Смарагдове місто країни Оз
7. How Aunt Em Conquered the Lion
Aboutfiftyfluffyyellowyoungsterswereatschool,beingtaughtgoodmannersandgoodgrammarbyayounghenwhoworespectacles.TheysanginchorusapatrioticsongoftheLandofOz,inhonoroftheirvisitors,andAuntEmwasmuchimpressedbythesetalkingchickens.
Dorothywantedtostayandplaywiththeyoungchickensforawhile,butUncleHenryandAuntEmhadnotseenthepalacegroundsandgardensyetandwereeagertogetbetteracquaintedwiththemarvelousanddelightfullandinwhichtheyweretolive.
"I’llstayhere,andyoucangoforawalk,"saidDorothy."You’llbeperfec’lysafeanywhere,andmaydowhateveryouwantto.Whenyougettired,gobacktothepalaceandfindyourrooms,andI’llcometoyoubeforeluncheonisready."
SoUncleHenryandAuntEmstartedoutalonetoexplorethegrounds,andDorothyknewthattheycouldn’tgetlost,becauseallthepalacegroundswereenclosedbyahighwallofgreenmarblesetwithemeralds.
Itwasararetreattothesesimplefolk,whohadlivedinthecountryalltheirlivesandknownlittleenjoymentofanysort,towearbeautifulclothesandliveinapalaceandbetreatedwithrespectandconsiderationbyallaroundthem.Theywereveryhappyindeedastheystrolleduptheshadywalksandlookeduponthegorgeousflowersandshrubs,feelingthattheirnewhomewasmorebeautifulthananytonguecoulddescribe.
Suddenly,astheyturnedacornerandwalkedthroughagapinahighhedge,theycamefacetofacewithanenormousLion,whichcroucheduponthegreenlawnandseemedsurprisedbytheirappearance.
