Смарагдове місто країни Оз
7. How Aunt Em Conquered the Lion
"Whenhespoke,Igottheidea;andwhenhelookedso’shamedlike,Iwassureofit,"UncleHenrycontinued.
AuntEmregardedtheanimalwithnewinterest.
"AreyoutheCowardlyLion?"sheinquired."AreyouDorothy’sfriend?"
"Yes’m,"answeredtheLion,meekly."DorothyandIareoldchumsandareveryfondofeachother.I’mtheKingofBeasts,youknow,andtheHungryTigerandIservePrincessOzmaasherbodyguards."
"Tobesure,"saidAuntEm,nodding."ButtheKingofBeastsshouldn’tbecowardly."
"I’veheardthatsaidbefore,"remarkedtheLion,yawningtillheshowedtwogreatrowsofsharpwhiteteeth;"butthatdoesnotkeepmefrombeingfrightenedwheneverIgointobattle."
"Whatdoyoudo,run?"askedUncleHenry.
"No;thatwouldbefoolish,fortheenemywouldrunafterme,"declaredtheLion."SoItremblewithfearandpitchinashardasIcan;andsofarIhavealwayswonmyfight."
"Ah,Ibegintounderstand,"saidUncleHenry.
"WereyouscaredwhenIlookedatyoujustnow?"inquiredAuntEm.
"Terriblyscared,madam,"answeredtheLion,"foratfirstIthoughtyouweregoingtohaveafit.ThenInoticedyouweretryingtoovercomemebythepowerofyoureye,andyourglancewassofierceandpenetratingthatIshookwithfear."
Thisgreatlypleasedthelady,andshesaidquitecheerfully:
"Well,Iwon’thurtyou,sodon’tbescaredanymore.Ijustwantedtoseewhatthehumaneyewasgoodfor."
"Thehumaneyeisafearfulweapon,"remarkedtheLion,scratchinghisnosesoftlywithhispawtohideasmile
