotoandBillinahadmisbehavedinBunbury,andperhapstherabbitwaswisetoinsistontheirstayingoutsidethetown.
"Verywell,"shesaid,"I’llgoinalone.Is’poseyou’retheKingofthistown,aren’tyou?"
"No,"answeredtherabbit,"I’mmerelytheKeeperoftheWicket,andapersonoflittleimportance,althoughItrytodomyduty.Imustnowinformyou,Princess,thatbeforeyouenterourtownyoumustconsenttoreduce."
"Reducewhat?"askedDorothy.
"Yoursize.Youmustbecomethesizeoftherabbits,althoughyoumayretainyourownform."
"Wouldn’tmyclothesbetoobigforme?"sheinquired.