Смарагдове місто країни Оз
3. How Ozma Granted Dorothy's Request
Whenthefirstlovingkissesandembraceshadbeenexchanged,thefairRulerinquired:
"Whatisthematter,dear?Iknowsomethingunpleasanthashappenedtoyou,foryourfacewasverysoberwhenIsawitinmyMagicPicture.Andwheneveryousignalmetotransportyoutothissafeplace,whereyouarealwayswelcome,Iknowyouareindangerorintrouble."
Dorothysighed.
"Thistime,Ozma,itisn’tI,"shereplied."Butit’sworse,Iguess,forUncleHenryandAuntEmareinaheapoftrouble,andthereseemsnowayforthemtogetoutofit--anyhow,notwhiletheyliveinKansas."
"Tellmeaboutit,Dorothy,"saidOzma,withreadysympathy.
"Why,youseeUncleHenryispoor;forthefarminKansasdoesn’t’mounttomuch,asfarmsgo.SoonedayUncleHenryborrowedsomemoney,andwrotealettersayingthatifhedidn’tpaythemoneybacktheycouldtakehisfarmforpay.Coursehe’spectedtopaybymakingmoneyfromthefarm;buthejustcouldn’t.An’sothey’regoingtotakethefarm,andUncleHenryandAuntEmwon’thaveanyplacetolive.They’reprettyoldtodomuchhardwork,Ozma;soI’llhavetoworkforthem,unless--"
Ozmahadbeenthoughtfulduringthestory,butnowshesmiledandpressedherlittlefriend’shand.
"Unlesswhat,dear?"sheasked.
Dorothyhesitated,becauseherrequestmeantsomuchtothemall.
"Well,"saidshe,"I’dliketolivehereintheLandofOz,whereyou’veoften’vitedmetolive.ButIcan’t,youknow,unlessUncleHenryandAuntEmcouldliveheretoo."
"Ofcoursenot,"exclaimedtheRulerofOz,laughinggaily.
