Смарагдове місто країни Оз
3. How Ozma Granted Dorothy's Request
Ifanyoneapproachedthemthesecurioustreeswouldbenddowntheirbranches,twinethemaroundtheintruders,andhurlthemaway.
ButtheseunpleasantthingsexistedonlyinafewremotepartsoftheLandofOz.Isupposeeverycountryhassomedrawbacks,soeventhisalmostperfectfairylandcouldnotbequiteperfect.Oncetherehadbeenwickedwitchesintheland,too;butnowthesehadallbeendestroyed;so,asIsaid,onlypeaceandhappinessreignedinOz.
ForsometimeOzmahadruledoverthisfaircountry,andneverwasRulermorepopularorbeloved.Sheissaidtobethemostbeautifulgirltheworldhaseverknown,andherheartandmindareaslovelyasherperson.
DorothyGalehadseveraltimesvisitedtheEmeraldCityandexperiencedadventuresintheLandofOz,sothatsheandOzmahadnowbecomefirmfriends.ThegirlRulerhadevenmadeDorothyaPrincessofOz,andhadoftenimploredhertocometoOzma’sstatelypalaceandlivetherealways;butDorothyhadbeenloyaltoherAuntEmandUncleHenry,whohadcaredforhersinceshewasababy,andshehadrefusedtoleavethembecausesheknewtheywouldbelonelywithouther.
However,Dorothynowrealizedthatthingsweregoingtobedifferentwithheruncleandauntfromthistimeforth,soaftergivingthematterdeepthoughtshedecidedtoaskOzmatograntheraverygreatfavor.
Afewsecondsaftershehadmadethesecretsignalinherlittlebedchamber,theKansasgirlwasseatedinalovelyroominOzma’spalaceintheEmeraldCityofOz.
