Смарагдове місто країни Оз
5. How Dorothy Became a Princess
"
Dorothyagreedtothis,althoughsheknewthatneithergownsnorjewelscouldmakeheranythingelsethanthesimple,unaffectedlittlegirlshehadalwaysbeen.
Assoonastheyhadbreakfasted--thegirlseatingtogetherinOzma’sprettyboudoir--theRulerofOzsaid:
"Now,dearfriend,wewillusetheMagicBelttotransportyouruncleandauntfromKansastotheEmeraldCity.ButIthinkitwouldbefitting,inreceivingsuchdistinguishedguests,forustositinmyThroneRoom."
"Oh,they’renotvery’stinguished,Ozma,"saidDorothy."They’rejustplainpeople,likeme."
"Beingyourfriendsandrelatives,PrincessDorothy,theyarecertainlydistinguished,"repliedtheRuler,withasmile.
"They--theywon’thardlyknowwhattomakeofallyoursplendidfurnitureandthings,"protestedDorothy,gravely."Itmayscare’emtoseeyourgrandThroneRoom,an’p’rapswe’dbettergointothebackyard,Ozma,wherethecabbagesgrowan’thechickensareplaying.ThenitwouldseemmorenaturaltoUncleHenryandAuntEm."
"No;theyshallfirstseemeinmyThroneRoom,"repliedOzma,decidedly;andwhenshespokeinthattoneDorothyknewitwasnotwisetoopposeher,forOzmawasaccustomedtohavingherownway.
SotogethertheywenttotheThroneRoom,animmensedomedchamberinthecenterofthepalace.Herestoodtheroyalthrone,madeofsolidgoldandencrustedwithenoughpreciousstonestostockadozenjewelrystoresinourcountry.
Ozma,whowaswearingtheMagicBelt,seatedherselfinthethrone,andDorothysatatherfeet.
